A secure app is important for any business. It’s even more crucial for healthcare apps because sensitive patient information is on the line. Vulnerable healthcare apps can create safety risks for patients—i.e., raising the risk of ID theft and medical fraud.
A patient’s medical data contains more information about them than any other form of data and is hence valuable to hackers. The increased risk to healthcare data has encouraged developers to be more thorough in developing codes so that apps can be made safer.
There are, of course, additional measures that must be taken to secure user data. Our experts at Lean Security have suggested a few ways healthcare applications can be improved.
1- Restrict Access to Information
This is applicable only if you are a healthcare centre that offers its devices to caregivers and non-staff members.
Only authorised users should be granted access to the protected data on a mobile device. Prevent unauthorised personnel from gaining sensitive information by implementing multi-factor authentication. This method gives access to information only after the user successfully presents separate pieces of information for verification.
2- Conducting Research for Regulatory Compliance
The field of medicine is significantly affected by the progress and implementation of various IT infrastructures. Legislative bodies around the world have implemented policies that regulate how sensitive patient data is handled. This is especially true for cases where medical apps are used by multiple personnel, which comes with the increased chances of a breach.
Region-specific policies should be considered while developing a medical app—this will ensure that it’s safe for the general public. Below are some regulatory guidelines put in place by the Australian government.
· The manufacturer should apply appropriate conformity procedures,
· The manufacturer should submit an Australian Declaration of Conformity,
· The manufacturer must monitor ongoing performance and safety breaches (post-marketing).
3- Data Encryption
Encryption is one of the most effective ways to protect sensitive data online. Healthcare data encryption entails the encryption of electronic medical records (EMR) so that they’re hidden from unauthorised users. Personal health information needs to be secured against confidentiality breaches. Encryption can be used to protect the following:
· Database
· Email messages
· Patient files
· Hard drives.
4- Train Employees to Recognise Potential Attacks
Policies and procedures should be implemented to accommodate the digitisation of patient records better. These policies should be backed up with appropriate training for medical staff. This helps prevent unintentional mistakes that could lead to data breaches.
5- Running Application Testing
To identify bugs and errors, you’re advised to run an app test. Penetration testing, data security tests and network testing are some of the most dependable testing techniques. We make sure your application isn’t disassembled so as to secure the visibility of your IP within the mobile application.
We help to mitigate the following security risks:
· Protecting the security components of your application,
· Limiting patient data EMR exposure,
· IP protection for medical devices,
· Prevent device tampering,
· Management application and internal staff information.
Looking for a penetration testing provider? Reach out to Lean Security. We help medical and healthcare providers by ensuring that their medical applications are completely safe from attacks. To avail our services, call us at +61 (2) 8078 6952 or email us at info@leansecurity.com.au.