Penetration Testing for Healthcare
Healthcare organisations are among the most targeted sectors for cyberattacks, with medical records being the most valuable data type on the black market. Hospitals, clinics, health systems, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and health technology providers face threats ranging from ransomware attacks that disrupt patient care to targeted data theft of protected health information (PHI).
Penetration testing in healthcare must address the unique challenges of clinical environments including connected medical devices, electronic health record (EHR) systems, patient portals, telehealth platforms, and integration with insurance and pharmacy systems. Testing must be carefully coordinated to avoid disrupting clinical operations and patient care.
Healthcare pen testing supports compliance with HIPAA, which requires risk analysis and security evaluation of systems handling ePHI. The growing adoption of IoT medical devices, cloud-based EHR systems, and telehealth platforms has expanded the attack surface significantly, making regular security testing essential for patient safety and regulatory compliance.
SECFORCE
Leading UK offensive security consultancy based in Canary Wharf, delivering CREST-accredited penetration testing and adversary simulation to organisations with the most demanding security requirements.
NCC Group
Global cybersecurity consultancy with CREST, CHECK, and CBEST accreditation, renowned for deep technical research and comprehensive penetration testing services.
NetSPI
Leading penetration testing firm with the Resolve platform for continuous attack surface management, trusted by nine of the top ten US banks.
Pen Test Partners
The UK's largest independent security testing firm, renowned for IoT/OT research, CBEST red teaming, and CHECK/CREST-accredited penetration testing across all sectors.
PwC Cyber Security
Global Big Four professional services firm delivering CREST, CHECK, and CBEST-accredited penetration testing and red teaming services from London, serving the UK's largest enterprises and regulated organisations.
Dionach
Global enterprise cybersecurity consultancy founded in 1999 in Oxford, holding rare CREST STAR-FS accreditation and delivering penetration testing, red and purple teaming, and PCI QSA services across five international offices.
Trustwave
Global managed security provider with the elite SpiderLabs penetration testing team and deep PCI DSS compliance expertise.
Secarma
Manchester-based independent cybersecurity consultancy with over 20 years of experience delivering CREST and CHECK-accredited penetration testing, red teaming, and compliance certification services.
Cyberis
CREST and CHECK-accredited UK penetration testing consultancy with CBEST approval, specialising in infrastructure, application, and simulated attack assessments across the public and private sectors.
Aristi
CHECK and CREST-accredited Birmingham-based cyber security consultancy with over 15 years of experience delivering penetration testing, red teaming, and OT security assessments for government and private sector clients.
Bridewell
Fast-growing CREST and CHECK-accredited UK cybersecurity consultancy with deep expertise in critical national infrastructure sectors.
Pentest People
CREST and CHECK-accredited UK penetration testing firm with an innovative SecurePortal platform and transparent pricing for mid-market organizations.
Healthcare Pen Testing FAQs
How is healthcare pen testing different from other industries?+
Healthcare pen testing must account for patient safety, clinical workflows, connected medical devices, and ePHI protection requirements. Testing must be carefully coordinated to avoid disrupting patient care.
Can medical devices be pen tested?+
Yes, medical device pen testing is a growing speciality. Testing covers the device itself, its network communications, companion apps, cloud backends, and update mechanisms. Testing must follow FDA guidance and device safety protocols.
What healthcare-specific risks do pen testers look for?+
Key risks include unauthorised access to patient records, medical device compromises, prescription system manipulation, lateral movement from clinical networks to administrative systems, and ransomware exposure.