Emerson Network Power Demonstrates Model for Improving Security and Software Management of Connected Hospital Digital Devices
Launch of an intelligent drug-dispensing system proof-of-concept, based on an Intel® Core™ i7 processor and Altiris Client Management Suite from Symantec, shows that networked embedded devices in hospitals can be secured from digital attack in the same way as PCs and servers.
(PRWEB) November 17, 2010
At the MEDICA exhibition, Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™ today revealed a proof-of-concept, based upon the Intel® Core™ i7 processor and Altiris Client Management Suite from Symantec, that demonstrates how hospital IT professionals can secure and administer embedded medical devices centrally in the same way as PCs and servers.
As healthcare providers digitize their medical records, and integrate clinical systems and diagnostic data, opportunities are emerging to simultaneously reduce cost, redundancy, administrative burden and medical errors, all while increasing the quality of care. The drive towards the “Connected Hospital” concept spans patient administration, health monitoring and care, imaging and diagnostics, and records management. However, network vulnerabilities expose a hospital to the risk of breaching patient confidentiality, of impairing patient care due to non-availability of data, and of attack by cybercriminals.
Hospital IT professionals have proven procedures for centrally administering the protection and security of network-attached enterprise computing equipment such as PCs, servers and laptops. But many embedded digital devices used in hospitals today cannot be controlled or secured in the same way. The Emerson Network Power proof-of-concept demonstrates a unified approach for bringing advanced remote management features and enhanced security to healthcare computing platforms.
The new proof-of-concept has been implemented as both an automated medication dispensing system called MedDispense and a wireless mobile workstation - both from Metro, an Emerson company. The technology behind this proof-of-concept can easily be replicated in other Connected Hospital applications such as a medical delivery cart or a mobile diagnostic system.
At its heart is the MATXM-CORE-411-B from Emerson Network Power, a MicroATX format motherboard based on the Intel Core i7 processor. The system runs Altiris Client Management Suite from Symantec, a systems management solution that helps provision, manage, and support client based systems. The proof-of-concept also demonstrates how the Symantec technology provides a familiar user interface for the Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel® AMT) feature that the Intel Core i7 processor provides. This enables the IT administrator to remotely connect to, troubleshoot and restart a device on the network even if its operating system has crashed, its hard drive has failed, it is in Sleep mode or software agents have malfunctioned. This feature only operates in client devices that contain an Intel processor with Intel AMT features enabled.
The Altiris Client Management Suite also allows administrators to manage users and devices on the network from a central location, to consistently maintain software and patch levels (including security), and to diagnose and repair hardware and software faults remotely, regardless of location and distance.
At the MEDICA exhibition in Düsseldorf, 17-20 November, the MedDispense proof-of-concept will be demonstrated on the Intel booth E26 in Hall 15; and the wireless mobile workstation will be demonstrated on the Metro booth D30 in Hall 13
For additional information about embedded motherboard technology from Emerson Network Power, visit http://www. EmersonNetworkPower. com/EmbeddedComputing.
About Emerson Network Power
Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson, is the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™ from grid to chip for telecommunication networks, data centers, health care and industrial facilities. Emerson Network Power provides innovative solutions and expertise in areas including AC and DC power and precision cooling systems, embedded computing and power, integrated racks and enclosures, power switching and controls, infrastructure management, and connectivity. All solutions are supported globally by local Emerson Network Power service technicians. For more information on Emerson Network Power’s embedded computing products and services, including ATCA®, COM Express®, CompactPCI®, embedded motherboards, MicroTCA® and VMEbus for original equipment manufacturers and systems integrators in the telecommunications, industrial automation, aerospace/defense and medical markets, visit http://www. EmersonNetworkPower. com/EmbeddedComputing. Learn more about Emerson Network Power products and services at http://www. EmersonNetworkPower. com.
About Emerson
Emerson, based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and tools and storage businesses. Sales in fiscal 2010 were $21 billion. For more information, visit http://www. Emerson. com.
Business-Critical Continuity, Emerson Network Power and the Emerson Network Power logo are trademarks and service marks of Emerson Electric Co. PICMG, AdvancedTCA, ATCA, COM Express, CompactPCI and MicroTCA are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. Intel, Intel Active Management Technology and Intel Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U. S. or other countries. The Embedded Computing business of Emerson Network Power does not claim medical compliance on its products nor does it offer medical grade products at the time of publishing. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2010 Emerson Electric Co.
Intel Active Management Technology requires activation and a system with a corporate network connection, an Intel® AMT-enabled chipset, network hardware and software. For notebooks, Intel AMT may be unavailable or limited over a host OS-based VPN, when connecting wirelessly, on battery power, sleeping, hibernating or powered off. Results dependent upon hardware, setup & configuration. For more information, visit http://www. intel. com/technology/platform-technology/intel-amt.
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