HIPAA / HITRUST Penetration Testing
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Protect Patient Data. Prevent Massive Fines.
Validate your Technical Safeguards with expert penetration testing designed for the strict requirements of the HIPAA Security Rule and the HITRUST Act.
With the OCR aggressively enforcing HIPAA compliance, you cannot afford to leave your ePHI exposed. Our HIPAA / HITRUST Penetration Testing services simulate real-world attacks against your medical applications and networks to secure your data, protect your patients, and pass your audits with confidence.
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What is HIPAA / HITRUST Penetration Testing?
HIPAA / HITRUST penetration testing rigorously validates the technical safeguards protecting electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI).
HIPAA / HITRUST Penetration Testing is a specialized security assessment designed to evaluate the Technical Safeguards required by the HIPAA Security Rule (45 CFR § 164.312).
Unlike a standard pentest, a HIPAA-focused assessment prioritizes the confidentiality and integrity of Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). We analyze how patient data is stored, transmitted, and accessed. We test your encryption, your access controls, and your network segmentation to ensure that even if a hacker gets in, they cannot extract sensitive medical records.
Requirements for HIPAA / HITRUST Pen Testing
Penetration testing for HIPAA / HITRUST is effectively mandatory under the evaluation and risk analysis requirements. You need this testing to satisfy:
Evaluation - § 164.308(a)(8)
Requires Covered Entities to perform a periodic technical evaluation to ensure that information security policies are actually working.
Risk - § 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)
You must conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of potential risks to ePHI. Penetration testing is the industry standard for identifying risks.
NIST 800-66 Guidance
The OCR points to NIST guidelines for HIPAA / HITRUST compliance, which explicitly recommend penetration testing as a key control.
Business Associate Agreements
If you are a SaaS vendor selling to hospitals, your contracts likely mandate that you undergo annual third-party penetration testing.
Types of HIPAA / HITRUST Testing We Perform
Healthcare ecosystems are complex. We cover every angle of the attack surface.
| Test Type | Description |
| Web Application & Portal Testing | Testing Patient Portals, Telehealth platforms, and EMR/EHR web interfaces for OWASP vulnerabilities and logic flaws that leak data. |
| API & Interoperability Testing | Testing FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) and HL7 interfaces to ensure data exchanges between systems are secure. |
| Internal Network Testing | Simulating a ransomware attack inside a hospital network to see how fast lateral movement can occur. |
| Medical Device (IoMT) Security | Testing connected medical devices (pumps, monitors, scanners) for default passwords and unpatched firmware. |
What Our HIPAA / HITRUST Service Includes
Penetration testing for HIPAA / HITRUST is effectively mandatory under the evaluation and risk analysis requirements. You need this testing to satisfy:
Why Healthcare Leaders Trust Us
Auditors choose us because we deliver audit-ready reports, exact evidence mapping, zero false positives, and more.
NIST Aligned
Our methodology aligns with NIST SP 800-30 (Risk Management) and NIST SP 800-115 (Technical Testing), the standards the government uses.
Zero Data Exfiltration Policy
We prove we could access the data, but we never download or store actual patient records (ePHI) on our systems.
Comprehensive Reporting
Our reports speak three languages: overview (for Executives), technical (for IT), and regulatory (for your Compliance Officer and auditor).
HIPAA / HITRUST Penetration Testing Certifications
Our team holds industry-recognized certifications that reflect hands-on expertise across offensive security, cloud, incident response, and compliance.
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester (GCPN)
GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester (GCPN)
CompTIA Security+, Network+, A+, Pentest+
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CCP)
Microsoft AZ-900, SC-900
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Burp Suite Certified Practitioner (Apprentice)
eLearnSecurity Junior (eJPT)
Web App Penetration Tester (eWPT)
Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
Palo Alto PSE Certifications
HIPAA / HITRUST Testing: FAQ
Learn more information about the most frequently asked questions
Does HIPAA specifically say Penetration Testing is required?
The Security Rule requires a “Technical Evaluation.” In modern cybersecurity, it is widely accepted by auditors and the OCR that you cannot perform a sufficient technical evaluation without Penetration Testing. It is the standard of due care.
Can we test our Production without violating patient privacy?
Yes, but we must be careful. We typically test a Staging environment that mirrors Production but contains dummy (anonymized) data. If we must test Production to satisfy a specific requirement, we strictly adhere to a “do not view/do not store” policy. We prove we could access the record (e.g., listing file names) without actually opening or downloading patient files.
How often should we perform HIPAA Penetration Testing?
Industry best practice is at least annually and after any significant system change (like launching a new patient portal or migrating to the cloud).
The difference between a HIPAA Audit and a HIPAA Pentest?
A HIPAA Audit is a paperwork review of your policies and procedures. A HIPAA Pentest is a technical simulation of a cyberattack. You need both to be fully compliant.
What constitutes ePHI for scoping the test?
ePHI (electronic Protected Health Information) includes any individually identifiable health information created, stored, or transmitted electronically. Your test scope must cover all systems that touch ePHI—this includes your EMR/EHR system, patient portals, billing databases, and even the email servers if they transmit patient data.
Do we need a BAA with a pentesting firm?
Yes. Because our testers might inadvertently be exposed to ePHI during the assessment, we are considered a Business Associate under HIPAA. We sign a BAA with you before testing begins to ensure we are legally bound to protect any data we encounter, keeping you compliant.
Will you access real patient data?
We may encounter it, which is why we sign a BAA. However, our goal is to prove access, not to exfiltrate data. We typically use “dummy” accounts or test data. If we find a path to real ePHI, we document the vulnerability and stop immediately without viewing the records.
What happens if we fail the test?
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Secure Your Data. Protect Your Patients.
Get the expert security validation you need to meet HIPAA requirements.