Concerns over the cybersecurity of medical devices have been raised on multiple accounts this past year.
A breach in the security of these devices could lead to incorrect dosage administration and harm to the patient. Other concerns include the release of sensitive, confidential patient records and the significant risks presented by downtime of a cyber threat. In an effort to address cybersecurity challenges of these networked devices the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working on a project to secure medical devices from risks.
The project is led in collaboration by the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at NIST and the Technological Leadership Institute (TLI) at the University of Minnesota. The draft use case will focus on wireless infusion pumps and identify people, systems, definitions of use, and more.
Comments are invited until January 18, 2015 on ways to properly secure wireless medical devices on the network.
This is one of many initiatives over the past few years developed to address medical device security. Earlier this year the FDA called for guidance for manufacturers to consider cybersecurity risks as a critical part of the design and development of medical devices. Check out some of the other headlines regarding cybersecurity.
Source: Gov Info Security
