Endpoint Detection and Response: Securing Patient Data in Biomedical Tech

If you’ve been around for longer than ten years, then you know that biomedical technology is revolutionizing healthcare. From wearable devices to monitor vitals in real time to implantable medical equipment that improves patient outcomes no matter how remote the population is. The problem with innovation and making headlines is you become a prime target for cybercriminals. 

And because biomedical and healthcare companies house such important and delicate data, the bounty is plentiful if any of these systems are breached. 

What can biomedical companies do to protect themselves? 

You need endpoint detection and response (EDR). In this blog, we’re going to dive into the ins and outs of biomedical cybersecurity and how endpoint detection and response is the impenetrable band at the gate, protecting your data no matter how clever the villain may be.

Why cybersecurity is so important in biomedical technology

Biomed devices collect and transmit really sensitive patient data, and that’s really attractive to cybercriminals. In their world, data equals currency. The more they steal, the more they make. While it’s essential for these devices to remain connected, it’s that connectedness that makes them prime targets for cyberattacks. 

Remember, they’re after data. A data breach can lead to stolen patient records, disrupted treatments, and compromised devices, putting your business and countless lives at risk (yes, it really is that serious). When a breach happens, you face HIPAA violations, financial losses, and sometimes irreparable reputational damage all because of something that could have been avoided. 

Cyberthreats like ransomware, phishing, and device exploits are on the rise, but cybersecurity is often an afterthought until it’s too late. Don’t let it be too late; protect your biomedical company with EDR. Your data integrity and patient safety may hinge on it. 

Before we get into the nuts and bolts, we need to answer a very important question…

What is endpoint detection and response?

Imagine a hospital full of smart medical devices– heart monitors attached to elderly patients, infusion pumps, and wearable health trackers for example. These devices help doctors and nurses take care of their patients, but they’re also connected to the internet. 

Any device that’s connected like this is an entry point for hackers to weasel their way in to steal sensitive patient data. All they need is one unlocked door. 

This is exactly where endpoint detection and response comes in. Think of EDR like a security guard in your technical world, protecting every vulnerable entrypoint in your lab. Here’s a quick overview of how it works:

Always watching- Just like the security cameras peppered throughout your building, EDR constantly monitors computers, medical devices, and other equipment to spot anything malicious.

Catching Thanos- If a hacker tries to sneak in or a strange program starts running, EDR sounds the alarm. It can recognize threats that regular antivirus software might miss. 

Taking action- The moment your endpoint detection and response system smells a threat, it shuts it down before it has the chance to become a problem. 

Investigating what happened- After stopping the threat, EDR keeps a record of what went wrong so experts can fix any weaknesses or vulnerabilities and prevent future attacks. 

Now let’s get into how EDR protects your data. 

How EDR protects patient data in biomedical tech

The best way to protect your biomedical business is to stop threats before they have a chance to do any damage. It really is that simple. Endpoint detection and response protects your data by stopping cyberattacks before they can compromise patient data. Unlike traditional cybersecurity solutions, EDR continuously monitors all devices connected to your network for suspicious activity, ensuring that any potential attacks are detected early. 

One really cool thing about it is that EDR can recognize unusual device activity that may point to a looming cyberattack. If a threat is detected, EDR responds immediately by isolating the affected device, preventing the attack from spreading across your network and infiltrating your other devices. 

For a biomedical tech company, this is essential. Especially considering all of the research, intelligence, clinical trials, and money that goes into getting a device to market. If an attacker breaches your network, all of those devices could be compromised in the blink of an eye. 

Are you convinced yet? 

Key things to consider when choosing an EDR solution

Not all endpoint detection and response solutions are created equal. If you’re in biomedical technology, you need an EDR solution that’s built for the complexities of the industry. When choosing your provider, it’s important to make sure that it’s compatible with your systems which may run on specialized hardware. This ensures smooth integration and reliable protection.

You’ll also need to decide between cloud-based and on-premise solutions. Cloud-based systems give you flexibility and remote monitoring capabilities while on-prem solutions are much more restrictive. 

Another key factor to consider is whether or not an EDR solution is able to scale with you. Can it grow with your needs, or will it lag and miss vulnerabilities over time? It should also integrate seamlessly with existing cybersecurity frameworks which gives you peace of mind that you have a unified security strategy.

Choosing the right endpoint detection and response solution is just as important as staying HIPAA compliant.

Partner with NTS for biomedical endpoint security

We’ll start with the punchline: We understand healthcare cybersecurity. 

With years of experience, NTS gets the unique security challenges facing the biomedical industry, and because of this, we provide custom solutions to keep your sensitive patient data safe while keeping you compliant. 

We offer 24/7 monitoring to ensure that your devices and IT infrastructure are always protected, even outside of regular business hours. Our team is always ready to respond to any threat, minimizing downtime and potential damage. To add to why you should work with us, we use a compliance-driven approach that ensures that all security measures align with industry standards. 

Partnering with us means you get the moat, the army, and the iron locks on the gates to your sensitive data. Ready to see what we can do for you? Contact us to learn more.