These medical systems operate in environments which make their upgrades more difficult, said Timon Watson, director analyst with Gartner. “These devices will operate on isolated networks with no access to the outside world and [are] managed with dedicated tools and processes. Any changes to these environments require extensive testing and validation, which may involve external parties and take months to complete.”
He added that the healthcare industry has specific requirements that influence any change. “Computers connected to machinery or medical devices are often purchased with and are considered as part of that equipment by the vendor,” he said. “The vendor will retain responsibility for maintaining the computer, meaning any software changes or OS updates may require professional services, which can cost thousands of dollars.”
Vendors in other industrial sectors have also discovered compatibility issues. Rockwell, for example, put a note on its website saying that its ASEM 6300P and 6300B industrial computers are generally not compatible with Windows 11 due to their older processors. There are sure to be other industrial vendors who will have the same issues.
