Medical device manufacturers strive to ensure the protection and privacy of their product intellectual property (IP), but increased cybersecurity breaches are heightening these concerns.
It has never been easier or more profitable to hack devices for their IP. More and more medical devices have transformed from mechanical devices with limited software, to software packed devices. Companies spend billions of dollars on R&D for years upon years, only to leave vulnerabilities in the software and firmware of the devices, opening the door for hackers to waltz in, and steal their IP. Something is horribly wrong with this scenario.
Sometimes the vulnerabilities are created during the development process, and sometimes they come part and parcel from the components received from their supply chain providers. Amplifying the challenge is the shortage of parts and components caused in part by the pandemic. This is driving many manufacturers to seek alternative suppliers who can produce steady supplies. With new suppliers comes the added risk of new, untested components and the potential for many new threats and vulnerabilities.
Organizations that wish to secure their IP from theft and misuse need to do a much better job at securing the devices that they produce.
Read the full article at Help Net Security.
