Medical imaging centers sit at a critical intersection of patient care and digital infrastructure, yet they face an increasingly hostile cyber threat landscape. Sophisticated ransomware groups now target imaging environments for their high-value data, urgent care requirements, and often fragmented security controls.
Unlike traditional IT assets, imaging equipment—such as MRI, CT, and X-ray systems—lack endpoint protection and must remain continuously available, making them especially vulnerable to exploitation. Securing these devices demands clinical-grade visibility, behavior-based threat detection, and zero-disruption risk assessment—approaches far more specialized than what standard IT tools can provide. Cylera’s tailored platform bridges this gap by aligning cybersecurity with the clinical realities imaging teams face every day.
Understanding the Medical Imaging Threat Landscape
Medical imaging centers offer a perfect storm of opportunity for cybercriminals: they house vast quantities of sensitive patient data, rely on complex imaging devices with minimal native security, and operate under high-pressure clinical workflows that can’t afford downtime.
A single ransomware attack or data breach can disrupt diagnostics, delay treatment, and jeopardize patient outcomes, all while incurring steep financial losses and regulatory exposure.
Because imaging modalities often run on legacy operating systems and proprietary protocols, they pose integration and patching challenges not addressed by traditional IT security. These clinical environments also face strict operational constraints, such as vendor lock-in and 100% availability requirements during normal business hours in order to ensure the center is performing and billing as many studies as possible..
Legacy Infrastructure Challenges
Medical imaging systems frequently run on outdated operating systems like Windows XP or Windows 7. These legacy systems are no longer supported with security patches, leaving them exposed to known exploits. Many devices also rely on proprietary software and communication protocols that lack encryption or authentication, creating blind spots for traditional network monitoring tools.
Regulatory constraints further complicate remediation efforts: FDA guidelines and manufacturer warranties often restrict direct modifications to device software or configurations, meaning hospitals can’t simply install endpoint protection or patch vulnerabilities at will. This forces security teams to find alternative, non-invasive approaches that preserve clinical functionality while still mitigating risk.
Operational Constraints
Imaging centers operate on a nonstop schedule, supporting diagnostics, scheduled procedures, and continuous patient throughput, making downtime practically non-negotiable. Security teams face logistical hurdles in coordinating upgrades or assessments during narrow maintenance windows, often across multiple facilities and vendors. In addition, clinical workflows and third-party service contracts may limit access to device internals or restrict changes to embedded systems.
These constraints demand cybersecurity solutions that function passively, integrate seamlessly, and offer granular device-level insights without interrupting patient care. Real-time behavioral monitoring and zero-touch vulnerability assessment become indispensable tools in preserving operational continuity while elevating security maturity.
Cylera's Security Framework for Medical Imaging Centers
Medical imaging centers rely on a complex web of connected devices, each essential to clinical workflows yet often hidden from traditional IT inventories. To secure these environments effectively, healthcare organizations must first gain comprehensive visibility into their assets, monitor device behaviors in real time, and identify vulnerabilities that could impact patient care.
Device Discovery and Asset Management
Cylera provides healthcare organizations with deep visibility into every connected imaging device, ranging from MRI scanners and CT machines to mobile ultrasound units and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) servers. Unlike traditional IT inventory tools that rely on agent-based discovery, Cylera uses passive network detection methods tailored for clinical environments. It automatically profiles devices based on manufacturer, model, operating system, modality type, and even software version, all while incorporating clinical metadata like physical location and department assignment. This creates a centralized, dynamically updated asset inventory that reflects the real-time status of medical imaging networks.
Automated asset management not only simplifies device tracking, it directly supports regulatory compliance mandates. Whether aligning with HIPAA’s risk analysis requirements, HITRUST’s asset governance controls, or GDPR’s data protection principles, Cylera ensures imaging devices are continuously cataloged, monitored, and documented. The platform also logs device behaviors and connection histories, which are critical for forensic investigations and audit trails. By maintaining a living inventory enriched with actionable metadata, IT security teams responsible for protecting imaging centers can confidently address compliance checklists and cybersecurity maturity models without burdening IT teams or clinical staff.
Continuous Network Monitoring
Medical imaging protocols like DICOM, HL7, and proprietary manufacturer formats introduce monitoring blind spots for generic network security tools. Cylera bridges this gap by decoding clinical communications at the protocol level, enabling precise visibility into device interactions, scheduled procedures, and DICOM transmissions. Its monitoring engine maps the flow of imaging data across internal systems and external endpoints, identifying unusual access patterns, unauthorized queries, or traffic spikes that may signal compromise.
At the heart of Cylera’s continuous monitoring is its behavioral analytics engine, which builds baselines of device-specific activity. Instead of simply flagging anomalies based on static rules, it analyzes what “normal” looks like for each modality, including scan frequencies, software calls, and usage patterns. Alerts are generated only when behavior deviates meaningfully from clinical expectations, reducing false positives and ensuring that only actionable threats surface. This context-aware approach is especially valuable in imaging environments, where high device uptime and patient throughput demand precision over noise.
Cylera also adapts its monitoring to the constraints of vendor-managed systems. Many imaging devices are serviced remotely, introducing third-party connectivity and potential shadow IT risks. The platform continuously evaluates these connections and enforces network segmentation policies, helping organizations preserve uptime while maintaining a defensible security perimeter.
Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Management
Traditional vulnerability scans are often impractical for medical imaging centers due to clinical sensitivities and regulatory limits on device modification. Cylera circumvents these challenges with a zero-touch assessment methodology, using Cylera’s patented network traffic emulation technology to simulate device behavior and analyze risk exposure without touching live equipment. This lets security teams assess vulnerabilities for critical imaging assets—such as radiology workstations or modality controllers—even while they’re actively supporting patient care.
The platform goes beyond CVSS scores by applying a clinical impact lens to risk prioritization. It considers variables such as device function, patient proximity, care dependency, and procedural urgency when ranking vulnerabilities. For example, a high-severity vulnerability on a non-critical imaging system might rank lower than a moderate flaw in a CT scanner used in emergency diagnostics. This approach ensures security resources are focused where risks could most directly affect patient outcomes or disrupt care delivery.
Cylera also integrates manufacturer advisories, ICS-CERT alerts, and FDA recalls to continuously update its vulnerability knowledge base. This enables organizations to proactively manage risks across their imaging fleet while staying aligned with industry guidance and best practices. Automated reports further support audit readiness by detailing device-specific exposures, mitigation efforts, and regulatory alignment.
By combining passive assessment, clinical context, and prioritized response, Cylera empowers imaging centers to evolve their cybersecurity posture without compromising availability, safety, or compliance.
Protecting Critical Imaging Operations
Medical imaging operations are central to clinical decision-making, often functioning under tight time constraints and continuous patient demand. Disruptions caused by cyberattacks can lead to delayed diagnoses, compromised imaging workflows, and data exposure, making operational resilience a cybersecurity imperative.
Network Segmentation and Microsegmentation
Cylera’s platform supports advanced network segmentation strategies that isolate medical imaging devices from general IT traffic, third-party vendors, and unauthorized access points. Leveraging passive device profiling and clinical context, Cylera maps communication flows and automatically generates tailored segmentation policies without disrupting care delivery. This includes separating modalities by department, function, and risk level, ensuring that devices like PACS servers, CT scanners, and radiology workstations communicate only with essential systems.
Microsegmentation further enhances security by enforcing granular access controls within these segmented zones. Instead of relying on perimeter-based protections, Cylera supports, through integrations with solutions such as Cisco ISE, zero-trust frameworks where each device is continuously authenticated and monitored. Communication policies are enforced at the device level, allowing for dynamic controls that adapt to changing clinical workflows. For example, a modality used exclusively for outpatient imaging in an imaging center may have different network privileges than one supporting emergency diagnostics in a hospital.
Cylera integrates with existing firewall and network infrastructure, including Cisco, Forescout, Extreme Networks, HPE Aruba ClearPass, to deploy segmentation rules efficiently. This enables imaging centers to maintain operational continuity while strengthening their security posture. With centralized visibility and policy orchestration, even large multi-site deployments can implement zero-trust principles across diverse imaging fleets.
Threat Detection and Response
Medical imaging environments face unique threats, from targeted ransomware attacks to insider misuse of radiology data. Cylera’s AI-powered threat detection engine analyzes device behavior in real time, identifying anomalies based on clinical workflows rather than generic IT rules. It learns what “normal” looks like for each modality—such as scheduled imaging patterns, DICOM transfers, and vendor support activity—and flags deviations that signal potential compromise.
When suspicious activity is detected, Cylera generates high-fidelity alerts enriched with device context and clinical impact, allowing security teams to triage threats effectively. These alerts are mapped to actionable response playbooks designed for healthcare environments, including containment steps that avoid disrupting imaging procedures. For instance, Cylera, through integrations with NAC solutions, can help isolate a PACS server from the broader network while preserving read-only access for radiologists actively reviewing scans.
Incident response workflows are tailored to the sensitivities of healthcare operations. Cylera supports secure collaboration across biomedical engineering, IT security, and clinical teams, ensuring rapid alignment without jeopardizing patient care. Its reporting tools also facilitate post-incident analysis and regulatory compliance, with audit-ready logs detailing what occurred, which systems were affected, and how mitigation was performed.
Data Protection and Privacy
Imaging data is among the most sensitive in healthcare, containing diagnostic information, biometric images, and patient identifiers.
Cylera analyzes device capabilities and usage patterns, establishes device profiles, then creates device security policies which take into account device type, location, and usage context—for example, through integrations with NAC solutions, restricting access to high-resolution imaging datasets unless performed from a trusted terminal during approved clinical hours.
The platform also maintains continuous auditing of imaging data flows. This includes tracking DICOM file movement, HL7 integrations, and electronic medical records (EMR) interactions to prevent unauthorized exfiltration or duplication. Automated alerts notify teams of suspicious access attempts, while dashboards provide real-time visibility into data usage trends and access histories.
With regulatory frameworks like HIPAA, HITRUST, and GDPR, and requiring demonstrable safeguards for health data, Cylera equips imaging centers with the tools to achieve compliance while enabling seamless diagnostics.
Compliance and Risk Management
Cylera’s platform streamlines compliance for medical imaging centers by automating risk assessments and aligning cybersecurity practices with key regulatory frameworks. Using passive device discovery and contextual analytics, it continuously evaluates imaging assets against standards like HIPAA, HITRUST, NIST, and FDA Pre- and Post-Market cybersecurity guidance.
Risk scoring is tailored to clinical relevance, prioritizing vulnerabilities based on patient impact, device role, and departmental dependencies, rather than generic severity ratings. This targeted approach ensures that security efforts are both risk-aware and operationally appropriate, helping radiology departments stay compliant without disrupting diagnostic workflows.
In alignment with FDA expectations, Cylera supports the secure lifecycle management of medical imaging devices, including vulnerability identification, mitigation tracking, and remediation documentation. Cylera’s patented network traffic emulation technology enables risk analysis without interfering with live systems, preserving vendor warranties and FDA-approved configurations. Automated reporting capabilities surface device-level compliance gaps, and centralized dashboards provide visibility across multiple facilities, departments, and vendor ecosystems. For HIPAA, Cylera supports audit readiness with detailed logs on asset status, threat events, and remediation timelines. Together, these capabilities help imaging centers move from reactive risk management to proactive cybersecurity governance.
Implementation and Integration
Cylera’s implementation strategy is designed with clinical environments in mind, allowing imaging centers to improve their cybersecurity without disrupting diagnostics or workflows. The deployment begins with a discovery and assessment phase, using passive techniques to profile devices and network behavior without touching live equipment. This ensures full asset visibility, including legacy modalities and vendor-managed systems, while avoiding downtime or system interference. During this phase, Cylera also collaborates with biomedical engineering and IT teams to understand departmental nuances and tailor deployment paths accordingly.
Once visibility is established, Cylera moves to incremental integration, layering capabilities such as network segmentation policy generation, threat detection, and compliance reporting. The platform integrates easily with existing infrastructure, including EMR systems, PACS systems, and firewall architectures like Cisco. Data feeds from Cylera can be exported to SIEMs and SOC dashboards, enabling imaging centers to unify security insights within their broader cybersecurity workflows. Each stage of the rollout is accompanied by training and workflow alignment, ensuring that clinical and technical teams remain informed and engaged. This phased approach allows for scalable adoption across single-site and multi-site imaging operations, minimizing risk while accelerating security maturity.
Case Study: Securing a Multi-Site Imaging Network
To see how Cylera’s implementation and integration strategy unfolds in practice, consider the following real-world example.
A large regional health system operating multiple imaging centers faced mounting cybersecurity risks stemming from legacy infrastructure, unmanaged IoT devices, and inconsistent vendor access controls. Their imaging modalities—spanning MRI, CT, and PET scanners—ran outdated operating systems and proprietary protocols, making them invisible to traditional IT tools. Unmonitored vendor service accounts and lateral movement across flat networks elevated the risk of ransomware infiltration and data compromise. The organization needed a solution that respected clinical workflows while delivering enterprise-grade security across all sites.
Cylera’s implementation began with passive device discovery and risk profiling, generating a dynamic inventory of over 700 connected imaging assets—many previously unknown to the security team. Network segmentation policies were generated and forwarded to Cisco ISE for enforcement, so imaging devices could be isolated from general hospital traffic and vendor access could be restricted based on role and function. Through continuous behavioral monitoring, Cylera identified abnormal traffic patterns on several modalities indicating unauthorized remote access, enabling the team to contain threats before they disrupted care. Automated compliance mapping also helped the organization align with HIPAA and FDA cybersecurity expectations, delivering audit-ready reports and device-level remediation plans.
Within six months, the imaging centers saw measurable gains: reduced threat dwell times, improved asset visibility, and enhanced collaboration between biomedical and IT teams. Cylera’s clinical context capabilities enabled risk prioritization based on patient impact, helping the organization focus remediation efforts without jeopardizing imaging operations. The result was a cybersecurity strategy that didn’t just protect critical diagnostics—it elevated their resilience, regulatory readiness, and operational confidence.
Getting Started with Cylera
For organizations focused on securing IoT infrastructure across imaging centers, Cylera recommends beginning with a non-invasive assessment phase that includes passive network discovery and clinical asset profiling. This step helps organizations identify all connected imaging modalities—many of which may be unmanaged or undocumented—and gather metadata such as device model, operating system, modality type, usage patterns, and location. Engaging biomedical engineering, radiology, and IT teams during this phase helps tailor risk thresholds and network segmentation policies to operational realities without disrupting care.
Following discovery, a pilot program can be deployed in a selected imaging department or modality group, such as radiology or cardiac imaging. Key success metrics should include:
- Visibility into 100% of connected imaging devices
- Reduction in unknown asset count
- Identification of top-tier risks based on clinical impact
- Validation of network segmentation rules without disrupting imaging workflows.
Cylera’s platform can also monitor for anomalies during the pilot, measuring threat detection efficacy and false-positive rates to fine-tune behavioral baselines. With clear visibility, improved compliance mapping, and minimal workflow impact, imaging centers can scale implementation with confidence across multi-site or enterprise networks
Conclusion
Cylera delivers a purpose-built solution for the unique cybersecurity needs of medical imaging centers, combining deep device visibility, clinical-context threat detection, and, through integrations with leading NAC solutions, policy-driven network segmentation to protect high-value assets without disrupting patient care. From legacy infrastructure risks to evolving regulatory mandates, Cylera simplifies compliance, prioritizes vulnerabilities based on clinical impact, and fosters resilient imaging operations across multi-site networks. As healthcare organizations strive to safeguard diagnostics in an increasingly complex threat landscape, Cylera offers a clear, scalable roadmap to security maturity rooted in clinical realities.
Explore how Cylera can transform your imaging cybersecurity. Schedule your personalized demo to discover how Cylera can help your organization improve imaging asset visibility, reduce clinical risk, and simplify compliance—without disrupting care.
