Prompt A
The devices used in monitoring patients' health progress like any other wireless systems is under potential cybersecurity risk where hackers are now capitalizing on their vulnerabilities ( Snell, 2015) . Insulin pump and pacemakers are some of the medical devices that are at risk of cyber threats. Insulin pump is a computerized device used to administer insulin for patient with diabetes. In the case of the insulin pump, the potential threat occurs in the wireless communication between the pumps and connected parts such as the remote controller and the processing module ( Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, 2013.) . A third party could connect to the device and tamper with the settings of the pump, causing insulin to be administered in excess or under dosage, causing complication to patients. On the other hand, the pacemaker is an electronic cardiac device that regulate the heartbeat, the devices have been made hackable in that vulnerabilities from the manufacturers' side, or sometimes hospital wireless connection can act as loopholes for malicious intrusion to install firmware remotely.
Since hackers act maliciously, they do not care about what would happen to the patients after the cyber-attacks on critical medical devices. These mainly occur to fulfill acts of terrorism or murder and theft of information for personal, financial, or political advantage ( Data, Privacy & Security Practice Group, 2014) . The implication of cyber intrusions may lead to the instant death of patients when the cybersecurity is not taken care of while manufacturing and using the medical devices in the facilities.
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Student One Reply
I concur with Kristen that networked medical devices create potential threat for safety and security risk for patients and healthcare organizations. Wireless digital radiography and wireless infusion pumps have both network connectivity and wireless conductivity, allowing for the cybersecurity risks where malware infect the devices giving clearance for unauthorized access. Also, identifying security breaches is a joint effort from both manufacturer's and the healthcare providers' end. Likewise, it is advisable to ensure cybersecurity patches are routinely updated to reinforce configured wireless medical devices.
Student Two Reply
The rapid changing medical technology have brought medical devices on board with wireless capability exposing patient's health and information at risk of cybersecurity threats. Smart infusion pumps contain wireless connectivity in which hacker can access specific patient information involving drug administration to interfere with patient medication. The patient monitoring systems is another vital device which contain patient data surveillance of various activities in the hospital. These information is connected to the mainframe which susceptible to attack during an intrusion that can cause wrongful reading of the patients' vital signs or alarm going off at wrong intervals. I assent to the student viewpoint that it is the primary responsibility of healthcare providers to assess risks to point our threats in the hospital systems.
References
Data, Privacy & Security Practice Group (2014, October). FDA Issues Cybersecurity Guidelines Manufacturers of Medical Devices Encouraged to Develop Cybersecurity Controls.
Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (2013.). Issue Brief: Networked medical device cybersecurity and patient safety: Perspectives of healthcare information cybersecurity executives.
Healthcare and Public Health Sector Cybersecurity Working Group (n.d.). Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity Primer: Cybersecurity 101, p1-28
Snell, Elizabeth ( 2015 , October 22) . Breaking Down the Evolution of Healthcare Cybersecurity. Health IT Security Xtelligent HEALTHCARE MEDIA . Retrieved from https://healthitsecurity.com/news/breaking-down-the-evolution-of-healthcare-cybersecurity
