The rise of IOMT offers smart solutions in the healthcare industry, but it also increases cybersecurity risks. In this new era, where robotic arms assist in surgeries and wearable and swallowable sensors compatible with smartphones facilitate health monitoring, IoMT devices are rapidly becoming widespread. More than 7 million IoMT devices are expected to be used in smart hospitals by 2026; This is more than double the number in 2021. While technology provides great advantages in healthcare services, it is vital that cyber security measures develop at the same pace.
IDC predicts that more than 55 billion IoT devices will be used by 2025. However, according to an IoT security report, 57% of health security professionals do not fully understand the risks associated with these devices. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding in healthcare about what devices are even considered IoT. For example:
- 48% think networked MRIS, X-ray machines and ultrasound machines do not count as IoT technology.
- 41% think biomedical devices that use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (infusion pumps, ventilators, emergency carts) are not considered IoT-enabled devices.
Now, let’s assume that there will be 7 million IoMT devices in healthcare in 2025, and let’s assume that 10% of these devices are subject to cyber attacks. In this situation:
The average cost of a cyber attack has been calculated as approximately $3.86 million (Ponemon Institute, 2020). These costs include data breaches, operational outages, device reconfiguration, and reputational loss.
- 7,000,000 x 0.10 700,000 devices could be exposed to cyber attack.
- If each attack costs $3.86 million;
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