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HIPAA Penetration Testing

Penva Security tests the applications, APIs, cloud services and access controls that create, receive, maintain or transmit electronic protected health information, producing practical evidence for HIPAA Security Rule risk management.

We identify exploitable vulnerabilities, explain the risk to ePHI and provide a clear remediation and retest trail for covered entities, business associates and health-technology providers.

  • Certified Testers
  • Security Compliance
  • Manual Pentesting
CRESTOWASPSecured 100+ organisations4.9Clutch
●   PENTEST REPORT● COMPLETE

HIPAA Security Test

scope: systems handling ePHI · CVSS 3.1

Critical3
High6
Medium9

✓  ePHI risk and safeguard evidence generated

Test the systems that protect ePHI.

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Definition

What Is HIPAA Penetration Testing?

See how the testing scope and reporting support your organisation's security and assurance requirements.

HIPAA penetration testing is an authorised security assessment of systems that handle electronic protected health information. It identifies vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or disruption of ePHI and documents the practical risk to the organisation.The current HIPAA Security Rule requires regulated entities to assess risks and vulnerabilities and implement reasonable and appropriate safeguards. It does not prescribe penetration testing by name as a universal requirement, but a well-scoped test is a strong way to support risk analysis, technical-safeguard evaluation and ongoing risk management.

The engagement should follow the actual ePHI flow: patient and clinician applications, APIs, identity services, cloud storage, administrative portals, integrations and business-associate connections.

Requirements

HIPAA Security Rule Areas Supported by Testing

Penetration testing can provide technical evidence for the safeguards and evaluation activities used to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of ePHI.

164.308(a)(1)

Risk Analysis

The organisation must identify and assess potential risks and vulnerabilities affecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of ePHI.

164.308(a)(1)

Risk Management

Confirmed weaknesses need reasonable and appropriate treatment so risks to ePHI are reduced to an acceptable level.

164.308(a)(8)

Evaluation

Security measures should be evaluated periodically and when environmental or operational changes affect the protection of ePHI.

164.312(a)

Access Control

Technical controls should allow access to ePHI only for authorised users, roles, services and emergency-access scenarios.

164.312(b-d)

Audit, Integrity and Authentication

Systems need activity records, protection against improper alteration and reliable verification of users or entities seeking access.

164.312(e)

Transmission Security

Technical measures should protect ePHI against unauthorised access while it is transmitted across electronic networks.

How Penva Delivers

Evidence for HIPAA Risk Management and Safeguards

The report connects technical attack evidence to the ePHI, systems and safeguards affected, helping teams move from risk identification to verified treatment.

Risk Analysis ePHI Attack Paths

A clear record of the threat, vulnerability, likelihood and potential impact across applications, APIs, cloud services and connected environments.

Access Control Authorisation Testing

Testing of patient, clinician, administrator and service-account boundaries, including cross-user and cross-tenant access risks.

Technical Safeguards Integrity and Auditability

Assessment of data manipulation, logging gaps and authentication weaknesses that could undermine the integrity or traceability of ePHI activity.

Transmission API and Network Security

Testing of encrypted channels, APIs, mobile traffic and exposed services for unauthorised access or disclosure paths.

Risk Treatment Retest and Documentation

Prioritised remediation guidance, a signed attestation and one retest within 60 days to document whether the identified risk has been reduced.

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    FAQ

    HIPAA Penetration Testing - Common Questions

    Practical answers for covered entities, business associates and health-technology teams. Updated July 2026.

    Does the current HIPAA Security Rule require penetration testing?

    The current Security Rule requires an accurate and thorough risk analysis, ongoing risk management and evaluation of safeguards, but it does not name penetration testing as a universal mandatory method. Penetration testing is a strong technical input where systems handle or expose ePHI.

    What about the proposed HIPAA cybersecurity changes?

    HHS proposed stronger requirements in late 2024, including annual penetration testing, but a proposal is not the same as a final rule. Organisations should follow the current rule while monitoring the rulemaking process and strengthening testing where risk warrants it.

    Which systems belong in the HIPAA penetration-test scope?

    Include systems that create, receive, maintain or transmit ePHI, plus any identity, administrative, cloud or integration component that can materially affect those systems. Business-associate connections may also need coverage.

    Can you test patient and clinician access controls?

    Yes. We test whether users can access another person's records, exceed assigned roles, manipulate identifiers, bypass workflow controls or abuse administrative functions within the authorised scope.

    How often should HIPAA penetration testing be performed?

    The current rule does not set one penetration-test frequency. Annual testing is a practical baseline for many environments, with additional testing after significant changes, new integrations, major releases or material incidents.

    Does a penetration-test report prove full HIPAA compliance?

    No. HIPAA compliance covers administrative, physical and technical safeguards, policies, training, business-associate arrangements and other obligations. The report provides evidence for the technical risk-analysis and risk-management process.

    Is remediation retesting included?

    Yes. One retest within 60 days is included for fixed-price engagements. We repeat the relevant attack method and update the report to show whether the ePHI risk has been effectively addressed.

    Let's talk security

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