The internet of things (IoT) is ever-expanding, and while this growth is bringing new capabilities and opportunities for business innovation, it also presents new challenges and security risks. And there is no greater risk than that of life or death, which is a core concern around the IoT in healthcare.
Devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops and digital assistants have already penetrated the industry, and the IoT is at the heart of the digital healthcare ecosystem. This ecosystem includes patients and medical staff, medical devices (e.g., diagnostic and imaging), surgical robots, wearables, intelligent equipment and countless wireless sensors — all of which can share sensitive data.
Despite palpable cybersecurity concerns, it appears the IoT momentum train is picking up speed. According to Gartner, the IoT in healthcare is forecast to grow by 29 percent in 2020, trailing building automation and automotive as one of the fastest growing industries.
As IoT use cases proliferate, their impact on the healthcare industry can only deepen — and that has implications both auspicious and ominous.
The Internet of Things Can Be Rewarding for All Parties
Alan Mihalic, president and founder of the IoT Security Institute, has noted that the IoT in healthcare is rolling out incredibly quickly and echoed Gartner’s prediction that billions of devices will be connected by 2020. Mihalic believes the primary motivators behind this rapid growth are lowering costs and improving patient care through big data.
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