Cybersecurity threat triggers heightened investment in medical device protection as AI incorporation augments data breaches and system susceptibilities.

The cybersecurity threats are driving the medical device industry to kick up protection measures because hospitals are exposing themselves more to risks arising from the connected technology. The expenditure on cybersecurity by medical device companies is estimated to increase from $631.2 million in 2022 to $1.2 billion in 2027, up almost 95 percent by 2027, according to GlobalData.

Medical devices many of which are often networked and AI-enabled contain sensitive patient information, which makes them popular targets for ransomware and malware attacks. Synnovis hack in the year 2024, which caused disturbances in the NHS services and amounted to the costs of 32.7 million pounds, exposed the weaknesses attached to such devices.

With AI being incorporated into means such as system of images and intelligent stethoscope, new risks have arisen, such as data poisoning, model inversion and performance drift. FDA has issued certain warnings on AI-driven medical devices, stressing the requirement for a lifecycle-wide cybersecurity.

However, a recent report from Cybellum shows that 93% of manufacturers are now putting speed to market above medical device security. Hackers’ warnings are taken seriously by experts as hospitals have just implemented 55% of the recommended safeguards leaving the critical systems vulnerable.

With departing threats, strong cybersecurity medical devices frameworks are necessary to make sure that they are kept tools of saving lives and not the genesis of cybercriminals.