connected IT landscape . A freedom of information request found that roughly a third of NHS trusts have no processes in place for tracking the Internet of Things ( IoT ) devices connected to their networks . Of those that do , some use ineffective manual stocktaking methods , and many rely on inventory lists that are rarely , if ever , updated . Only a third use automated tracking systems .
It ’ s a common school of thought in cybersecurity that you cannot protect what you don ’ t know you have . Unless trusts have a clear picture of their assets , they cannot hope to properly protect them .
But while these assets undoubtedly improve patient care , digitisation is a double-edged sword that can also create more risk .
Why underutilised digital assets are throwing money away
Repeated incidents , such as the major attack on St Barts NHS Trust in London , or a recent attack that left the A & Es of three US hospitals unusable , position security as an important driver for better asset management . However , gaining a proper inventory of connected devices is also an important financial move .
Faced with pressure to pursue ambitious Digital Transformation , trusts can often end up losing track of devices . A lack of available IT resources means new assets may not be properly configured and integrated into the network , stopping them from being used to their full potential . Successive waves of investments may also lead to redundancies , with new devices being brought in for tasks existing hardware could already cover .
Underutilised assets can present a significant financial drain that tightly budgeted trusts cannot afford ; purchasing too many and continued maintenance costs for devices not being used . But
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