The Central Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI CVN), is happy to welcome you to its Medical Device Security (MDS) testbed. This base, housed within the VCU College of Engineering, delves into the critical intersection of cybersecurity and medical devices, working to ensure that patients and their data remain secure in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
The Future of Healthcare is Secure by Design
The COVID pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of healthcare, with advanced technology becoming an integral part of patient care. Medical devices, such as pacemakers and infusion pumps, are now interconnected, offering remote monitoring, real-time data sharing, and improved patient outcomes. With digitalization in healthcare, medical device manufacturers are shifting towards implementing security measures throughout the creation of their products.
“Security used to be an afterthought for medical device companies, but now Secure by Design has become a very big movement. They (the manufacturers) have started to double down and say ‘we need to consider what happens when we aren’t just putting security in at the end’,” says Lauren – a Ph.D. candidate, who has been working in the MDS testbed since its inception.
Our MDS Testbed
Our testbed serves as a critical response to these security challenges arising from healthcare digitalization, focusing on three core areas:
Vulnerability Assessment: Our facility hosts in-depth experiments identifying vulnerabilities in a wide range of medical devices. This research forms the foundation of our efforts to understand and mitigate potential risks and threats that could compromise device functionality and patient data.
Security Solutions Development: “As soon as you come up with a better lock, someone comes up with a better lockpick,” says Lauren. That is why our testbed is committed to the ongoing effort of testing and developing innovative security measures designed specifically to address the unique challenges posed by medical devices.
Collaboration and Best Practices: We welcome collaborations with industry partners, healthcare providers, and other research institutions. We aim to establish and promote best practices in medical device security. Together, we can create a more secure environment for these devices and, in turn, safeguard the patients who depend on them.
A Secure Future for Healthcare with a Focus on Learning
Through research, and collaborative efforts, we are not only safeguarding the future of digital healthcare but also bolstering the trust that we all place in these life-saving technologies as we develop future talent in the field.
“Curiosity is the only thing you can do everything with…when I am doing something interesting everybody says ‘cool, can I check it out?’ Engineering is a very collaborative effort,” says Lauren.
That is why our MDS testbed also serves as a hub for those eager to explore the frontiers of medical device security. It’s a space facilitating curiosity and learning, where all levels of experience are welcome. Ensuring the future of healthcare remains safe and secure by developing the cybersecurity talent to whom it will be entrusted.
For the latest updates, developments, and opportunities to engage with the MDS Testbed, we invite you to explore our website where you can reach out to our dedicated CVN team.
