Are Your Medical Devices a Cybersecurity Risk

Apr 2, 2026

RTLS, Ransomware, and the New Reality for Biomeds

Not that long ago, biomedical technicians mostly worried about things like blown fuses, worn cables, and whether someone spilled coffee into a patient monitor.

Today? There’s a good chance you’re also hearing about network vulnerabilities, ransomware threats, and firmware patches before your first cup of coffee.

Medical devices have become incredibly connected. Infusion pumps, monitors, imaging equipment, and even beds can now communicate across hospital networks. That connectivity improves patient care—but it also means medical devices can become potential entry points for cybersecurity threats.

And if you ask most biomeds what makes cybersecurity particularly challenging, the answer usually starts with something simple:“We don’t always know where every device is.”

You Can’t Secure What You Can’t See

Before a device can be patched, monitored, or removed from a vulnerable network segment, someone needs to answer a few basic questions:

  • Where is the device right now?
  • Is it even still in service?
  • What software or firmware is it running?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

This is where Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) have started getting a lot of attention across healthcare.

RTLS allows hospitals to track equipment in real time—everything from infusion pumps to portable imaging devices. While many hospitals first adopt RTLS to reduce equipment loss or speed up equipment retrieval, there’s another big benefit:

Visibility. And in cybersecurity, visibility is everything.

The Part No One Talks About: Implementation

RTLS sounds fantastic in theory. Until someone says, “Great! Let’s deploy it.” Now suddenly someone has to:

  • Tag hundreds (or thousands) of devices
  • Verify asset numbers
  • Map departments
  • Integrate with asset systems
  • Coordinate with IT
  • And somehow still keep up with PMs and repairs

In other words, a massive project lands on a department that’s already busy keeping the hospital running.

Bringing in Reinforcements

Many healthcare organizations are turning to project-based biomedical support to help with initiatives like Real-time Location System tracking (RTLS) deployments, equipment audits, and cybersecurity readiness efforts.

Additional technicians can assist with things like:

  • Equipment inventories
  • RTLS tagging and implementation
  • Asset verification projects
  • Device fleet reviews related to cybersecurity alerts

The goal isn’t replacing internal teams—it’s giving them backup when the project list gets longer than the workday.

The Biomed Role Is Evolving

Whether it’s tracking devices through RTLS, supporting cybersecurity initiatives, or maintaining increasingly complex equipment, the role of biomedical technicians continues to expand.

Today’s biomeds aren’t just fixing equipment—they’re helping protect and manage an entire ecosystem of connected technology.

And in a world of connected devices, knowing where everything is might just be the first step in keeping everything secure.

As hospitals continue navigating the growing intersection of medical device connectivity, cybersecurity, and asset visibility, having the right partners can make these projects far more manageable.

For more than 30 years, Multi Medical Systems has supported healthcare organizations nationwide, helping clinical engineering teams tackle large initiatives like RTLS deployment, device visibility projects, and medical device cybersecurity readiness. With a dedicated RTLS and cybersecurity support team and experienced biomedical technicians available across the country, MMS provides the expertise and manpower hospitals need to implement these systems efficiently—without overwhelming internal teams.