IoT Health Devices: Exploring Security Risks in the Connected Landscape

Abstract

The concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) spans decades, and the same can be said for its inclusion in healthcare. The IoT is an attractive target in medicine; it offers considerable potential in expanding care. However, the application of the IoT in healthcare is fraught with an array of challenges, and also, through it, numerous vulnerabilities that translate to wider attack surfaces and deeper degrees of damage possible to both consumers and their confidence within health systems, as a result of patient-specific data being available to access. Further, when IoT health devices (IoTHDs) are developed, a diverse range of attacks are possible. To understand the risks in this new landscape, it is important to understand the architecture of IoTHDs, operations, and the social dynamics that may govern their interactions. This paper aims to document and create a map regarding IoTHDs, lay the groundwork for better understanding security risks in emerging IoTHD modalities through a multi-layer approach, and suggest means for improved governance and interaction. We also discuss technological innovations expected to set the stage for novel exploits leading into the middle and latter parts of the 21st century.

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

“…As IoT devices become increasingly integrated into society, there are still numerous security challenges that pose a threat to their spread. Numerous technologies are being developed in order to help protect the safe use of IoT devices, and it is clear that advances in security will be critical moving forward into the future [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…As IoT devices become increasingly integrated into society, there are still numerous security challenges that pose a threat to their spread. Numerous technologies are being developed in order to help protect the safe use of IoT devices, and it is clear that advances in security will be critical moving forward into the future [22][23][24][25][26][27]. Numerous research works have been conducted to address various aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT), encompassing energy harvesting, device-to-device communication, energy efficiency, resource allocation, edge computing, security, privacy, and applications across different domains.…”

A Survey on Cyber Risk Management for the Internet of Things

“…Meanwhile, Kumar et al [104] provide a taxonomy of attacks towards different types of smart grid networks. For healthcare, Affia et al [105] provide insight into the types of security risks faced by IoT health devices using layered architecture as leverage. In the context of smart cities, Izrailov et al [106] propose a method to classify smart city transport infrastructure threats since the implementation of smart cities is relatively new.…”

Exploring the Risks, Benefits, Advances, and Challenges in Internet Integration in Medicine With the Advent of 5G Technology: A Comprehensive Review

“…The increased speed and efficiency of 5G networks make them more susceptible to system failures, potentially affecting the availability and reliability of critical healthcare services. Downtime or disruption in 5G-enabled healthcare systems can have cascading effects on patient care and clinical operations, magnifying the potential harm [31].…”

“…Encryption for protecting data at rest and in transit, stringent access controls, regular software updates, and advanced intrusion detection systems become even more critical in the 5G era. Integrating these measures into the design, development, and maintenance of medical devices and healthcare networks is imperative to mitigate the unique risks posed by 5G [31].…”