Healthcare Networks in the Age of IoT

As far reaching in its impact as advances in biotechnology and medical engineering, the healthcare industry is undergoing a digital transformation, driven by the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.

These promise to revolutionise care by enabling real-time health monitoring, automating clinical operations, and enhancing the management of hospital resources. This brings with it challenges, however, at the forefront of which are ensuring the security of patient data and managing a sprawling network of interconnected devices.

The increasing need for IoT in healthcare

IoT devices extend the capabilities of healthcare providers in areas ranging from remote patient monitoring and personalised medicine to efficient resource management and enhanced diagnostic procedures.

IoT is also now instrumental in transforming hospital operations. Smart equipment can automate dispensing of medications, managing medical inventory, and even guiding robotic surgeries. This means more precise and efficient care, reduced human errors and lower operational costs. Additionally, IoT helps in real-time asset tracking, ensuring vital medical equipment can be located quickly.

The integration of IoT poses its own challenges, however. The volume of data generated by a  plethora of devices requires robust management and analysis capabilities, while the interconnectivity of devices introduces complex security concerns.

The drawbacks of traditional network solutions.

It is apparent that traditional network infrastructures, largely dependant on public IP connections, are inadequate for the demands of healthcare IoT. Since public IP networks are accessible from the internet, they are vulnerable to a wide range of attacks, including data breaches, ransomware, and unauthorised access.

The complexity and manageability of the network also poses challenges, especially as the size of the device estate scales. Each new device adds complexity to the network management, straining the infrastructure and requiring substantial resources for proper integration and maintenance.

In addition, public IP networks often struggle with latency and packet loss, particularly when handling the volumes of data typical in healthcare IoT applications. This can affect the functionality of critical IoT devices, such as those used for real-time patient monitoring, with potentially dire consequences.

Integrating IoT devices on traditional networks also generally requires intricate configurations to ensure data privacy and compliance with regulatory standards. While it is possible to secure devices using Carrier Grade NAT to translate from a private to public IP address, this is only really suitable where a device initiates the transmission and not where remote access is required for management and updates. In this case, a public IP address is needed which then leaves the device open to attack.

As a result, secure networks are often implemented using encryption algorithms and IP Sec VPN tunnels. As the number of devices connected increases, however, these become exponentially more complicated and time consuming to deploy.

Spitfire’s One Network; a superior solution.

Spitfire’s One Network offers a transformative approach to healthcare network infrastructure. A fully private network, it eliminates traversal of the public internet, significantly reducing exposure to cyber threats and shielding patient data. Its architecture is able to handle the scale and complexity of healthcare IoT systems with ease.

By providing unified connectivity encompassing fixed line fibre, mobile data, and direct access to cloud hosting services, One Network simplifies network management and reduces the IT burden. All devices, whether mobile health monitors or stationary hospital equipment, are seamlessly connected with high reliability and low latency. The network design ensures all data remains secure and private.

In terms of scalability, One Network will efficiently manage an increasing number of IoT devices without the degradation in performance, bottlenecking or security liabilities of traditional networks. Network configuration and maintenance are also greatly simplified by the Spitfire solution. With less need for individual device configurations, healthcare IT teams can deploy new devices faster and with fewer resources.

Asset tracking and predictive maintenance.

Tracking and managing medical equipment, devices, and supplies is a significant challenge for healthcare facilities. Traditional methods involve manual tracking or systems that lack integration, leading to misplaced items and delays in patient care. Ensuring the privacy and security of patient data generated by these assets poses another challenge.

With Spitfire’s One Network solution, asset tracking is greatly improved while ensuring privacy and security of data at all times.

• Spitfire’s Mobile IoT SIMs provide reliable LTE connectivity for tracking devices either directly or via a central gateway. These SIMs offer reliable, low-latency, high bandwidth data transfer, ensuring continuous connectivity even in challenging environments within the hospital.
• Most IoT devices send data to a cloud platform for management and monitoring. With Spitfire’s Cloud Connect connectivity from its core network to all major data centres in the UK, hospitals can seamlessly and privately transfer data between on-premise IoT devices and cloud-based applications.
• Spitfire’s Fixed Line Connectivity can also be implemented to establish seamless communication within the hospital. By utilising high-speed and reliable connections, hospitals can access their IoT cloud platforms efficiently, ensuring real-time visibility and monitoring of assets throughout all sites.

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Comparing public IP networks with Spitfire’s One Network solution.

While public internet-based networks are vulnerable to a spectrum of cyber threats, Spitfire’s One Network operates within a secure, private, closed environment, vastly reducing the attack surface accessible to external threats.

Where public networks suffer from congestion, variable latency, and reliability issues, One Network ensures high reliability and low latency communication between devices and healthcare systems, particularly beneficial for IoT applications that require real-time monitoring and rapid response.

Finally, the open nature of public networks complicates the enforcement of health data protection regulations, while Spitfire’s solution helps to facilitate compliance by providing secure data handling and a known traffic route.

Conclusion

IoT technologies represent a leap forward in the ability to provide high-quality patient care and improved operational efficiencies. However, the transformation introduces substantial challenges, especially the security of patient data and the management of a complex network infrastructure.

Spitfire’s One Network offers a comprehensive solution. A  secure private network that circumvents the public internet, One Network enhances data security, mitigates cyber threats, and ensures high reliability and low latency in data communications. Its architecture also simplifies compliance and streamlines network management.

By enabling advanced asset tracking and predictive maintenance, Spitfire’s One Network enables enhancement of hospital operations, ensuring facilities function more efficiently.

As healthcare continues to embrace the potential of IoT, One Network assures  providers of the ability to leverage this fully to enhance both patient outcomes and operational efficiencies.

As published in Open Access Government, July 2024