Cybersecurity Requirements for Remote Operations (6G & Tele-surgery)

Protection of Patients Safety and Data Integrity in Next-Generation Medical Netw

Article Written By: Iyithihya Prakasan

Article Designed by: Iyithihya Prakasan and Natasha Gumpula

With the technological development of remote surgery, a physician can soon remotely control robotic tools with super-speedy networks such as 6G. To ensure this works safely, then we can use good cybersecurity to ensure protection of patients, doctors and the complete system at large.

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The Need to Secure Surgery Remotely

In tele-surgery, information of a patient and commanding of the doctor is transferred by a network. In case, somebody hacks or interrupts this data the results may be severe and erroneous.

So we need:

•  Good security measures against unauthorized users.

•  How to make information confidential and undisturbed.

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This resembles the regulations that are already in place by the hospitals that are keen on ensuring the safety of information related to health.

Super-Fast and Secure Connections (6G)

Remote surgery requires a very high and stable level of networks-faster than 5G. It is expected that 6G will:

• Send data almost instantly

• Connection of numerous devices in a flash.

• Nevertheless, rapid networks are also associated with additional data to secure against cybersecurity threats.

Supposed Identity and Communication

We must make sure that:

• The real surgeon is the only person who is linked to the robot. 

• Computer and physician communication is safe.

According to some studies, blockchain may be used to verify users and secure data by using blockchain technology which is difficult to alter.

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Zero Trust Security Model

The traditional security presupposes the safety of the devices on a network since they are safe when inside. In remote surgery, however, we cannot make an assumption that something will be safe in itself.

Zero Trust means:

•  Each user has to identify himself or herself.

•  All equipment is monitored at all times.

•  The presence of suspicious behavior is automatically identified.

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This would make the system quite difficult to crack.

Safeguarding against the cyberattacks

The remote systems should guard against common cyber threats such as:

• Individuals that attempt to capture information.

• The intention of wise systems being overloaded.

• Fraudulent instructions are passed to robots.

In the existing studies, it has been discovered that robots could be vulnerable in case security is weak.

Recovery Contingencies and Safety Measures

Things may not go right though you have good networks and security. Remote surgery systems should have:

•  The emergency communication channels will be used as backup communication channels.           

•  Emergency stop functions

•  Safe shutdown procedures

This can guarantee the safety of the patients in the case of a cyberattack.                

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References

Wang, Yulun et al. “Expert Consensus-Based Technical Guidelines for Remote Robotic-Assisted Surgery and Procedures.” World journal of surgery vol. 49,7 (2025): 1708-1721. doi:10.1002/wjs.12653

Mitchell, Sarah. “6G-Enabled Telemedicine: The Millisecond Lifeline for Remote Healthcare.” 6G-AI, 17 Jan. 2026,https://6g-ai.com/news/6g-telemedicine-millisecond-lifeline-healthcare?. 

Kumar, Neeraj, and Rifaqat Ali. “A Smart Contract-Based Robotic Surgery Authentication System for Healthcare Using 6G-Tactile Internet.” Computer Networks, vol. 238, Jan. 2024, article 110133, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comnet.2023.110133.

Abdel Hakeem, Shimaa A., Hanan H. Hussein, and HyungWon Kim. “Security Requirements and Challenges of 6G Technologies and Applications.” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 5, 2022, article 1969, https://doi.org/10.3390/s22051969.

Henefer, David, and Nikos Papanikolopoulos. “Security in Teleoperated Robots.” arXiv:1504.04339, 15 Apr. 2015, [1504.04339] To Make a Robot Secure: An Experimental Analysis of Cyber Security Threats Against Teleoperated Surgical Robots.

Morohashi, Hajime, et al. “Impact of Data Compression and Security Devices on Telesurgery Systems.” Surgery Today, 7 Oct. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-025-03142-7.

-Iyithihya Prakasan

Contributing Author