Master IoMT Security Vendor Selection: A Strategic RFP Template for Healthcare Tech Leaders

Health delivery organizations (HDOs) are adept at purchasing medical equipment for patient care and diagnostics. However, purchasing cybersecurity technology to secure that equipment presents unique challenges. The rise in cyberattacks on medical devices, combined with the complexity of securing Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, makes purchasing an IoMT security tool essential for HDOs.

Unfortunately, selecting the right IoMT security tool is no simple task. It demands a balanced understanding of cybersecurity, risk management, compliance standards, and healthcare technology management (HTM). An ideal IoMT security platform goes beyond the most common cyber risks, such as vulnerabilities, to provide HDOs with holistic risk mitigation options and targeted mitigation recommendations. Often, HDOs go through a request for proposal (RFP) process and perform rigorous evaluations of each vendor to select the right IoMT security tool for their environment.

A solid understanding of the key features of a best-in-class IoMT security platform and an IoMT Security RFP Template can help facilitate the selection process.

The Key Features to Consider When Selecting an IoMT Security Platform

IoMT devices provide numerous enhancements to the patient care experience, delivering more personal and efficient care, but they also introduce security risks. Because IoMT devices often run legacy software and can store or transmit sensitive patient information, they’re prime targets for cyberattacks. Traditional security tools typically cannot safely provide HDOs with the insights and risk mitigation recommendations they need to secure their IoMT devices.

Some common cybersecurity concerns for HDOs include:

• Data Breaches: HDOs retain a wealth of sensitive information, and cyberattacks can compromise or leak protected health information (PHI), creating regulatory and compliance issues.
• Ransomware Risks: IoMT devices often have unpatched critical vulnerabilities that can lead to devastating ransomware attacks.
• Device Management and Visibility Issues: Many IoMT devices do not integrate seamlessly with existing networks, creating challenges for the HTM teams that secure them.

An IoMT security platform will have several key features to mitigate the most pressing cybersecurity risks.

Visibility and Asset Classification

Device visibility is one of the biggest challenges HDOs face when securing IoMT devices—after all, you can’t protect what you can’t find.

Look for an IoMT security tool that automatically identifies all connected medical devices (as well as other IoT devices) on the network and maintains an up-to-date device inventory with details such as device time, manufacturer, and firmware version. Additionally, the tool should accurately classify and categorize devices, send alerts when a new device is discovered on the network, and allow HTM teams to customize how their devices are grouped to ensure the inventory is tailored to their specific environment.

Vulnerability Mitigation and Remediation

IoMT devices require robust monitoring to detect and resolve critical vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, traditional vulnerability management tooling can be ineffective in detecting and mitigating the weaknesses in IoMT devices. Applying patches takes time, and not all vulnerabilities are high-risk or exploitable.

Not every vulnerability is a path to exploit. An ideal IoMT solution uses industry standards to identify, analyze, and rank critical vulnerabilities and provides targeted recommendations for vulnerability management by surfacing the simplest actions to reduce risk. For example, if the solution detects an IoMT device with a critical vulnerability but the device only communicates with one workstation and has no advanced privileges, that vulnerability could be deprioritized, allowing the team to focus on mitigating other, more critical vulnerabilities to reduce their overall risk profile.

Threat Detection and Incident Response

Threat intelligence feeds provide insight into real-world threat actor activity, including current vulnerability exploits and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). When HDOs select an IoMT solution that leverages real-time threat intelligence, they increase their effectiveness and, in the event of a cyberattack, can respond and recover faster.

The IoMT solution should analyze network traffic to and from all connected devices to detect and alert on anomalous behavior in real-time. Early detection of anomalous behavior can enhance a security team’s ability to respond to an in-progress attack. If a connected imaging device suddenly begins communicating with unknown IP addresses or accessing sensitive patient information, it may be an indicator of compromise (IoC).

Additionally, because cyber threats constantly evolve, look for a solution that offers new rules in response to new threats, such as zero-day vulnerabilities, and provides mitigation options to address these emerging risks.

Configuration Control

Similar to having a device inventory, having a snapshot of an IoMT device’s ‘known good configuration’ allows for streamlined recovery in the event of configuration changes or cyberattacks.

To streamline device management, the IoMT solution should enable teams to create bulk and automatic configuration snapshots, monitor for configuration drift, and send alerts if the device drifts from its preferred configuration status.

Understanding device configuration can prove invaluable in the event of a cyberattack or other investigation into anomalous device behavior. Some IoMT devices, like infusion pumps, should send and receive minimal data, so a configuration change that results in a high volume of data traveling through an infusion pump would be a telltale IoC. 

Risk Modeling, Reporting, and Operational Efficiency

Good security hygiene begins with understanding your risk profile. Ultimately, effective risk mitigation against cyberattacks involves integrating device inventors, vulnerability management, threat intelligence, and configuration control to proactively identify and address security gaps. When HDOs understand their risk, they can take proactive steps to mitigate to secure their IoMT devices and the broader network. Still, more importantly, they reduce the likelihood of breaches, protect patient data, and ensure compliance with critical regulations like HIPAA.

When an IoMT solution creates an organizational risk score, complete with theoretical and actional recommendations, teams can make informed decisions to reduce their overall risk. This applies to both existing and new IoMT devices. The solution may provide targeted recommendations to harden devices as part of a pre-purchase assessment or provide information on FDA recalls helping HDOs stay compliant.

Integrations and Services

An essential but easily overlooked feature of an IoMT security solution is how well it integrates with the network and what services the IoMT vendor provides.  

When IoMT solutions offer a clear and comprehensive list of integrations, teams can determine how the tool will integrate with existing healthcare IT systems, such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and work well alongside endpoint security solutions and broader cybersecurity frameworks.

Additionally, look for a vendor that stands behind their solution and offers services to help teams with integration, risk reduction, or meeting compliance standards.

How to Select the Best IoMT Security Platform Using an IoMT Security RFP Template

Any HDO that’s gone through the process of selecting an IoMT security tool knows it can be challenging. Many organizations continue to grapple with reduced budgets and staffing shortages, resulting in overburdened departments and HTM teams that are stretched thin.

Introducing a new IoMT security tool impacts both the network and HTM teams, which makes your RFP incredibly thorough. Using an IoMT Security RFP template can help streamline the process by pulling together a robust list of the key features to look for when selecting an IoMT solution. Further complicating the matter, not all IoMT security vendors are created equal, and tracking the differences can be challenging. Some vendors may specialize in certain areas, like device inventory, while others focus on mitigating risk across the entire network and provide specific insights and recommendations. 

Using an IoMT Security RFP template can help HDOs quickly and easily compare vendors. You want a clear picture of how each potential solution aligns with your unique environment. By leveraging an IoMT Security RFP template, HDOs can gain a complete and accurate view of each potential vendor’s strengths and weaknesses.

Complimentary IoMT Security RFP Template

Mitigating the risk of insecure IoMT devices can be a daunting task, and HDOs area already stretched thin. The Asimily platform is designed expressly with IoT and IoMT devices in mind. To that end, we wanted to make it easy for HDOs to feel confident that Asimily is the right partner to help secure their IoMT fleet.

We recently launched the free Asimily IoMT Security RFP Template. This template is an editable Word document that allows HDOs to quickly and easily track which key features each vendor’s IoMT security solution has. Each feature has a different section in the template, making it clear which features each vendor has so teams can evaluate how they align with the organization’s needs.

Download your free IoMT Security RFP Template today.