FDA and DHS Form Cooperative Effort for Device Cybersecurity

The FDA and the Department of Homeland Security signed an agreement that formalizes their joint efforts on medical device cybersecurity. The collaboration between the agencies is meant to enable faster and more efficient methods of dealing with threats to patient safety.

The two agencies have collaborated in the past on cybersecurity vulnerability disclosures, providing devicemakers technical information to allow quick responses to potential threats.

The potential for threats and vulnerabilities rises with increased medical device innovation and integration with hospital networks and technology — such as other devices. As this happens, “ensuring that devices are adequately protected against cyber intrusions [becomes] paramount to protecting patients,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said.