A method of improving network access security on a medical device includes opening a communication port on the medical device to establish a communication session on a network and transmitting medical device data to a computer over the network during the communication session. After the medical device data is transmitted to the computer, the method includes transmitting to the computer a request for a command from the computer during the communication session. The method also includes receiving a command from the computer, processing the command, and closing the communication port on the medical device.