As we begin Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is reminding you that medical devices, like other digital technologies, are vulnerable to cyber threats. Cyber incidents, such as ransomware or exploited cybersecurity vulnerabilities, can impact the safety and functionality of your medical devices.
The theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Secure Our World.
Everyone has a role in maintaining cybersecurity. To help ensure medical devices are working properly and remain secure, we encourage you to safeguard your devices. In addition to using secure passwords and installing software updates, CDRH offers the following cybersecurity tips:
- Register your device with the manufacturer.
- Only connect your medical device to other devices if the manufacturer or your health care provider indicate it is okay to do so.
- Follow up on any alerts from your device. Contact the manufacturer if your device begins to malfunction or becomes unreliable.
- Ensure your medical devices are up to date with manufacturer-supplied software updates. Do not apply other fixes to devices, especially ones that have not been approved by the manufacturer.
Keeping your devices safe
To learn more about cybersecurity and medical devices, review these resources:
