DiGA Pentest - Security for Digital Health Applications

Health apps and Digital Health Applications (DiGAs) are an attractive target for attacks, as they contain numerous sensitive data. Such data can be used for a variety of purposes and are also suitable for social engineering. In addition, medical devices and systems within practices and hospitals are closely networked. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the systems used for potential security vulnerabilities through pentests.

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Definition and Explanation

What is DiGA Penetration Testing?

A DiGA Pentest is a targeted penetration test specifically designed for digital health applications according to the German Digital Care Act (DVG). The goal: to identify vulnerabilities in the application, infrastructure, and interfaces before attackers can exploit them. The test takes into account both technical and organizational aspects and follows the guidelines of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

DiGAs offer many advantages from which patients can benefit in various ways. However, they also pose a high risk potential for your sensitive data. A mobile app that collects and stores your data must be secure. Otherwise, it is possible that third parties may read your logs or exploit vulnerabilities in the app to cause extensive damage. Of course, it is neither desirable for such data to be sold to third parties, nor for any disease progressions to fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, health apps must be more secure than most other everyday apps that you carry on your smartphone and are checked with penetration testing.

Illustration of health application security

Pentesting for Medical Products

Penetration Testing for Health Apps and DiGAs

This makes the area of health apps an exciting field of work, where a penetration test is used sensibly. Above all, the additional security for everyone who wants to rely on data-driven health applications and DiGAs.

Common vulnerabilities include insecure authentication mechanisms, inadequate encryption of sensitive data, faulty API implementations, and insufficient access controls. The integration of third-party services and the storage of health data in the cloud also pose risks. A DiGA pentest uncovers these vulnerabilities and helps to fix them specifically before attackers can exploit them.

Cyber Security for Health Apps and DiGAs

Protect your health applications from criminals with high Cyber Security!

The pentest for health apps is planned, conducted, and evaluated by our specially trained cyber security consultants according to recognized standards.

A medical device is fundamentally a product that you use for a specific medical purpose. Such products or services must be sufficiently tested. This is the only way to ensure that your entered values are in good hands. And that sensitive data cannot be maliciously misused. Medical devices as apps are most commonly known as medical apps, medical software, or health apps.

Particularly important in these tests are the data that come in via fitness or health apps. Connected with different trackers, they can store values for blood pressure, heart rate, or even blood sugar.

Established IT Security Standards

We conduct pentests based on recognized IT security standards and guidelines.

DiGAs are subject to strict legal requirements, especially with regard to data protection (GDPR) and IT security. The BfArM requires proof of the safety of the application - through independent pentests - for approval as a reimbursable DiGA. These tests must be repeated regularly and documented. The requirements of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the recommendations of the Federal Data Protection Commissioner must also be observed.

For manufacturers and operators of digital health applications, a DiGA pentest is not only a regulatory obligation, but also an important competitive factor. The demonstrable security of the application strengthens the trust of patients, doctors, and health insurance companies. In addition, regular pentests minimize the risk of data protection breaches, damage to reputation, and liability claims.

Particularly important in these tests are the data that come in via fitness or health apps. Connected to different trackers, they can store values for blood pressure, heart rate, or even blood sugar. While this is an additional source of information for doctors, in the wrong hands it can be falsified, manipulated, or sent to third parties without authorization. This makes measures like the pentest an important investment: both for the IT security of the users and for reliability in the medical field.
The abbreviation DiGA stands for "Digital Health Applications". This is a new service category of statutory health insurance. This means: As soon as you are legally insured, you are entitled to care through digital health applications. The classic use cases of health apps include:

Assistance for a Better Life: Opportunities to better understand existing diseases such as diabetes and establish meaningful habits in everyday life.
Diagnostic App: A diagnostic app that can evaluate from a photo whether a mole has suspiciously changed.
Interactive Exercises: Interactive exercises designed for chronic pain and tailored to your personal suffering.

Illustration of security assessment services

Case Study - Penetration Tests

Why are penetration tests so important for medical products?

Medical products require high attention, including for DiGA approval. Therefore, it is important to regularly test the apps used for potential security vulnerabilities.

Penetration tests are one such possibility: Depending on the area of application, they subject both the infrastructure and software solutions such as health apps to a detailed examination. This not only identifies vulnerabilities. As part of a pentest, measures against these security vulnerabilities are also proposed and can subsequently be implemented.

Particularly important in these tests are the data received via fitness or health apps. Connected with various trackers, they can store values for blood pressure, heart rate, or even blood sugar.