Siemens Healthineers Secures $6.9M for Medical Device Cybersecurity Research

• •Siemens Healthineers received a $6.9 million contract from ARPA-H for cybersecurity research.
• •The SHIELD project aims to reduce the 491-day average delay in applying critical security updates.
• •Healthcare cyberattacks have cost the industry over $77 billion since 2016, affecting patient care.

Siemens Healthineers has received a $6.9 million contract from ARPA-H to enhance cybersecurity for medical devices. The project, named SHIELD, aims to develop AI-based tools to improve the detection and remediation of cyber threats in hospitals. Currently, hospitals face an average delay of 491 days to apply critical security updates, leaving systems vulnerable to exploitation. The SHIELD project will utilize an exa-scale simulation to identify key vulnerabilities and optimize security updates. The healthcare sector has suffered over $77 billion in cyberattack costs since 2016, with significant impacts on patient care and operational continuity. The collaboration includes partners Siemens Corporation, Axonius, and Kraetonics, focusing on minimizing disruptions to patient care during cybersecurity updates.