Zero Trust in Healthcare: When Good Intentions Go Awry

Editor’s Note: At Asimily, we have the pleasure of featuring our diverse and brilliant team as frequent contributors on our blog. This post was contributed by Mick D’Angelo, Asimily’s Director of Solutions Engineering. His extensive background in IoT and IoMT security lends a unique and compelling perspective to the state of IoT security in 2025.

Zero Trust initiatives in healthcare are here to stay, and are usually an excellent goal, but some health systems are running into serious problems when trying to apply Zero Trust too broadly as a cure-all. “Never trust, always verify” sounds like the perfect antidote to the rising tide of cyber threats targeting our hospitals and clinics. Before we blindly automate our way to a “secure” future, let’s talk about why a purely automated Zero Trust approach in healthcare is like performing surgery with a butter knife – well-intentioned, but potentially disastrous.

Imagine a world where every medical device, every user, and every application is constantly challenged, re-authenticated, and potentially blocked based on rigid, automated rules. Sounds secure, right? Wrong. In the delicate ecosystem of healthcare, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death, an overzealous automated system can trigger a cascade of disruptions. Critical patient monitoring could be interrupted, essential data access delayed, and ultimately, patient care compromised. We’re not just protecting data here; we’re safeguarding lives.

At Asimily, we see Zero Trust as incredibly important when it is a tool in the arsenal in the service of patient care, and reducing overall risk. We believe in intelligent security, not just automated roadblocks. Our unique approach starts with unparalleled visibility into your entire connected medical device landscape. We don’t just see devices; we understand their unique behaviors, vulnerabilities, and the critical roles they play in patient care. This deep understanding allows us to prioritize risk with laser precision. Instead of slapping a one-size-fits-all Zero Trust policy across your network, we focus on identifying the real threats and applying targeted mitigation strategies.

It’s crucial that we address the landscape of IoMT security “solutions” available to health systems today. While many solution providers preach the gospel of network segmentation as the primary path to IoMT security, we see it as more of a blunt instrument. Relying heavily on complex micro or macro segmentation can lead to the same operational nightmares as an overly automated Zero Trust system – tangled policies, communication breakdowns, and a constant battle to keep the network functioning smoothly. It’s like putting layers of gauze on a papercut while ignoring the underlying infection.

Asimily offers a far more sophisticated approach. We leverage our comprehensive device intelligence to implement segmentation strategically and sparingly, only when it truly reduces risk without hindering clinical workflows. Our platform excels at identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities, automating patching for those devices that can be updated, and employing targeted attack prevention techniques that address specific exploit vectors. This is true risk reduction, not just security theater built on a foundation of overly restrictive network controls.

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We understand that healthcare security isn’t about creating impenetrable silos; it’s about enabling secure and seamless patient care. Asimily empowers you to achieve this balance. We provide the intelligence and automation to focus on what truly matters – mitigating the riskiest vulnerabilities and behaviors without throwing the baby out with the bathwater of automated, disruptive Zero Trust. It’s time to move beyond the simplistic allure of fully automated Zero Trust and embrace a smarter, more realistic approach with Asimily. The health of your patients and the resilience of your organization depend on it.