IoT in Healthcare

For medical IoT manufacturers, Futurex provides the following digital signing, key management, and data encryption solutions:

Futurex key management servers establish a PKI and offline root CA for secure device and code signing. Futurex key management technology also handles full automation of remote key loading (RKL). Futurex hardware security modules (HSMs) encrypt data at each point of transmission. Monitoring and alerting capabilities enable automatic or hands-on enterprise IoT management.

Extend this functionality to other devices in production and the field across your enterprise and the globe. Like all Futurex solutions, customers can deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or both.

Security Challenges Facing IoT in Healthcare

Manufacturers of IoT devices have several infrastructure requirements. They need to sign devices and code, encrypt data sent over networks (locally and globally), and manage encryption keys. Medical IoT devices often deal with highly sensitive patient health data, creating new security risks. Your cryptographic infrastructure must handle these diverse functions to ensure trust among devices and prevent cybersecurity risks and must also scale according to business needs. Manufacturers also need the option to deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid of both. Challenges include:

Device and code signing to create a network of trusted devices
Data encryption to mitigate cyber risks
Key lifecycle management, including RKL and automation
Scalable device capabilities and centralized management

Futurex Solutions for Medical IoT Security

Futurex encryption solutions secure each data endpoint in the network of medical IoT devices. Our key management servers give you control over every step of the encryption key lifecycle with extensive automation. Futurex devices secure private keys to establish a PKI, which underlies an offline root CA. You can manage certificate trees for digital signing and authentication from a centralized platform. With the VirtuCrypt cloud, you can deploy an army of cloud HSMs within minutes. On-premises and hybrid deployments are also available. Solutions include:

Key management servers establish PKI and CA for digital signing and authentication
HSMs handle data encryption (including P2PE)
Key management servers control key generation, loading, rotation, and disposal
Deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid of both

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

IoMT environments can involve many networked medical devices. You must secure mobile health terminals, insulin pumps, pacemakers, smartpens, and other devices with a security infrastructure that delivers strong, scalable encryption and key management services.

Learn about global RKL >

Scalable Key Management

Key management involves generating, loading, distributing, tracking, and retiring encryption keys. With IoT solutions, good key management protects connected devices against cyber threats. With Futurex, scale your healthcare IoT key management to a global level.

Learn about the KMES >

Remote Key Loading (RKL)

Futurex provides a remote key loading (RKL) platform where medical device manufacturers and healthcare organizations can remotely inject and securely manage encryption keys. By establishing a PKI-authenticated connection with each medical IoT device, the Futurex RKL solution enables device manufacturers to securely load, rotate, and retire keys across a vast network of medical devices without needing to access most IoT devices physically. You can do the following:

Securely inject and retire IoT device encryption keys from a remote location
Automate key loading for shorter key rotation cycles
Eliminate operational costs of shipping devices and maintain a key injection facility

Certificate Authority (CA)

Medical IoT device manufacturers can use Futurex enterprise key management servers to establish a PKI to secure private keys and create an offline root certificate authority (CA). The offline root certificate establishes a working certificate that can digitally sign medical IoT devices and code and authenticate patient data to prevent unauthorized access to a healthcare organization’s network of healthcare IoT devices. Like the PKI, having a CA in your security infrastructure is essential to protecting connected medical devices (and the patient data they relay) and mitigating cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE)

Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) occurs when encryption and key management devices work together. It begins when encryption keys are injected into IoT devices that relay patient data, such as remote heart monitors or security cameras. When the IoT devices receive communications from other points in the network, the data is encrypted before being transmitted to other medical devices. This prevents data in the clear from being intercepted by cybercriminals while in transit. If hackers intercept the patient data while in transit, its encrypted status makes it indecipherable. The content requested is only decrypted within the secure environment of an HSM. Achieving a solid information security posture starts with encryption strategies like P2PE, which secures each network entry point to reduce the viable attack surface against healthcare systems.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

A PKI is an indispensable part of any medical IoT architecture. It secures communication between devices on a network. Using Futurex enterprise key management servers (KMSs), organizations can generate asymmetric private keys using a certificate authority (CA). A highly secure offline root certificate establishes a hierarchy of new certificates beneath it, forming a certificate tree. The new certificates can be distributed to connected medical devices or code hashes to certify that the root CA trusts the device and code. Any time a connected medical device passes data through a network, that data contains a certificate proving that the medical device is trusted. When it comes to a hospital’s network of IoMT devices, having a PKI is one of the most foundational cyber security measures that can mitigate vulnerabilities and protect the hospital network and patients alike.