The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued guidance setting forth its current thinking on issues related to cybersecurity of medical devices.

Because medical devices increasingly store or transmit sensitive patient health information, there are increased security risks of unauthorized access, modification, misuse or denial of use, or the unauthorized use of this information. Medical devices that connect to other devices or to the Internet or which have USB or other data ports are especially vulnerable. The FDA notes that “[f]ailure to maintain cybersecurity can result in compromised device functionality, loss of data (medical or personal) availability or integrity, or exposure of other connected devices or networks to security threats. This in turn may have the potential to result in patient illness, injury, or death.” Continue reading →