What happens when 30% to 50% of your connected medical devices are invisible to your IT systems?
This hidden vulnerability is a real threat to healthcare organizations—and they don’t even know it. The consequences can range from operational inefficiencies to outright threats to patient safety. And once a vulnerability is exploited, the entire system is in danger.
Connected medical devices—from wearable monitors to advanced imaging machines—are revolutionizing patient care. They enable real-time information sharing, smarter diagnostics, and more efficient treatments. But this innovation comes with complexity. Maintaining a secure, up-to-date inventory of these assets has never been more challenging or urgent.
This article explores the visibility challenges in healthcare IoT and highlights why addressing these gaps is essential for robust cybersecurity. Our webinar, Close the Divide – Achieve Full Healthcare IT and IoT Asset Visibility, dives deeper into actionable strategies to safeguard your organization. Watch it now or download the e-book for a comprehensive guide.
The Hidden Challenge of IoT Asset Device Visibility in Healthcare
Healthcare organizations are operating in diverse and fragmented digital environments. IT teams must manage devices from numerous manufacturers, spanning multiple generations of technology. It’s not uncommon to find state-of-the-art wearable devices on the same network as decades-old legacy systems. This mix makes creating a comprehensive asset inventory a monumental challenge.
Consider this: isolated devices, meant to safeguard sensitive patient data, often exist entirely outside routine network monitoring. This creates blind spots where vulnerabilities can hide. At the same time, the pace of IoT device adoption further complicates things. New devices are constantly added, overwhelming manual inventory methods and leaving IT teams struggling to keep up.
Without real-time, comprehensive visibility into all IT and IoT assets, identifying risks becomes guesswork. The stakes are high. Blind spots in device visibility open the door to potential cyberattacks, operational disruptions, and regulatory noncompliance.
A Real-Life Example
A ransomware attack on a major U.S. healthcare provider in 2024 highlights these dangers. An overlooked, unmanaged IoT device became the entry point for malware that crippled their systems for days. Surgical procedures were canceled, patients were rerouted to other facilities, and millions of dollars were lost—not to mention the damage to reputation. Learn more in our webinar, Close the Divide – Achieve Full Healthcare IT and IoT Asset Visibility.
Visibility as the Backbone of Cybersecurity
Without asset visibility, other cybersecurity measures fall short. Visibility is about more than knowing what’s on your network; it’s about understanding every device’s role, behavior, and potential vulnerabilities. Comprehensive visibility is the foundation for:
1. Accurate Risk Management
Without an inventory, prioritizing risks is a guessing game. Detailed, real-time asset data enables healthcare organizations to identify and address critical vulnerabilities.
2. Proactive Threat Detection
Machines and devices often display behavioral clues before a cyberattack takes hold. Monitoring these behavioral baselines makes it easier for IT teams to detect anomalies and respond faster.
3. Effective Network Segmentation
Knowledge of device interconnections lets teams isolate areas of risk, containing threats before they spread and more effectively protect sensitive systems.
4. Regulatory Compliance
Regulations like HIPAA in the US , the CAF-aligned DSPT in the UK, and GDPR throughout Europe demand robust oversight of IT and IoT systems. Demonstrating a complete view of assets satisfies auditors and reduces the likelihood of penalties for noncompliance.
How Are Healthcare Organizations Tackling These Challenges?
Making progress in IoT visibility doesn’t happen overnight. Yet, some organizations are leading the way with cutting-edge strategies:
- Automated Discovery Tools continuously scan networks, identifying devices that manual processes overlook. Using techniques like machine learning, these tools can even detect devices previously unseen.
- Unified Asset Management Platforms consolidate IT and IoT device management into a single interface, simplifying operational oversight.
- Smart Network Segmentation isolates critical medical devices, reducing the chances that a threat spreads unchecked.
Perhaps most importantly, cybersecurity leaders are partnering with device manufacturers and vendors to ensure seamless integration and enhance real-time visibility. Collaboration across teams—from IT and biomedical engineers to compliance officers—is fueling positive change.
Curious about how these strategies can work for your organization? Explore detailed case studies and expert insights in our full webinar or download the e-book to start implementing solutions today.
Where Does Your Organization Stand?
Given these challenges and successes, it’s worth pausing to reflect on your organization’s current state. Is your system overwhelmed by manual processes that leave gaps in your inventory? Have you integrated automated tools but face barriers in fully utilizing their capabilities? Or are you leading in visibility and looking to fine-tune your cybersecurity strategies?
Regardless of where you stand today, the stakes are clear. Greater visibility doesn’t just improve IT operations; it prevents risks that compromise patient safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory standing.
Take Action Today
Achieving full IoT visibility is undeniably complex, but every step forward strengthens your organization’s cybersecurity and reinforces its commitment to care quality.
Our webinar, Close the Divide – Achieve Full Healthcare IT and IoT Asset Visibility, provides actionable strategies for tackling these challenges. It’s designed for healthcare professionals looking to bridge the gaps in their cybersecurity landscape. Watch the full webinar to learn practical solutions tailored to the healthcare industry, or download the in-depth e-book for a step-by-step guide.
The time to act is now. For healthcare organizations, waiting for a crisis isn’t an option. Take control of your asset visibility challenges today and safeguard the future of your patients, staff, and systems.
