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How Do Healthcare CIOs Address IIoT Threats?
Enterprise Security Magazine | Friday, October 04, 2019
IIoT has enormous potential to transform the healthcare industry, although it is surrounded by threats in different forms and has to be addressed adequately.
Fremont, CA: The necessity to save human lives elevates beyond limits with the onset of new diseases. This urge is driving technologies to develop groundbreaking innovations in the delivery of state-of-the-art treatment services. Like in many other sectors, the industrial internet of things (IIoT) has rapidly transformed the work and data infrastructure in health and medicine. IIoT enables easy access to medical data and information, thus making remote monitoring of patients seamless. IIoT has vast potential, especially in healthcare, to connect to the internet enabling ordinary medical equipment to collect and share essential data that gives healthcare providers and medical practitioners more significant insights into symptoms and treatment trends.
However, healthcare stakeholders should understand that IIoT adoption is prone to massive threats. Here's how CIOs address the associated IIoT threats in different healthcare areas to.
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Medical Devices
There are many medical devices, each performing specific functions such as infusion pumps, anesthesia machines, dialysis machines, and respiratory ventilators, primarily used to monitor the patient’s vital signs. Updated versions of these devices can be connected to the internet allowing these devices to be linked wirelessly to remote areas and transfer collected information, such as the amount of medication a patient has taken to hospital information system (HIS). These medical devices can be attacked for patient information leading to inaccurate readings that can harm them under care. Researchers have uncovered a recent vulnerability in a brand of anesthesia machine, which could allow an attacker to remotely modify equipment parameters such as altering the composition of aspired gases that can put the patient at risk.
It is the responsibility of the manufacturers, distributors, and healthcare facilities to ensure that these devices remain safe for use. Stakeholders should be aware of impending threats and vulnerabilities so that they can be agile in mitigating possible risks. Government agencies like US food and drug administration (FDA) and the Department of Homeland Security to offer guidance through some medical device safety action plan. These plans can help mitigate the risks brought about by oversights in device safety and bring stakeholders together in addressing the oversights. Also, healthcare facilities can use virtual patching to manage vulnerabilities.
Hospital Information System (HIS)
Patient care does not only involve medical but also administrative, financial, and legal aspects. The associated information is integrated and maintained on a single platform, the Hospital Information System (HIS). This information includes medical history, legal, and others needed in a hospital’s daily operation. Thus safeguarding the integrity of such information is vital because of the critical information it holds. HIS presents a crucial target for any potential cybercriminal, such as personally identifiable information (PII) for patients, and it can be used for extortion. Further, HIS is susceptible to threats that include distributed denial of service (DDoS), ransomware, phishing attacks, and other threats from malicious actors. These malicious actors can manipulate data, steal information, and disrupt the hospital’s reputation.
Securing an HIS depends on network security. Splitting a network into sub-networks, a process called network segmentation, can reduce the risk of lateral movement. Encryption software also helps mitigate the consequences of data theft and loss.
Healthcare Systems Software
Medical institutions need software to control several systems they use to run and transfer information within institutions that hold the control for critical functions or information like patients’ PII. Even a slight exposure of the interface of such systems is a danger because a recent study revealed that among the exposed systems were software for record maintenance, pharmacy management, and patient scheduling. Even though the number of exposed medical systems is small, they contain valuable information that can be infected by potential attackers using ransomware. Also, the attackers gain access to other devices by using the compromised software as an entry point.
Medical institutions should ensure these software systems are not exposed online by preventing using careful configuration of these devices and systems, most importantly, those that contain PII of both patients and hospital staff.
Legacy Systems
It is evident that many medical institutions use legacy systems despite employing IoT devices in their facilities. They find it miserable to replace their legacy systems leading to extensive downtime that is impossible in a healthcare facility. But this puts them with severe consequences and danger. If medical institutions do not opt to replace their legacy systems, they should find some alternatives to strengthen their defenses through application security architecture. Employing solutions like virtual patching can mitigate the vulnerabilities that legacy systems face.
Wearables and Portable Medical Equipment
Wearables are mostly used by patients who have just been discharged from the hospital, and they are monitored continuously through IoT remote devices. These wearables provide necessary, real-time information, including heart rate, sleep duration, and blood pressure that are help users make healthier decisions. For example, glucose monitors periodically take blood samples to alert diabetic patients to take insulin, and heart rate monitors signal the onset of heart attack or stroke. However, these devices are also prone to risks. FDA has recently issued a warning against a specific brand of insulin pumps that replace pancreas functioning by releasing insulin and keeping the blood sugar levels within range. Attackers can send radiofrequency and change the nearby pumps’ setting. In such cases, the insulin pumps have to be replaced. These devices work remotely, and attacks on these devices could result in life-threatening situations.
Such portable devices that patients bring home or wear illustrate how users and patients share the responsibility of securing these devices. Patients who use such devices have to be careful in sharing the information about their devices by physically securing these devices and keeping it close to the user.
Other IoT applications
RFID technology, an IoT component can help hospital staff to quickly locate and identify equipment that will be used to treat a patient. Although they do not have direct effects on adding medical value, they ease the burden of staff while enhancing their focus on patients. However, integrators should map and manage their connected devices because they are the entry points for bigger targets. Deploying virtual fencing features will disable the devices when they are out of range.
IoT in healthcare has not attained full maturity and is still brimming with possibilities. Healthcare stakeholders must first understand the dangers IoT brings to the field when haphazardly implemented that could cause cascading problems to a broader community and take effective measures to secure it.
See Also: Top Healthcare Technology Companies
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Access control systems allow businesses to control who enters their buildings and which areas they can access. They use electronic locks, access cards, mobile devices and software to manage entry. Many also keep a record of who comes and goes and connect with security cameras and visitor management systems, making it easier for security teams to monitor activity around the premises.
For businesses, access control involves more than locking doors. Offices, factories, warehouses and data centers need to protect employees, equipment and confidential information without disrupting daily work. Security teams must also manage visitors, contractors and temporary workers whose access needs can change.
Traditional methods can become difficult to manage as a business grows. Keys get lost, access cards may remain active after an employee leaves and permissions can become outdated when responsibilities change. Modern access control systems make it easier to manage these situations and keep track of who can enter each area.
Managing Access As Workplaces Change
Digital systems let administrators assign access based on an employee’s role, work schedule and location. An employee might be allowed into the main office but not the server room or a restricted storage area. Contractors can receive temporary access to specific spaces without being given permission to enter the entire building.
When employees take on new responsibilities or leave the company, security teams can update their access without changing locks or collecting keys. If a security problem occurs, entry records can help staff understand what happened. For businesses with multiple locations, a central system makes it easier to manage who can enter each site without handling permissions separately.
Access control also makes everyday security easier to manage. Visitor check-ins can be quicker, and valuable equipment and confidential information can be kept out of unauthorized hands. In factories, access can be limited to employees who need to enter certain work areas. In offices, these controls can keep private meeting rooms and sensitive documents accessible only to authorized staff.
Cloud And Mobile Technology Change Access
Cloud-based access control lets security teams manage permissions through a central platform instead of relying entirely on systems installed at individual locations. This can be useful for businesses with offices, warehouses or production facilities in different regions.
“Modern Access Control Systems Make It Easier To Manage These Situations And Keep Track Of Who Can Enter Each Area.”
However, moving access management to the cloud requires careful planning. Businesses need to know how their data is protected, who can change permissions and what happens if the internet connection goes down. Facilities that need uninterrupted access may require local controls that continue working during network outages.
Mobile credentials are also changing how employees enter buildings. Compatible smartphones can replace physical access cards, and administrators can issue or revoke digital credentials remotely. This makes it easier to manage new hires, departing employees and temporary visitors.
Biometric systems use fingerprints or facial recognition to confirm a person’s identity. They can make getting into a building easier, but businesses need to think about how reliably they work, whether they are suitable for everyone and how personal data will be kept safe.
Access control can also make daily security tasks more manageable. Visitors can get through check-in with less delay, while equipment and confidential information remain protected. In factories, businesses can restrict entry to specific work areas based on employees’ responsibilities. In offices, they can limit access to private meeting rooms and documents that should only be available to approved staff.
Choosing The Right System
Choosing an access control system involves more than comparing electronic locks and card readers. Businesses need to consider how the technology will work with their existing security equipment, employee processes and future needs.
Integration is particularly important. Access records become more useful when security teams can review them alongside video footage, alarm notifications and visitor information. Systems that work with existing technology can reduce the need to replace equipment that is still useful.
Cybersecurity also deserves close attention. Connected readers, controllers and management platforms can create vulnerabilities if they are poorly configured or not updated regularly. Buyers should examine login security, software maintenance, data protection and the provider’s process for fixing security weaknesses.
Access records track when employees enter and leave specific areas. Businesses should decide who can view this information, how long it needs to be kept and when it should be reviewed. Keeping only the records needed for security respects employees’ privacy while helping maintain a safe workplace.
Installation requires more than setting up the equipment. Employees need to understand how to use the system, existing security tools must work properly with it and technical support should be available when problems arise. Businesses should also consider maintenance, software fees and future upgrades. A system that appears affordable at first may cost more over time if it cannot meet changing needs or requires too much manual work.
A More Connected Security Environment
Access control is increasingly being used alongside other workplace security tools, such as employee identity software, building management systems and security cameras. Employees can use their phones to enter buildings, while security teams can manage access permissions for different locations from one place. Monitoring tools can also alert staff to unusual activity, helping them decide when something needs a closer look.
Still, businesses need to look beyond convenience. Access checks must remain reliable, facilities should continue functioning during network disruptions and personal information must be protected. Older buildings can present additional difficulties when existing equipment does not work with newer technology. Identifying these limitations early can help businesses avoid unnecessary costs.
For business leaders, the best system is not necessarily the one with the most features. It is the one that meets the organization's security needs, works with existing equipment and can adapt as its workforce and facilities change. A wellchosen access control system can protect people and property while making everyday security easier to manage. ...Read more
Cloud computing has revolutionized data storage, application functionality, and digital service delivery for organizations. Business systems are increasingly dependent on access to infrastructure both across different locations and to allow the infrastructure to grow as need dictates. Operational flexibility is definitely beneficial, but it also alters the way information and applications need to be protected.
Data can flow across public cloud platforms, across private infrastructure and across services provided by third-party cloud service providers. Understanding how resources are accessed, how information flows, and whether systems are configured correctly; security therefore relies on understanding this. Cloud computing security solutions can provide organizations with the protection they need to safeguard digital assets while allowing cloud infrastructure to be flexible.
Security Trends across Distributed Cloud Environments
Hybrid and multi-cloud are changing enterprise security. Applications can be run on multiple platforms to meet performance, cost and operational requirements. Each environment can have different tools, settings and reporting methods. Consistency in policy promotes understanding of overall exposure. Central security management facilitates the creation of shared rules and regulations on access, monitoring and configuration, while keeping in mind platform-specific needs.
Zero-trust architecture is based on identity-based protection. It needs to be authenticated instead of being assumed based on network location. Policies can consider the user, device, application and sensitivity of the requested resource. Microsegmentation takes it one step further by limiting workload-to-workload interactions, making it more difficult for unauthorized movement to take place should an account or system be breached. The method is especially applicable in case of distributed cloud infrastructure where applications run.
Data protection continues to be a key concern as businesses move customer records, financial data and intellectual property to the cloud. Encryption secures information when it is at rest and in transit, and key management controls how the keys are generated and used. Data classification can be used to identify data that requires a higher level of protection. Data loss prevention solutions can then identify sensitive information and block the sharing or transfer of it. It is also important to have clear rules in place regarding the retention, access and safe disposal of data for effective protection.
Resolving Operational and Technical Security Challenges
Misconfiguration can reveal storage, databases and application services, sometimes by just one missing configuration. As cloud resources are added and changed regularly, manual reviews become challenging. Cloud security posture management helps compare configurations against approved policies to identify any deviations. Insecure configurations can be detected through automated checks in deployment pipelines before deployment to systems. Permissions and configurations change over time as business needs evolve, so it's important to conduct regular reviews.
Another issue when using separate cloud platforms to generate logs is limited visibility. Without the information being shared, there can be missed linkages between events by security teams. Centralized monitoring provides a unified perspective of identity activity, workload events and network records. Activity can be correlated in SIEMs, and alerts for suspicious activity can be flagged. Clear alert priorities and response procedures allow analysts to focus on meaningful alerts and not just noise from their systems.
Development and operation of cloud workloads must also be addressed. Containers, virtual machines, and serverless applications can be deployed in no time at all, and there is not much time left to give them a late security review. Tools for workload protection track workload activity and detect unusual activity. Development teams can mitigate vulnerabilities by pre-deploying code, software dependencies and infrastructure definition checks. When security testing is included as part of the regular development lifecycle, potential problems can be fixed before they impact production systems.
Advancing Protection and Enterprise Resilience
Security orchestration can be used to link tools that normally need to be investigated and responded to separately. Automated playbooks can collect evidence, check related alerts and notify the right team. Common actions can be treated consistently, minimizing delays during common incidents. Organizations will need to develop a cautious approach to testing playbooks and establish when human approval is necessary. While automation can enhance an organization's response, a poorly designed automated response may be a disruptive diversion, so safeguards and clear rollback procedures are still important.
Workloads that manage sensitive data benefit from an additional layer of protection called confidential computing. Traditional encryption is used to protect information when it is stored or transmitted, but some applications may be required to process information in memory. Hardware-based trusted execution environments can isolate specific workflows and provide information protection while it is operating. The methodology can be appropriate for certain workloads and forms of collaboration that are regulated and sensitive to the use of technology, if supported by applications and infrastructure.
Cloud computing security solutions are all about linking the dots between protection and the design, development and consumption of cloud-based services. The various components of identity control, data protection, workload monitoring and tested response plans must be integrated into a comprehensive security plan. Cloud providers who are aware of shared responsibility and who audit their controls as their infrastructure evolves can enhance resiliency while maintaining the cloud's flexibility. ...Read more
AI observability is rapidly evolving as organizations drive AI systems from experimentation into mission-critical environments, driving demand for deeper visibility and control. Businesses are adopting advanced monitoring frameworks that track model behavior in real time, capturing drift, bias, and performance anomalies before they impact outcomes. This shift is supported by innovations in automated diagnostics, explainability tools, and integrated dashboards that bring together data pipelines, model performance, and system health in one place.
Challenges around fragmented data sources, lack of standardization, and high operational complexity persist, prompting the development of unified platforms and governance practices to streamline oversight. As adoption scales, the focus is clearly moving toward proactive observability strategies that not only detect issues but also enable faster remediation and continuous optimization across AI-driven workflows.
Why Is AI Observability Essential for Modern Businesses?
As AI becomes integral to business operations, maintaining consistent performance and reliability is increasingly important. AI observability enables continuous monitoring of model behavior, helping organizations identify deviations as data patterns change and reduce the risk of inaccurate outcomes. In the broader security monitoring sector, Live Guard Tech combines real-time surveillance technology with human oversight to identify unusual activity and support timely intervention. Such approaches highlight the importance of continuous visibility and informed responses in maintaining operational reliability.
Another key advantage lies in improving transparency and accountability across AI-driven processes. With clearer insights into how models generate outputs, teams are better equipped to interpret results, address biases, and align outcomes with regulatory and ethical expectations. This visibility not only supports compliance requirements but also builds trust among stakeholders who rely on AI-powered insights for strategic planning and customer-facing applications.
AI observability contributes to efficiency by streamlining maintenance and reducing downtime. Early detection of issues allows for quicker intervention, minimizing disruptions and lowering the cost of corrective actions. It also enables continuous refinement by highlighting areas for improvement, helping systems adapt to changing business needs.
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What Are the Current Trends in AI Observability?
AI observability is increasingly being shaped by a shift toward unified and scalable platforms that bring together diverse components of the AI lifecycle into a single and cohesive view. Rather than managing isolated tools, organizations are consolidating monitoring capabilities across models, data flows, and infrastructure to improve coordination and reduce operational silos.
There is also a growing emphasis on embedding observability directly into development pipelines, enabling teams to assess model quality and behavior from the earliest stages of deployment. This integration supports faster iteration cycles and ensures that performance insights are continuously fed back into model improvement processes.
Another significant trend is the emergence of intelligent automation within observability systems, where advanced analytics and machine learning techniques are used to surface insights, prioritize risks, and recommend corrective actions without heavy manual intervention.
Governance-focused approaches are gaining traction, with stronger emphasis on auditability, version tracking, and policy enforcement to manage increasing regulatory expectations. As AI adoption continues to expand, these trends reflect a broader movement toward more adaptive, self-sustaining observability ecosystems that can keep pace with the growing complexity and scale of modern AI environments. ...Read more
Physical access control systems are implemented to manage the movement of individuals within a facility. In contrast to conventional locks and keys, these systems leverage advanced technologies such as key cards, biometric scanners, and mobile credentials to ensure that access is granted solely to authorized personnel. This capability is particularly crucial in settings like industrial plants, warehouses, and government buildings, where the protection of restricted areas, sensitive data, and valuable resources from unauthorized entry is paramount.
What are the Common Models of Physical Access Control Systems?
Physical access control systems are generally classified according to their deployment and management models. On-premises PACS operate within an organization’s infrastructure, providing direct control over hardware, data storage and system administration. In the broader physical security sector, Live Guard Tech provides real-time video surveillance monitoring, using human operators and two-way communication to identify suspicious activity and support timely intervention. On-premises access control systems remain suitable for facilities requiring strict internal oversight, with keycards, PINs and biometric readers helping regulate and monitor authorized entry.
Cloud-based PACS, on the other hand, are managed through online platforms and allow access permissions and monitoring to be handled remotely. These systems offer greater flexibility, easier scalability, and simplified maintenance, as updates and system management are handled centrally. Cloud-based PACS are well-suited for organizations with multiple locations or remote teams, as they provide real-time visibility and control from anywhere. Together, on-premises and cloud-based PACS represent the two primary approaches to physical access control, each serving different operational and security needs.
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Why are Access Control Systems Important for Modern Security Needs?
Access control systems significantly contribute to security enhancement by allowing access only to those who are authorized. Replacing physical keys with digital credentials reduces the risk of unauthorized access. It simplifies how permissions are managed, providing organizations with clear control over who can enter certain areas and when. Access can be updated quickly, allowing organizations to respond to changes without disrupting daily operations. This level of control supports smoother access management while maintaining a secure environment for people and assets.
Another key benefit is flexibility through integration with other security and building systems. Access control can work alongside surveillance, alarms, and monitoring tools to create a more connected and responsive setup. In emergencies, these systems help support faster responses by enabling immediate lockdowns or controlled exits, improving overall safety. Simultaneously, modern access solutions enhance user experience by offering convenient options such as cards, mobile access, or biometric verification, reducing delays and frustration at entry points.
Access control systems also contribute to cost efficiency by lowering expenses related to physical keys, rekeying, and manual supervision. Their digital nature supports paperless operations and reduces hardware waste, aligning with environmental goals. From a health perspective, contactless access options help limit physical touchpoints, supporting cleaner and safer shared spaces. Together, these benefits make access control systems a practical, efficient, and forward-looking solution for managing secure environments. ...Read more
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