Medical Device Security Testbed
As healthcare technology becomes increasingly connected, protecting medical devices from cybersecurity threats is essential to patient safety, data security, and reliable care. The Medical Device Security Testbed at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), housed in the College of Engineering, provides a specialized environment for investigating the security of connected medical technologies.
The Testbed supports research, hands-on learning, and demonstrations focused on understanding how medical devices and their supporting systems can be evaluated, tested, and better protected against emerging cybersecurity threats. Through its dedicated infrastructure and research activities, it helps develop student expertise and advance understanding of security challenges in healthcare technology.
Research and Capabilities
The Medical Device Security Testbed provides a controlled, isolated network environment for examining medical devices and the systems that support them. Its infrastructure includes dedicated servers, routers, network cabling, and wireless access points, allowing researchers to explore device communication, network security, and potential vulnerabilities without connecting the environment to the public internet.
Research and testing activities may include:
• Medical Device Security: Investigating potential vulnerabilities in connected medical devices and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) technologies.
• Network Security and Testing: Examining device communications, network configurations, and potential attack pathways in a controlled environment.
• Hardware Security: Exploring hardware-level vulnerabilities and reverse-engineering techniques to better understand device behavior and security limitations.
• Emerging Security Challenges: Investigating approaches to identifying, understanding, and mitigating cybersecurity risks affecting connected healthcare technologies.
The Testbed also provides a physical setting for demonstrations and exploration of medical technology security, supporting research into how connected devices can be made more resilient.
Student Learning and Research Highlights
The Testbed supports student engagement through research activities, capstone projects, independent study, and VCU’s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program.
These opportunities allow students to develop practical experience with cybersecurity concepts, network infrastructure, and hardware security while exploring challenges relevant to real-world technologies.
Access and Collaboration
The Medical Device Security Testbed operates within a controlled, isolated environment, and remote access is not currently supported.
Researchers, academic partners, and external organizations interested in exploring potential collaborations or arranging an in-person visit are encouraged to contact the Testbed team. Requests will be reviewed to determine feasibility, alignment with research priorities, and any applicable access requirements.
Student participation opportunities and project availability should be confirmed with the Testbed team.
Contact
For inquiries about the Medical Device Security Testbed, research opportunities, or potential collaborations, please contact:
Dr. Erdem Topsakal
Faculty Lead, Medical Device Security Testbed
Lauren Linkous
Testbed Operations and Infrastructure