With growing concern focused on cyber threats to the security of IT systems and platforms around the world, the Fraunhofer USA Center for Experimental Software Engineering CESE is building a cyber penetration lab to assist the medical device industry with assessing and addressing potential vulnerabilities of their devices.

The lab will be outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and operated by cybersecurity specialists using our rapid software testing tools to fully assess the threat potential to any device. Where weaknesses in a device’s security are discovered, we will work with device manufacturers and provide solutions to mitigate or eliminate cyber-based vulnerabilities.

“Many people think about cybersecurity threats only at the level of enterprise networks, believing that a single line of defense at the hospital boundary will prevent hackers from stealing corporate or private data, hacking into accounting systems, and launching ransomware attacks. But inside the network, medical devices, such as infusion pumps and pacemakers, can also be vulnerable to attack via the control and communications software embedded in these devices. We aim to address these threats by working with medical device manufacturers to ensure devices are as safe and secure as possible,” said Dr. Adam Porter, Fraunhofer USA CESE's Executive and Scientific Director.

Not-for-profit Fraunhofer USA CESE conducts applied research to support the software-enabled innovations created by our customers in industry, government, and academia. Part of the Fraunhofer family, Fraunhofer USA CESE is one of seven Centers comprising Fraunhofer USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft—the largest applied research organization in Europe. For more information, visit our Safety and Security page.