The Medical Device Innovation, Safety and Security Consortium launched its first of more than a dozen planned labs focused on medical device cybersecurity July 27.
The World Health Information Security Testing Lab will comprise a network of facilities independently owned and operated by MDISS member organizations. The effort is part of a broader initiative to address public health concerns that arise from cybersecurity issues. The group plans to open WHISTL facilities in New York, Indiana, Tennessee and California as well as in the U.K., Israel, Finland and Singapore by the end of 2017.
At WHISTL facilities, MDISS members will be able to test devices in both physical and virtual environments. The labs will focus on identifying and mitigating medical device vulnerabilities as well as improving data-sharing solutions and device security education. MDISS says the project's goal is to encourage organizations to collaborate and effectively tackle industry cybersecurity issues.
"WHISTL will provide much-needed insight from actual developers and users of medical devices, which will result in increased relevant and actionable information sharing and situational awareness for all stakeholders in healthcare," said Denise Anderson, president of the National Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which plans to partner with MDISS.
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