A healthcare app can work exactly as intended and still put patient data at risk. Imagine a patient portal which lets users view test results or book appointments, but poorly configured permissions expose records belonging to someone else.  

The problem may not become obvious during routine testing. By the time an application goes live, fixing these weaknesses can mean rewriting code or changing how the system handles sensitive information. 

The good news is that many of these risks can be solved during development. Below are 8 security practices healthcare software teams should follow before releasing an application. 

Build Security into the Development Process 

Security problems are much harder to fix when they are discovered after an application has been built. A patient portal, for example, may need major changes if developers realize too late that users can access records belonging to other patients.  

Fixing the issue could involve rewriting authorization logic and retesting affected features. That adds work that could have been avoided during the design stage. 

Development teams should identify potential security risks before writing code. Threat modeling can help them understand how attackers might exploit application features or gain unauthorized access to patient information. Security checks should then continue throughout development, with developers reviewing potential weaknesses as new features are added. 

For healthcare organizations with specific security requirements, custom medical software development allows those requirements to be addressed during application design. 

Development teams can define access permissions and data protection rules around the information the software will handle, rather than waiting until the application is ready for release. 

Follow Secure Coding Practices 

A healthcare app that looks solid on the surface can still have security holes if developers skip simple safety steps. For example, if user input is not checked properly, attackers might use SQL injection to get into the database. Error messages that reveal details such as database names or server paths can give attackers useful information. 

To avoid these problems, developers can validate user input and use parameterized queries when working with databases. Passwords and API keys need to be stored securely outside the source code. Teams can also reduce risk by using maintained software libraries and reviewing error handling before release. 

Protect Patient Data with Encryption 

Patient data needs protection both while it is stored and while it moves between systems. If either connection or storage is poorly protected, attackers who gain access may be able to read sensitive information. This makes encryption a must-have when developers design how an application handles patient data. 

Development teams should use strong encryption, such as AES-256, to protect stored information and TLS to secure data transmitted between applications.Encryption keys must be stored separately from the data they protect and restricted to authorized services only. 

During testing, these safeguards should be verified to confirm that sensitive information remains protected throughout the application. 

Apply Strong Authentication and Access Controls 

A valid login should only  give healthcare users access to patient information. Doctors may need to review histories, while reception staff typically require access to appointment details. If the software fails to distinguish these permissions, employees could see information unrelated to their responsibilities. 

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a good approach to define which information each user can view or edit. Multi-factor authentication adds another verification step, especially for accounts with access to sensitive records.  

These protections also need testing. For example, developers should check whether a user can retrieve another patient’s information by changing an ID in an application request after successfully logging in. 

Secure APIs and Healthcare System Integrations 

EHR systems are often linked to laboratory software, pharmacy platforms, and other healthcare applications so that EHR systems can share information. When APIs are not set up correctly, APIs can reveal data or cause systems to share more information than they really should.  

For example, an integration might send medical records even though the receiving system only requires a patient’s prescription details. 

To reduce these risks, developers should limit the data shared through APIs, secure connections between systems, and review how third-party applications handle patient information.  

These requirements also matter when choosing a development partner. Healthcare providers looking for top healthcare software companies should check whether their teams have experience securing APIs and managing integrations involving sensitive medical data. 

Perform Security Testing Before and After Release 

After functional testing is finished, the application may still have security vulnerabilities. 

For instance, a telehealth platform allows patients to join video consultations without any problems, but an insecure session management process lets someone reuse an expired session token. These weaknesses may remain unnoticed if testing only checks whether features work as expected. 

Security testing should take place throughout development and after release. Automated scans can identify common vulnerabilities, while penetration testing helps uncover more complex security issues. Developers should also retest applications after major updates and fix critical vulnerabilities as soon as possible. 

Conclusion 

Releasing a healthcare application doesn’t mean the security work is finished. New features may bring vulnerabilities. Changes to third-party integrations can change the way patient information moves between systems. Even access controls that worked correctly during development may need testing as the software changes. 

Healthcare providers should work with development teams that follow secure coding practices and review security risks throughout the application’s lifecycle. Testing major updates and checking API configurations can help uncover weaknesses before they become serious problems. These ongoing checks are important for keeping patient information protected as healthcare software changes.

The post Building Safer Healthcare Apps: 6 Security Practices That Matter  appeared first on The Hype Magazine.