Cybersecurity's Shaping of Wearable Healthcare Devices and Digital Marketing: What Leaders Need to Know

1. Introduction

Internet of Things (IoT), electronic devices that can be linked via internet networks, technology allow for the high visibility of wearable devices. Wearable devices are prevailing from healthcare to biomedical monitoring systems (Valentinuzzi, 2020). Wearables are novel mobile devices that continue to advance in acceptance mid consumers globally because of wearable multipurpose applications (Borowski-Beszta & Polasik, 2020; Wang et al, 2023). Another name for wearable devices is wearable technology, which is explained as innovative computing technologies that users and consumers wear (Jacobs et. al, 2019; Lewis, 2023). Wearables used for healthcare allow constant measures regarding urgent biomarkers for medical analytics, physiological healthcare checking, and assessment (Rodgers et al., 2019; Valentinuzzi, 2020).

The concept of wearables is not new. The first actual wearables were created by Walter Huth, introduced in May of 1938, and required a battery pack (Valentinuzzi, 2020; Washington University School of Medicine, 2009). The contextual timeline includes key milestones in both the evolution of wearable healthcare technology and the corresponding advancements in cybersecurity. In the early 2000s, the emergence of wearable technology primarily focused on fitness and wellness (e.g., early Fitbit models) (Silvera-Tawil, 2020). Initial cybersecurity concerns were minimal, as these devices had limited functionality and data collection capabilities. In the mid to late 2000s, wearable technology capabilities expanded, including introducing more advanced health monitoring features (Raad, 2020). Cybersecurity became more of a concern with the increasing amount of personal data being collected. In the early 2010s, the Internet of Things (IoT) grew rapidly, with wearable healthcare devices becoming more sophisticated, including features like heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking (Azizan et al., 2024). This period marks the beginning of significant cybersecurity concerns due to increased connectivity and data sensitivity. In the mid-2010s, cybersecurity was recognized as a major issue in the IoT and wearable technology space (Pattison-Gordon, 2021). The industry saw more concerted efforts in developing cybersecurity standards and practices for wearable devices.

Cybersecurity threats escalated in the late 2010s to early 2020s, with several high-profile data breaches and security incidents involving IoT and wearable devices (Uberti, 2020). This period sees increased regulatory attention and the development of more robust cybersecurity frameworks. 2020 and Beyond (COVID-19 Era). The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerates the adoption of wearable healthcare technology for remote monitoring and telehealth (Brown-Jackson, 2022b). This surge in usage highlights the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures as the amount of sensitive health data being transmitted and stored reaches unprecedented levels.

2023 and onwards, the current state, as reflected in the chapter, where the integration of cybersecurity in wearable healthcare devices is not only a technical necessity but also a crucial factor for user trust and market success. There is a growing emphasis on the need for interdisciplinary approaches that combine healthcare, technology, and cybersecurity knowledge (Lepore et al., 2023; Payne et al., 2021). This timeline provides a general context for understanding the evolution of wearable healthcare technology and the growing importance of cybersecurity within this domain (Javaid et al., 2023). Today’s wearable devices are significant because they are associated with individuals and IoT via straightforward contact with the body and clothing (Banitaba et al., 2023, Devi et al, 2023; Ometov et al, 2021).