Healthcare Compliance

HIPAA
Penetration Testing

Meet HIPAA Security Rule requirements with certified penetration testing. Annual assessments documenting your security posture for Protected Health Information (PHI) systems. 5-day turnaround from $1,500.

Why HIPAA Now Requires Penetration Testing

New HIPAA guidance emphasizes security testing as a core requirement for healthcare organizations handling Protected Health Information.

Security Rule §164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)

The HIPAA Security Rule explicitly requires covered entities and business associates to conduct periodic security evaluations that include testing the effectiveness of security measures.

  • Annual security evaluation required
  • Penetration testing is a recommended assessment method
  • Documentation of testing required
  • Remediation of findings documented

OCR Enforcement Trend

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) increasingly cites missing or inadequate security testing during HIPAA breach investigations and compliance audits. Demonstrate proactive testing to reduce breach risk and regulatory liability.

  • OCR audit reports cite testing gaps
  • Breach investigations require evidence of testing
  • Documented assessments reduce liability
  • Demonstrates due diligence defense

Risk Mitigation

Penetration testing identifies vulnerabilities affecting PHI systems before attackers do. Proactive testing prevents breaches, reduces notification costs, and demonstrates reasonable security measures to regulators.

  • Identify PHI exposure risks
  • Prevent breach notification liability
  • Breach notification costs average $9.9M (IBM 2023)
  • Testing investment protects patient data

Patient Trust & Reputation

Healthcare organizations that document security testing demonstrate commitment to patient privacy. Testing results strengthen relationships with referring physicians, partner organizations, and patients themselves.

  • Document security commitment
  • Strengthen stakeholder trust
  • Competitive advantage in market
  • Support business development efforts

What HIPAA Requires in Your Penetration Test

Your penetration testing program must address these HIPAA Security Rule requirements.

Access Controls (§164.312(a)(2))

Testing must verify that system access is restricted to authorized users and that access is appropriate to their role. We test user authentication, multi-factor authentication deployment, and access logging systems.

  • User authentication testing
  • Authorization effectiveness
  • Privilege escalation attempts
  • Access logging and monitoring
  • Idle session timeout enforcement

Audit Controls (§164.312(b))

Your systems must log and monitor access to PHI. We verify that audit logs are being generated, protected from tampering, and retained appropriately for investigation and compliance purposes.

  • Log generation verification
  • Log protection and integrity
  • Tamper-evidence controls
  • Log retention compliance
  • Audit review processes

Integrity (§164.312(c)(1))

We test mechanisms that protect PHI from improper alteration or destruction. This includes testing data integrity controls, transmission security, and systems monitoring for unauthorized changes.

  • Data integrity verification
  • Unauthorized modification detection
  • Database integrity controls
  • File system protection
  • Electronic signature verification

Transmission Security (§164.312(e)(1))

We verify encryption and other protections for PHI in transit over networks. This includes testing for unencrypted PHI transmission, man-in-the-middle vulnerabilities, and VPN/TLS configuration.

  • Encryption protocol verification
  • Certificate validation
  • Unencrypted transmission detection
  • Network interception testing
  • Secure transmission of backups

System Security (§164.308(a)(5)(ii)(A))

We test the overall security of your IT systems including intrusion detection/prevention, vulnerability management, and security monitoring capabilities. We verify that your organization detects and responds to security incidents.

  • Intrusion detection testing
  • Vulnerability assessment
  • Security patch application
  • Malware and antivirus controls
  • Incident response capability

Assigned Security Responsibility (§164.308(a)(2))

Our reports document that your organization has designated security personnel responsible for developing and implementing your security policy and procedures. This supports your compliance documentation.

  • Security governance structure
  • Risk assessment documentation
  • Security awareness training verification
  • Sanction policy implementation
  • Information access management

What Trident Shell Tests for HIPAA Compliance

Comprehensive security testing targeting systems and controls relevant to your healthcare environment.

01

PHI System Mapping

We identify all systems that store, process, or transmit Protected Health Information and prioritize testing based on data sensitivity and access scope.

02

External Network Testing

Comprehensive assessment of internet-facing systems including web applications, VPNs, and remote access portals that staff use to access PHI systems.

03

Internal Network Testing

We test the internal network to identify lateral movement opportunities and assess controls preventing unauthorized access to PHI databases and storage systems.

04

Application Security

Testing of custom and commercial healthcare applications for vulnerabilities that could expose PHI, including authentication bypasses and data leakage vectors.

05

Wireless Security

Assessment of Wi-Fi networks and access point configurations to ensure that wireless systems don't provide unauthorized access to PHI systems.

What You Receive From Trident Shell

Audit-ready documentation designed specifically for HIPAA compliance needs.

Penetration Test Report

Professional assessment document mapping findings to HIPAA Security Rule requirements. Includes executive summary, technical findings, CVSS scoring, and remediation guidance.

  • HIPAA requirement mapping
  • Vulnerability analysis
  • Business impact assessment
  • Remediation roadmap

Compliance Documentation

Documentation supporting your annual Security Rule evaluation requirements. Suitable for submission to your compliance officer, internal auditors, or external audit firms.

  • Assessment methodology
  • Testing scope and timeline
  • Risk assessment support
  • Audit trail documentation

Consultation & Planning

Post-assessment consultation to discuss findings, remediation priorities, and timeline. We help you develop an action plan for addressing vulnerabilities.

  • Findings discussion
  • Remediation planning
  • Risk prioritization
  • Follow-up coordination

Follow-Up Verification (Optional)

After remediation efforts, we can conduct follow-up testing to verify that vulnerabilities have been properly fixed and document improvement for your compliance records.

  • Re-assessment of findings
  • Remediation verification
  • Updated compliance documentation
  • Progress reporting

HIPAA Penetration Testing Pricing

Straightforward pricing for healthcare organizations. Annual testing recommended to maintain compliance and improve security posture.

$1,500

Standard HIPAA Penetration Test

  • External network penetration testing
  • Internal network penetration testing
  • Web application security assessment
  • PHI system access control testing
  • Wireless network assessment
  • HIPAA Security Rule mapping
  • Professional penetration test report
  • 60-minute consultation call
  • 5-day turnaround guarantee

Timeline

  • Day 1: Kickoff & coordination
  • Days 2-3: Testing execution
  • Days 4-5: Analysis & reporting
  • Day 5: Delivery & consultation

Annual Compliance

  • HIPAA requires annual evaluation
  • Schedule one assessment per year
  • Ongoing remediation between tests
  • Follow-up testing optional

Your Annual HIPAA Compliance Timeline

Schedule your penetration test early in your fiscal year to document compliance year-round.

Recommended Annual Schedule

  • Q1: Schedule and conduct penetration test (Jan-Mar)
  • Q2: Remediation efforts begin (Apr-Jun)
  • Q3: Remediation verification testing (Jul-Sep) [optional]
  • Q4: Document findings and compliance actions (Oct-Dec)

This timeline allows full documentation of your annual Security Rule evaluation and demonstrates ongoing risk management efforts to auditors and regulators.

Common HIPAA Penetration Testing Questions

Everything you need to know about security testing for healthcare.

Is penetration testing required for my healthcare practice?

If your organization is a covered entity or business associate under HIPAA and handles Protected Health Information, yes. The Security Rule explicitly requires periodic security evaluation including testing. Even small practices must comply.

How often do I need to test?

HIPAA requires at least annual security evaluation. Many organizations conduct testing more frequently (semi-annually or quarterly) or conduct continuous vulnerability scanning between annual penetration tests. We recommend annual penetration testing at minimum.

Will testing disrupt patient care systems?

We coordinate with your IT team to schedule testing during low-impact periods or maintenance windows. Many testing activities are non-destructive and can occur during normal business hours. We provide a detailed scope before we start.

What if our staff wants to stop the test?

You can halt testing at any time. We coordinate with your security team and respect your operational needs. Some healthcare organizations prefer testing during scheduled maintenance windows for this reason.

What do we do with critical vulnerabilities?

We prioritize remediation recommendations based on risk level. Critical findings typically need immediate attention, while high and medium findings get addressed within 30-90 days. We can schedule follow-up verification testing to confirm fixes.

Can we use this report for our external auditor?

Yes. Our report is formatted for compliance documentation and suitable for review by external auditors, your compliance officer, or regulatory investigators. The report demonstrates your compliance with the Security Rule testing requirement.

What about HIPAA business associate agreements?

We can sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) if needed. For penetration testing services, a BAA is typically not required since we don't create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI. However, we're happy to execute one for your peace of mind.

Meet Your HIPAA Security Testing Requirements

Professional penetration testing for healthcare providers. Annual assessment, audit-ready report, from $1,500. 5-day turnaround guaranteed.

HIPAA-Aware Testing

Security rule mapping included in all reports

PHI Protection

Careful handling of sensitive health information

Healthcare Experience

Familiar with provider environments and workflows

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