The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is here to revolutionize the delivery of patient care. Want to monitor patients in real time or provide personalized care tailored to each patient’s needs? IoMT can make that possible! But there is a big concern: it exposes healthcare organizations to hidden cybersecurity risks, as more than 90% of IoT traffic remains unencrypted.

In fact, just in 2024, over 14,000 IPs related to these smart devices were exposed worldwide, and 36% were due to unsecured medical imaging ports, according to a Censys report (1). This article offers clear, actionable steps for health leaders to strengthen their medical IoT security and cybersecurity strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Run security audits and update software regularly to keep systems safe.
• Secure networks with strong encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and Zero Trust principles.
• Best practices include following cybersecurity standards like NIST and ISO 27001.
• Adopt AI and blockchain to future-proof healthcare IoT cybersecurity strategies.

The Rise of Medical IoT Devices: Transforming Healthcare

Medical technology is evolving at lightning speed. We are very close to an era where patients no longer need to wait for hours in the doctor’s office or emergency department (ED). With IoT technology transforming today’s healthcare delivery, a major shift toward more personalized care has already started. The shift is real and will go upward in the coming years.

These smart devices are reshaping clinical workflows, feeding data directly into electronic health records (EHRs). Doctors and nurses can now monitor patients’ vital signs, heart rhythms, glucose levels, and medication adherence in real-time. And they can do this at their convenience using just their handheld smartphones (1, 2).

Benefits & Market Growth

Medical IoT devices deliver measurable results, particularly in improving patient outcomes and reducing operational costs. In fact, in a recent study, an Arizona-based remote patient monitoring (RPM) firm, reported about a 50% reduction in hospital readmissions for heart patients enrolled in its RPM program after following up with over 26,000 patients for 12 months (3).

Industry insights: Cardiac readmissions cost an average of $15,000 per patient. Overall, more than $52.4 billion is spent annually on 30-day hospital readmission of patients (4, 5).

The healthcare IoT market reflects its value proposition, with projections showing growth from $60 billion in 2024 to roughly $814 billion by 2032, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.5%. This growth offers cost savings and improved patient outcomes. It also makes investing in medical IoT security a strategic advantage (6).

Cybersecurity Risks and Medical IoT

Many hospitals still transmit data from IoT devices to EHRs without encryption. Outdated operating systems (OS) add to the problem. In fact, a significant number of these devices, especially imaging equipment, still run on Windows XP, even though Microsoft released the last security update for the OS software back in 2014. So, that’s a perfect loophole for attackers to exploit and thereby gain unauthorized access to systems (7).

When data breaches occur, the consequences are usually very severe. A single hacking incident can compromise entire networks. Healthcare IoT cybersecurity strategies that fail to address these vulnerabilities risk data theft, operational shutdowns, or legal ramifications. On average, a breach costs about $10 million per incident (8).

Moreover, the threat of cyberattacks is at an all-time high now. Healthcare experienced a 239% increase in hacking incidents from 2018-2023, with IoT devices compromised in 68% of breaches (9). Multiple factors are responsible for this:

• Legacy protocols: 36% of exposures involve unsecured DICOM interfaces used for medical imaging (1).
• Supply chain risks: 53% of healthcare organizations still use third-party IoT devices with weak security protocols (11).

Essential Cybersecurity Measures: Immediate Actions for Protection

The first immediate actions include strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA). A long, alphanumeric password with MFA makes it way too difficult for hackers to gain login access to systems.

Strong encryption, particularly AES-256, is another measure that healthcare leaders can implement to ensure robust cybersecurity for healthcare IoT devices.

Next, regular updates are a must for any IoT device. Although there is no set guideline regarding how often software needs to be updated, most industry experts recommend releasing firmware and security updates every 45 days.

Network security is another measure that must be prioritized. Separate sensitive networks with Virtual LANs. Consider Zero Trust architecture to verify every user and device. Isolating clinical networks from IoT devices or administrative systems can help prevent attackers from using compromised devices as access points to critical systems (1, 2, 11).

Healthcare IoT Cybersecurity Strategies: A Multi Layered Approach

Assess Risk

It’s a multi-step process. First, list all connected devices, and then check their software versions and network activity. Use a structured framework like NIST SP 1800-8 to identify vulnerabilities, prioritize fixes, and keep track of risks. This smart approach helps strengthen cybersecurity for healthcare IoT devices (11).

Authenticate Access

Use both Zero Trust and MFA to minimize unauthorized access. Every user and device must go through a strict verification before connecting to core systems. Set up automated alerts to flag unusual traffic or login attempts. Take action on these alerts before threats become a problem (1, 11).

Staff Training and Incident Response

Human error is one of the leading causes of security breaches. Regular training on phishing scams, password protection, and safe device use help prevent them. It’s also important to have an incident response plan and define roles, set up clear steps to report issues, and practice simulated attacks (11).

The Future of IoT Device Protection: Emerging Technologies and Trends

AI-Driven Monitoring

AI-powered systems can flag anomalies in real time and send alerts as soon as unusual activity is detected. This can help stop malicious activity before it becomes a threat. For CEOs and CMOs, the use of AI for Medical IoT security offers an edge: it shifts them from reactive to proactive in problem-solving (12).

Blockchain Technology

Adopting blockchain is now a safe bet for healthcare providers looking to improve IoT device security. It is like a shared digital ledger that records every transaction across a vast network of computers. Each record is linked to the previous one, so even if a hacker group breaks into a computer, they will get only a fraction of the whole dataset. This ensures that patient data remains secure and tamper-proof. But one drawback is that blockchain is still a bit expensive (12).

Secure Your Healthcare IoT. Protect Your Patients.

From ransomware to data breaches, healthcare cyberattacks are on the rise. Every connected device, including IoMT, is a potential access point for cybercriminals.

Don’t leave loopholes in your medical IoT security. Take the next step toward proactive IoT device protection in healthcare, and outsource the provider who will help you fix vulnerabilities with AI-powered security solutions, Zero Trust architecture, and advanced encryption.

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References:

1. The Censys Research Team. (2024, October 10). The global state of Internet of Healthcare Things (IoHT) exposures on public-facing networks. Censys. https://censys.com/state-of-internet-of-healthcare-things/.
2. Kelly, J. T., Campbell, K. L., Gong, E., & Scuffham, P. (2020). The Internet of Things: Impact and implications for health care delivery. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(11), e20135.
3. MD Revolution. (2024, January). How Cardiac Solutions took already low readmission rates and found a new path to further reduce by 50%. MD Revolution. https://mdrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Case-Study_MD-Revolution-and-Cardiac-Solutions.pdf.
4. Bilicki, D. J., & Reeves, M. J. (2024). Outpatient follow-up visits to reduce 30-day all-cause readmissions for heart failure, COPD, myocardial infarction, and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Preventing Chronic Disease, 21, E74.
5. Beauvais, B., Whitaker, Z., Kim, F., & Anderson, B. (2022). Is the hospital value-based purchasing program associated with reduced hospital readmissions?. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 1089-1099.
6. Fortune Business Insights. (2025, February 10). Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) market size, share & industry analysis, by product (stationary medical devices, implanted medical devices, and wearable external medical devices), by application (telemedicine, medication management, patient monitoring, and others), and regional forecast, 2024–2032 (Report No. FBI101844). Fortune Business Insights. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/internet-of-medical-things-iomt-market-101844.
7. Alder, S. (2020, March 12). 83% of medical devices run on outdated operating systems. The HIPAA Journal. https://www.hipaajournal.com/83-of-medical-devices-run-on-outdated-operating-systems/.
8. Alder, S. (2024, July 31). Average cost of a data breach rises to $4.88M; falls to $9.77M in healthcare. The HIPAA Journal. Retrieved from https://www.hipaajournal.com/cost-healthcare-data-breach-2024/.
9. Alder, S. (2025, January 20). Healthcare data breach statistics. The HIPAA Journal. https://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/.
10. United States Government Accountability Office. (2023). Medical device cybersecurity: Agencies need to update agreement to ensure effective coordination (GAO-24-106683). https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106683.pdf.
11. Svandova, K., & Smutny, Z. (2024). Internet of Medical Things Security Frameworks for Risk Assessment and Management: A Scoping Review. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 2281-2301.
12. Chataut, R., Phoummalayvane, A., & Akl, R. (2023). Unleashing the power of IoT: A comprehensive review of IoT applications and future prospects in healthcare, agriculture, smart homes, smart cities, and industry 4.0. Sensors, 23(16), 7194.