Best Practices For Security Testing In Healthcare Applications

Digitalization is changing the way we experience healthcare, making it easier and more convenient. These days, people use their phones and apps to book appointments, check medical records, and even talk to doctors. But with this shift to digital tools, security concerns are on the rise. In fact, BDO’s 2024 Healthcare CFO Outlook Survey found that 51% of healthcare CFOs think privacy breaches are a bigger risk this year. This really drives home the need for stronger cybersecurity in healthcare, especially through thorough app testing, to keep patient data safe and services running smoothly.

With 19% of smartphone users having at least one healthcare application on their devices, healthcare relies heavily on online apps to keep everything running smoothly. From internet pharmacies and patient portals to telemedicine services and electronic medical records (EMRs), these apps make it easy for consumers, doctors, and insurance companies to access and share data quickly.

But with all this convenience comes a serious risk—cybersecurity issues. Clinics and hospitals face threats from cloud storage breaches, vulnerabilities in computer-aided design (CAD) systems used by dentists, and even hospital inventory management systems.

Hackers often target the most exposed parts of an organization’s infrastructure, like web servers or online applications. They look for weaknesses that can be exploited to access sensitive data or disrupt services. That’s why healthcare providers must implement robust security measures such as strong authentication, encryption, vulnerability scanning, and web application firewalls (WAF).

In this blog, we’ll dive into the best practices for security testing in healthcare applications to help you safeguard your systems and keep your data secure. Let us first understand healthcare data sensitivity.

What Do You Mean By Healthcare Data Sensitivity?

Simply put, healthcare data includes personal and medical information that is both private and crucial. This can be anything from your medical history and treatment plans to your personal details like addresses and insurance information.

Why is this important? Because if this data falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to identity theft, insurance fraud, or even unauthorized access to your medical records. For this reason, protecting this data isn’t just about compliance—it’s about safeguarding your patients’ trust and ensuring their safety.

When it comes to healthcare applications, handling this kind of sensitive information means taking extra precautions. From using strong passwords and encryption to regularly checking for vulnerabilities, there’s a lot that goes into keeping healthcare data safe.

This takes us to the next section of our blog, exploring the security challenges in healthcare applications.

What Are Common Security Threats In Healthcare Applications?

When it comes to healthcare applications, security threats are a big concern. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. Phishing

Phishing is one of the most widespread cybersecurity threats in healthcare applications. It’s a tactic where attackers send emails that look harmless but contain dangerous links. Most phishing happens through email, where the message might even reference a well-known medical condition to trick people into clicking. Once they do, it can lead to serious security issues.

2. DDoS Attacks

A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is a security threat when a server gets overwhelmed with fake connection requests, causing it to crash. These attacks often involve multiple devices that have been infected with malware and are then used to flood the server. While DDoS attacks might not steal data like ransomware, they can cause major disruptions to healthcare applications and ultimately healthcare services.

3. Ransomware Attacks

Another major security threat in healthcare apps is where hackers use malware to take control of a system. They then demand a ransom to restore data and give back access to the compromised system. Ransomware can bring healthcare operations to a standstill, but an experienced security testing team can help detect and prevent these attacks before they cause damage.

4. Vulnerabilities in Medical Apps

As more medical devices and apps get connected—think infusion pumps and pacemakers—they become new targets for cyberattacks. Hackers can exploit weaknesses in these devices, which not only puts patient safety at risk but can also lead to major legal and operational issues for healthcare providers.

5. Obsolete Technology

Healthcare often relies on outdated technology due to budget constraints and the challenge of learning new systems. However, sticking with old tech can leave organizations vulnerable to new cyber threats. Healthcare companies need to invest in up-to-date solutions to keep patient data secure.

So, how would you manage to keep your healthcare application safe? These several threats could result in your application crashing or worse; compromising vital information. Thus you need a list of best practices that focus on security testing in healthcare applications.

Key Practices For Security Testing in Healthcare Applications

Implementing effective security testing in healthcare applications is essential. It requires adopting best practices that combine proactive measures with responsive strategies.

1. Risk-Based Testing

Start by identifying the areas of your application that pose the highest risks. This a good practice for security testing in your healthcare application as it focuses your testing efforts on the critical areas. These areas include patient data management and medication distribution.

By prioritizing high-risk zones, you improve the overall quality of your healthcare application and help prevent major issues before they arise.

2. Test Automation

Automated testing is a good practice for security testing in healthcare applications. It can save time and reduce the chances of human error that would have otherwise occurred by handling repetitive tasks. It also ensures consistency across tests.

You can use tools like Selenium for UI testing and JUnit for unit testing. Integrating automated tests into your CI/CD pipeline helps catch issues early, keeping your software reliable throughout its development.

3. Security Testing

It is of utmost importance to conduct regular security code reviews, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing to identify and fix potential security gaps. This helps your healthcare application to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensures that your application remains secure. Tools like OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite can aid in this process. This practice of security testing in healthcare applications using continuous security evaluations keeps your defenses strong.

4. Plan An Incident Response Procedure

Having a clear incident response plan is essential. This plan should outline the steps to take if a security breach occurs, including how to identify the problem, recover data, and communicate with stakeholders.

You sould make sure your plan is tailored to your specific healthcare environment and includes processes for minimizing damage and meeting regulatory requirements. This practice of security testing can be included in your healthcare application development process.

5. Improve Traceability and Documentation

It is a good practice to keep detailed records of your testing process is essential. Use traceability matrices to ensure all features are tested and document everything, from test cases to test results of your healthcare application.

This transparency not only supports regulatory compliance but also helps your team track progress and identify gaps in coverage. Tools like TestRail and JIRA can streamline this process and improve team collaboration.

6. Train Your Staff

It goes without saying that you should make it a practice to educate your team about the latest security threats and best practices. Regular training sessions can help your team recognize phishing attempts and other threats, while also teaching them how to follow secure practices. When everyone understands their role in maintaining security, your healthcare application becomes much safer.

Conclusion

The increasing importance of the healthcare industry makes it mandatory to ensure the quality and security of healthcare applications and software. You need to consider the growing role of digitalization when it comes to patient care and operations. By focusing on key practices like risk-based testing, test automation, security assessments, and thorough documentation, healthcare institutions can significantly increase their software’s reliability and protection. Leveraging these best practices not only addresses potential flaws and vulnerabilities but also helps in maintaining robust and dependable systems.

For healthcare providers aiming to stay ahead and keep their data safe, partnering with expert software testing services can make a real difference. At Zealous System, our team of software testers goes above and beyond to provide quality QA testing services that deliver dependable, scalable, and resilient healthcare applications that you need. Our detailed approach ensures that your software meets the highest standards, allowing you to focus on providing exceptional care and services.