Vertical markets, Channel partners, Content, Security Program Controls/Technologies, IoT

Palo Alto Networks Unveils Zero Trust Security Solution for Medical Devices

EKG monitor in intra aortic balloon pump machine. Medical equipment

Palo Alto Networks has debuted Medical IoT Security, a zero trust security solution that allows healthcare organizations to "deploy and manage new connected technologies quickly and securely," the company said.

Medical IoT Security is expected to be generally available in January 2023.

Machine Learning Powers Zero Trust Security

Medical IoT Security works in conjunction with Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention, Advanced URL Filtering and other cloud security services, the company indicated. It uses machine learning to provide healthcare organizations with a variety of zero trust security capabilities, including:

  • Automated Security Responses lets healthcare organizations create rules to monitor their devices for behavioral anomalies and automatically trigger appropriate responses.
  • Automated Zero Trust Policy Recommendations and Enforcement uses Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) or supported network enforcement technologies to enforce recommended least-privileged access policies for medical devices.
  • Network Segmentation provides a map of a healthcare organization's connected devices and ensures that each device is placed in its designated network segment.

Medical IoT Security also integrates with existing healthcare information management systems, Palo Alto Networks noted. In doing so, Medical IoT Security allows healthcare organizations to automate their workflows.

Palo Alto Networks to Acquire AppSec, Supply Chain Security Company

The Medical IoT Security news comes after Palo Alto Networks in November 2022 announced plans to acquire Cider Security, an application security (AppSec) and supply chain security startup, for $195 million. This acquisition is expected to be completed before February 2023.

Palo Alto Networks intends to integrate Cider's AppSec and supply chain capabilities into its Prisma Cloud platform, the company stated. This will allow organizations to use Prisma Cloud to secure the entire application security lifecycle.

Meanwhile, Palo Alto Networks reported total revenue of $1.6 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, which represented a 25% year-over-year increase. The company looks poised to explore opportunities to deliver new solutions or enhance its existing ones to further expand its reach in the global cybersecurity market.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.