Intelligent CISO Issue 72 | Page 39

f

e

a

t

u

r

e

are often siloed . Clinical engineers , possessing invaluable insights into medical technologies , are frequently excluded from asset management and network security discussions . This exclusion limits the understanding of the asset landscape .
As trusts get to grips with their devices , they should also take the opportunity to understand the protocols used across their facilities . Again , an automated approach here will help to cut through the complexity and avoid tying up limited IT resources . This process should also include reviewing policies and bringing in knowledgeable stakeholders .
Getting to grips with connected assets requires more than accounting for physical devices .
Future proofing for regulatory compliance
Last , but by no means least , enhanced asset management is also pivotal in meeting compliance standards . This has long been a top priority as healthcare has always been a tightly regulated field , and compliance needs have only grown in recent years . For example , the Data Security and Protection Toolkit ( DSPT ) requires all organisations handling NHS data to assess their security and privacy . On a larger scale , healthcare is included in the EUwide NIS2 standard , bringing in more stringent requirements including asset management . with little in the way of proper asset visibility and management , many will have no way of knowing how much capital is being wasted .
Cutting this wastage requires an automated approach that can quickly and reliably identify all connected assets , without the need for painstaking manual reviews and inefficient spreadsheets .
Getting to grips with protocols and processes
Establishing an up-to-date asset inventory that can pinpoint where each piece of data is stored and the security safeguards in place for it will go a long way in ensuring compliance for these standards , as well as future proofing against further developments .
To conclude , while the healthcare industry will continue to face significant challenges around balancing patient care , budgets and security ; focusing on discovering and managing digital assets will help tackle all three issues simultaneously . With this under control , providers can work towards an efficient and cost-effective IT infrastructure that boosts patient care without opening the door for cybercriminals .
Getting to grips with connected assets requires more than accounting for physical devices and must include understanding the way they communicate with the network as well . The growing complexity of IoMT protocols and network connectivity compounds the challenge of fragmented asset management within healthcare . IT departments , already stretched thin , are grappling with rapidly evolving IoMT communication protocols and network configurations .
Additionally , institutes face an organisational challenge where knowledge and responsibilities
WWW . INTELLIGENTCISO . COM 39