Medtech Lobby Pushes Cybersecurity Standards After Attacks
Cybersecurity has become a top priority for the medical technology industry’s leading lobbying group, AdvaMed, following a series of high-profile cyberattacks on medical device companies. This year, major players like Stryker and Boston Scientific faced incidents that disrupted their operations, while other large firms, including Intuitive, Medtronic, and Abbott, also reported cyberattacks. Smaller companies, with less robust security infrastructure, are particularly vulnerable, according to AdvaMed Chairman Mick Farrell.
At the MedTech Conference, Farrell announced plans to establish industry-wide standards for cybersecurity, privacy, and interoperability. Farrell, who also serves as CEO of ResMed, likened this initiative to creating a code of ethics for the industry. “What we want to do is raise the bar of the whole industry throughout cybersecurity,” Farrell said. “Those headline-grabbing episodes send a message that anybody can be impacted at any time.” ResMed, which produces devices for sleep apnea and other sleep conditions, exemplifies the challenges and opportunities of connected medical devices. The company’s respiratory machines connect to the cloud, providing patients with access to their data, but this connectivity necessitates significant investment in security infrastructure.
Beyond cybersecurity, tariffs and staffing levels are critical issues for AdvaMed. The threat of Section 232 tariffs looms over the industry, though the Trump administration has not yet imposed any tariffs specific to medtech. Recently, BD secured an agreement with the administration to expand domestic manufacturing in exchange for exemption from future Section 232 tariffs.
When asked about AdvaMed’s involvement in these negotiations, CEO Scott Whitaker confirmed the group was not directly involved but closely monitored the process. “I think what we learned from the BD negotiation is there’s a model that the administration seems to like,” Whitaker noted. He emphasized that the medtech industry manufactures 70% of medical devices sold in the U.S., advocating for tariff reductions. “Can we get to zero [tariffs]? I hope so,” Whitaker said. “If they’re consistent, we will. But you know, policymakers aren’t always consistent.”
Staffing levels at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are another key concern. Whitaker stressed the importance of maintaining high-quality reviewers at the FDA, particularly after the Trump administration cut FDA staff in 2025. Staffing was a central issue in this year’s medical device user fee negotiations. “Working with [the FDA] to make sure they hit their hiring targets and maintain quality employees, I think, is very, very important,” Whitaker said. These efforts aim to ensure regulatory efficiency and safety in the medtech sector.
