Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities

The secure and efficient collection of patients’ vital information is a challenge faced by the healthcare industry. Through the adoption and application of Internet of Things (IoT), the healthcare industry has seen an improvement in the quality of delivered services and patient safety. However, IoT...

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Main Authors: Samaneh Madanian, Tserendorj Chinbat, Maduka Subasinghage, David Airehrour, Farkhondeh Hassandoust, Sira Yongchareon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Future Internet
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/16/11/389
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author Samaneh Madanian
Tserendorj Chinbat
Maduka Subasinghage
David Airehrour
Farkhondeh Hassandoust
Sira Yongchareon
author_facet Samaneh Madanian
Tserendorj Chinbat
Maduka Subasinghage
David Airehrour
Farkhondeh Hassandoust
Sira Yongchareon
author_sort Samaneh Madanian
collection DOAJ
description The secure and efficient collection of patients’ vital information is a challenge faced by the healthcare industry. Through the adoption and application of Internet of Things (IoT), the healthcare industry has seen an improvement in the quality of delivered services and patient safety. However, IoT utilization in healthcare is challenging due to the sensitive nature of patients’ clinical information and communicating this across heterogeneous networks and among IoT devices. We conducted a semi-systematic literature review to provide an overview of IoT security and privacy challenges in the healthcare sector over time. We collected 279 studies from 5 scientific databases, of which 69 articles met the requirements for inclusion. We performed thematic and qualitative content analysis to extract trends and information. According to our analysis, the vulnerabilities in IoT in healthcare are classified into three main layers: perception, network, and application. We comprehensively reviewed IoT privacy and security threats on each layer. Different technological advancements were suggested to address the identified vulnerabilities in healthcare. This review has practical implications, emphasizing that healthcare organizations, software developers, and device manufacturers must prioritize healthcare IoT security and privacy. A comprehensive, multilayered security approach, security-by-design principles, and training for staff and end-users must be adopted. Regulators and policy makers must also establish and enforce standards and regulations that promote the security and privacy of healthcare IoT. Overall, this study underscores the importance of ensuring the security and privacy of healthcare IoT, with stakeholders’ coordinated efforts to address the complex and evolving security and privacy threats in this field. This can enhance healthcare IoT trust and reliability, reduce the risks of security and privacy issues and attacks, and ultimately improve healthcare delivery quality and safety.
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spelling doaj-art-a20c85d7b7be4b1eac2db45bcd4811102024-11-26T18:05:09ZengMDPI AGFuture Internet1999-59032024-10-01161138910.3390/fi16110389Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and VulnerabilitiesSamaneh Madanian0Tserendorj Chinbat1Maduka Subasinghage2David Airehrour3Farkhondeh Hassandoust4Sira Yongchareon5Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 6 St. Paul Street, Auckland 1010, New ZealandDepartment of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 6 St. Paul Street, Auckland 1010, New ZealandBusiness School, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, AustraliaTogether Communications, 77 Cook Street, Auckland 1010, New ZealandDepartment of Information Systems and Operation Management, University of Auckland, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New ZealandDepartment of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 6 St. Paul Street, Auckland 1010, New ZealandThe secure and efficient collection of patients’ vital information is a challenge faced by the healthcare industry. Through the adoption and application of Internet of Things (IoT), the healthcare industry has seen an improvement in the quality of delivered services and patient safety. However, IoT utilization in healthcare is challenging due to the sensitive nature of patients’ clinical information and communicating this across heterogeneous networks and among IoT devices. We conducted a semi-systematic literature review to provide an overview of IoT security and privacy challenges in the healthcare sector over time. We collected 279 studies from 5 scientific databases, of which 69 articles met the requirements for inclusion. We performed thematic and qualitative content analysis to extract trends and information. According to our analysis, the vulnerabilities in IoT in healthcare are classified into three main layers: perception, network, and application. We comprehensively reviewed IoT privacy and security threats on each layer. Different technological advancements were suggested to address the identified vulnerabilities in healthcare. This review has practical implications, emphasizing that healthcare organizations, software developers, and device manufacturers must prioritize healthcare IoT security and privacy. A comprehensive, multilayered security approach, security-by-design principles, and training for staff and end-users must be adopted. Regulators and policy makers must also establish and enforce standards and regulations that promote the security and privacy of healthcare IoT. Overall, this study underscores the importance of ensuring the security and privacy of healthcare IoT, with stakeholders’ coordinated efforts to address the complex and evolving security and privacy threats in this field. This can enhance healthcare IoT trust and reliability, reduce the risks of security and privacy issues and attacks, and ultimately improve healthcare delivery quality and safety.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/16/11/389internet of thingsdigital healthIoTsecurityprivacyhealthcare
spellingShingle Samaneh Madanian
Tserendorj Chinbat
Maduka Subasinghage
David Airehrour
Farkhondeh Hassandoust
Sira Yongchareon
Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities
Future Internet
internet of things
digital health
IoT
security
privacy
healthcare
title Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities
title_full Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities
title_fullStr Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities
title_full_unstemmed Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities
title_short Health IoT Threats: Survey of Risks and Vulnerabilities
title_sort health iot threats survey of risks and vulnerabilities
topic internet of things
digital health
IoT
security
privacy
healthcare
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/16/11/389
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