Medical device connectivity ups cyber risks

Healthcare providers with more than 75% of medical devices connected to the internet were 24% more likely to be impacted by cyberattacks, compared with those with 50% or fewer connected devices, according to HealthITSecurity. More than half to 70% of medical devices in 40% of health organizations are linked to the internet, a survey from Capterra revealed. Meanwhile, personal health information security and patient care are being impacted by 67% and 48% of all healthcare cyberattacks. Adding more network-connected devices raises healthcare providers' attack surface, said Capterra Senior Security Analyst Zach Capers. However, health providers have been lagging in adopting measures aimed at preventing cyberattacks, with 68% of respondents not applying necessary security updates for their connected devices. "Medical IoT security requires proactive and ongoing vigilance. Healthcare practices should conduct routine vulnerability assessments before connecting medical devices to their IT network. They should also keep an up-to-date and accurate inventory of all connected devices plus associated software and firmware and use software to monitor these devices," said Capers.