Medical Device IOT Security: Launch your defense with Palo Alto and Comport Secure

Recent industry studies have revealed that a majority of these devices suffer from known security gaps, posing a considerable risk to healthcare organizations. Non-compliance with regulations like HIPAA, potential data breaches, and service disruptions are just a few of the critical risks associated with unsecured IoMT devices.

To address this security dilemma, it is crucial to ensure that all IoMT devices within a healthcare organization are securely locked down. Comport Secure, in collaboration with Palo Alto, offers a robust solution to meet this challenge through their Medical IoT Security tool.

The foundation of Palo Alto Networks Medical Device IoT Security lies in the Zero Trust approach, which treats each device individually, allowing only necessary resources and data to be made available. This approach, increasingly adopted in various organizations, ensures that devices default to a deny state and provide access to services explicitly granted, preventing potential threats from lurking on the network.

It’s clear that IoMT devices must be locked down and secured (If you haven’t already, read our best practices for Medical IoT Security). What are the best tech tools out there to accomplish this? Here at Comport Secure, we work with Palo Alto Networks Medical IoT Security. With this best-of-breed tool, provided by one of our most trusted vendor partners, you get the rock solid IoMT security you need in a streamlined, simple package. Palo Alto’s Zero Trust approach harnesses the power of machine learning (ML) to provide protection over an IoMT’s entire lifecycle, from onboarding to retirement. Read on to learn how this exciting new tool can solve today’s IoMT security challenges.

Built on a Zero Trust Foundation

Palo Alto Networks Medical IoT Security starts with identifying a device immediately as it connects to your network. During the onboarding process, it can assess risks and subsequently apply risk reduction policies to preemptively prevent any possible threats. While the IoMT device is in use, Medical IoT Security monitors everything about its usage and maintenance, comparing it to other devices, and optimizing its performance. And when the time comes for the device to be retired, Medical IoT Security ensures this is done safely. At the heart of each of these steps is the machine learning-based system, capable of analyzing new devices and assessing risks by harnessing all kinds of data including vendor advisories, FDA recalls, known vulnerabilities, anomalous behavior, Palo Alto’s own internal research, and patient health data.

Here are some of the key features and benefits of Palo Alto’s Medical Device IoT Security:

• Customization – Create customized, device-specific rules and policies capable of monitoring devices and then triggering certain responses automatically if any anomalous behavior occurs.
• Automation – With Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (or another supported network enforcement tech), you can avoid the tedious process of manual policy creation. With a single click, you can enforce recommended Zero Trust least-privileged access policies. Automating the process also means it’s easy to scale for similar devices.
• Monitor and map – Get all the nitty gritty details about each medical device’s Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and map them to Common Vulnerability Exposures (CVEs). For each IoMT device, you’ll get insights into the software libraries used, any associated vulnerabilities, end-of-life status, recall notification, default password alert and unauthorized external website communication.
• Compliance – You’ll get device-specific security recommendations to ensure compliance with Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and similar laws and regulations.
• Verification – With a complete map of all connected devices, you can ensure that each one has its proper, authorized access and that it is behaving as it should.
• Simplicity – With two simple dashboards–one for IT and one for biomedical engineering teams–users only see the information they need. Integration with existing healthcare information management systems, like AIMS and Epic Systems, helps automate workflows.

Trust Comport Secure as your implementation partner

If you’re considering Palo Alto Networks Medical IoT Security for your organization, partner with Comport Secure to assist with implementation and support. Our decades of healthcare-specific expertise is industry-leading and unsurpassed. Our team has individuals who have worked in healthcare and understand the workflows, departments, decision makers and how IT enables all. Comport will work with your team to understand your processes and develop individualized solutions. With our long-standing vendor partnership with Palo Alto, we can deliver timely, efficient, and thorough support.

Enjoy the Benefits of IoMT Devices Without the Security Concerns

IoMT devices are critical to today’s healthcare delivery. While they indisputably save lives, they inherently come with critical security risks. Without customized, specific security measures in place, they put your patients, their data, and your entire healthcare delivery organization at risk of cyber attacks. It’s time to enjoy the benefits of IoMT devices without worrying about security. Palo Alto Networks Medical IoT Security makes it possible to ensure that your IoMT devices don’t become gateways to cyber adversaries which means your healthcare organization can focus on its mission of delivering high-quality, efficient, patient-centered care.  If you are interested in deploying this or other security solutions, reach out to our team!

Written By Erik Krucker