How does Security Testing help in validating the Healthcare Ecosystem

 

The healthcare ecosystem’s dependence on digital technologies to deliver better services to patients and other stakeholders has made it vulnerable to security threats. If statistics are to be believed then healthcare companies across the world are going to cough up a whopping $6 trillion in damages due to security breaches in 2020 (Source: PhoenixNAP.) Modern-day healthcare applications store sensitive patients’ data, which has often led to medical identity theft necessitating the need for rigorous software application security testing. The critical patients’ data may include identity details, payment information, bank account details, history of morbidity, and insurance details, among others. The breach of any of this information can be lethal and devastating, both for the patients and the healthcare facility. 

Why is the healthcare security system important?

Cybercriminals are targeting critical patient information to steal identities using methods or tools like phishing, malware, or ransomware. To pre-empt such attacks a robust application security testing strategy needs to be put in place with the following guidelines.

•  Top-most priority to be given to ensure security for the vital facets

•  The application security testing methodology should remodel the framework for data security, verification, audit logging, and many more

• The other aspects of security testing would include business logic testing, data validation testing, session management testing, DOS testing, Ajax testing, configuration management testing, and OWASP   testing to check for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and XSS.

What are the types of healthcare security testing?

Security testing covers a range of tests to verify and validate the robustness of the healthcare application and its ability to fend off various security threats.

Penetration testing: In this type of testing, ethical hackers try to gain entry into the healthcare application by exploiting its vulnerabilities. The process performed manually or using automated testing, gathers information about the application in terms of the possible entry points. Thereafter, the hacker attempts to break into the application and verifies its level of system protection.

Application-level testing: Also known as app-level testing, the technique ensures the software application doesn’t execute any malicious actions. Here, specific security-related scenarios are validated by conducting functional testing.

DDoS testing: In this type of interactive application security testing, simulated DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are conducted with real traffic to understand the level of protection offered by the application to thwart DDoS attacks.

Security code review: It mitigates potential security vulnerabilities in the software code early on and prevents costly and time-consuming fixes later. It serves as a final review to check the application’s safety before launch.

How does software application security testing benefit the healthcare domain

Security testing for the healthcare domain gives insight into the robustness of the healthcare application and its ability to face cyber threats. The benefits of employing software application security testing include:

Protecting PHI: This type of testing Identifies and fixes all vulnerabilities associated with Protected Health Information (PHI) and checks if PHI complies with the HIPAA standards.

Data storage validation: It checks if the data storage mechanism, in encrypted or plain-text form, is safe and secure. Besides, it analyses the security solution, encryption methods, and data management techniques and helps to detect any security issues with the application’s database.

Data transmission validation: Software applications transmit data across cloud, mobile devices, and email, which should be properly encrypted to prevent any unauthorized access at any stage.

Identity validation: Detects vulnerable access points that could be exploited by hackers, especially the areas covering identity management. The software application security testing helps to mitigate any breach of patient privacy and strengthen the mechanism for identity management.

Risk assessment before deployment: Once the application with security-related vulnerabilities is deployed, it may cause havoc in the form of security breaches. The application security testing services offer the opportunity to identify and fix all security-related vulnerabilities in the application. This ensures the application is bereft of any security issue and protects the customer from carrying out any type of financial transaction.

Builds trust and confidence: Security testing ensures the application is compliant with the HIPAA standard. This helps to build the trust of your clients in the application and boost its brand equity.

Conclusion

The cybersecurity dimension is expanding at a phenomenal rate coupled with growing incidences of security breaches. To restore customer confidence and prevent such incidences, healthcare security testing should be conducted rigorously.

Strengthening your Web Application Security with Software Testing

There has been a move towards building web applications given the rising cost of mobile applications. However, one thing has remained unchanged – of according low priority to web application security testing. The consequences are quick and dire with cybercriminals targeting such applications confidently. Companies like Monsanto, Ebay, and Target, among many others bore the brunt of security breaches. The situation is not getting under control but rather worsening with each passing day.

It appears the hackers are finding it easy to break into applications and databases at will and decamping with the stolen data. If analysed properly, part of the problem seems to lie with the enterprises themselves. Their obsession with releasing web applications quickly and get ahead of the block is leaving vulnerabilities and glitches go unchecked. In fact, software application security testing is often overlooked in favor of app management, code development, and visual design.

So, as an enterprise if your priority is to be commercial with web applications, then web application security testing needs to be the priority and not an afterthought. Let us first understand the consequences of not making dynamic application security testing an integral part of the SDLC.

·       Resident vulnerabilities can remain unchecked, which are exploited by hackers

·       Breaches occur leading to a loss of sensitive customer and business data and information

·       Enterprises may fall foul of regulatory bodies by not complying with mandatory protocols/regulations

·       Enterprises may face lawsuits from affected parties (customers and clients) and served penalties causing huge financial outgo

·       Brand name takes a hit, sometimes irretrievably

To pre-empt your organization from being at the receiving end of such attacks, you should strengthen the security of web applications or for that matter any software during development. Let us understand how by applying a robust application security testing methodology the security of web applications can be strengthened.

Strengthening web application security with software testing

The importance of testing cannot be glossed over any further and should be applied in letter and spirit. This can strengthen your application’ security mechanism and make it impervious to cyber-attacks.

·       Penetration testing to identify the loopholes: You must know how hackers can attack your web application. This will provide you with insights on the ways to strengthen security. So, conduct penetration testing wherein professional QA testers shall attack the application to identify its loopholes or vulnerabilities. However, conduct such a testing in an isolated environment. The security penetration testing can help you learn more about the following:

o   Cross-site scripting

o   Cross-site request forgery attacks

o   SQL injection attacks

o   Broken authentication

o   Insecure deserialization

·       Keep a backup: It is always a good idea to keep a backup of your data. So, post any cyber-attack scenario when you need to have your website go live once again, the backup data will come in handy. No need to describe the scenario where there is no backup and a malware attack strips everything clean leaving the organization tottering on the brink.

·       Implement DevSecOps: With DevOps implementation, enterprises aim at building a CI/CD pipeline where both Development (along with QA) and Operations work in close coordination and collaboration. This can be further strengthened with DevSecOps where ‘Sec or Security’ is made part of the whole system. Enterprises need to mandatorily follow a culture wherein security becomes everyone’s responsibility and not just of the QA team. As an application security testing strategy employees should scrupulously follow the Risk and Compliance manual and do not inadvertently divulge password or other details.

·       Encryption is a must: Any web application has several APIs connecting various modules to third-party applications. These can be the entry points for hackers to get into the application and siphon off sensitive business and customer information. So, all conduits for data transmission within and outside the application should be encrypted. The same can be verified through software application security testing.

·       Use SSL Encryption or HTTPS: Use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TSL (Transport Layer Security) protocol to encrypt information in your login pages. These can protect sensitive information such as debit/credit card numbers, login details, or social security numbers, among others from falling into the hands of hackers. In addition, many browsers flag certain websites or web applications without HTTPS as insecure thereby preventing potential users from accessing them.

Conclusion

The security testing of web applications is of prime importance, like any other software, as it will help enterprises to secure their deliverables and earn trust from the end customers. In the competitive world of business, it is trust that will keep any company in good stead vis-à-vis its equation with customers and competitors.

What are the best testing tools for 2020?

Digitalization, although a blessing in every sense of the word, can have its basket of thorns as well. This refers to the hacking activities using measures like phishing or introducing elements like ransomware, viruses, trojans, and malware. Globally, security breaches have caused an annual loss of $20.38 million in 2019 (Source: Statista.com). Also, cybercrime has led to a loss of 0.80% of the world’s GDP, which sums up to around $2.1 trillion in 2019 alone (Source: Cybriant.com).

With a greater number of enterprises and entities clambering onto the digital bandwagon, security considerations have taken a center stage. And since new technologies like AI/ML, IoT, and Big Data, are increasingly making inroads into our day-to-day lives, the risks associated with cybercrime are growing as well. Further, the use of web and mobile applications in transacting financial data has put the entire digital paraphernalia exposed to security breaches. The inherent vulnerabilities present in such applications can be exploited by cybercriminals to siphon off critical data including money.

To stem the rot and preempt adverse consequences of cybercrime, such as losing customer trust and brand reputation, security testing should be made mandatory. Besides executing application security testing, every software should be made compliant with global security protocols and regulations. These include ISO/IEC 27001 & 27002, RFC 2196, CISQ, NIST, ANSI/ISA, PCI, and GDPR.

Thus, in the Agile-DevSecOps driven software development cycle, security testing entails identifying and mitigating the vulnerabilities in a system. These may include SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), broken authentication, security misconfiguration, session management, Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) or failure to restrict URL access, among others. No wonder, penetration testing is accorded high priority when it comes to securing an application. So, to make the software foolproof against malicious codes or hackers, let us find out the best security testing tools for 2020.

What are the best security testing tools for 2020?

Any application security testing methodology shall entail the conduct of functional testing. This way, many vulnerabilities and security issues can be identified, which if not addressed in time can lead to hacking. The tool needed to conduct such testing can be both open-source and paid. Let us discuss them in detail.

·         Nessus: Used for vulnerability assessment and penetrating testing, this remote security scanning tool has been developed by Tenable Inc. While testing the software, especially on Windows and Unix systems, the tool raises an alert if it identifies any vulnerability. Initially available for free, Nessus is now a paid tool. Even though it costs around $2,190 per year, it remains one of the popular and highly effective scanners to check vulnerabilities. It employs a simple language aka Nessus Attack Scripting Language (NASL) to identify potential attacks and threats.

·         Burp Suite: When it comes to web application security testing, Burp Suite remains hugely popular. Developed by PortSwigger Web Security and written in Java, it offers an integrated penetrating testing platform to execute software security testing for web applications. The various tools within its overarching framework cover the entire testing process. These include tasks like mapping & analysis and finding security vulnerabilities.

·         Nmap: Also known as the Network Mapper, this is an open-source tool to conduct security auditing. Additionally, it can detect the live host and open ports on the network. Developed by Gordon Lyon, Nmap does its job of discovering host and services in a network by dispatching packets and analyzing responses. Network administrators use it to identify devices running in the network, discover hosts, and find open ports.

·         Metaspoilt: As one of the popular hacking and penetration testing tools, it can find vulnerabilities in a system easily. Owned by Rapid7, it can gain ingress into remote systems, identify latent security issues, and manage security assessments.

·         AppScan: Now owned by HCL and developed by the Rational Software division of IBM, AppScan is counted among the best security testing tools. As a dynamic analysis testing tool used for web application security testing, AppScan carries out automated scans of web applications.

·         Arachni: As a high-performing open source and modular web application security scanner framework, Arachni executes high-quality security testing. It identifies, classifies, and logs security issues besides uncovering vulnerabilities such as SQL and XSS injections, invalidated redirect, and local and remote file inclusion. Based on the Ruby framework, this modular tool can be instantly deployed and offers support for multiple platforms.

·         Grabber: Designed to scan web applications, personal websites, and forums, this light penetration testing tool is based on Python. With no GUI interface, Grabber can identify a range of vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting, AJAX and backup files verification, and SQL injection. This portable tool supports JS code analysis and can generate a stats analysis file.

·         Nogotofail: Developed by Google, this testing tool helps to verify the network traffic, detect misconfigurations and TLS/SSL vulnerabilities. The other vulnerabilities detected by Nogotofail are SSL injection, SSL certificate verification issues, and MiTM attacks. The best attributes of this tool include being lightweight and easy to deploy and use. It can be set up as a router, VPN server, or proxy.

·         SQL Map: This free-to-use security testing tool can support a range of SQL injection methodologies. These include Boolean-based blind, out-of-band, stacked queries, error-based, UNION query, and time-based blind. This open-source penetrating testing software detects vulnerabilities in an application by injecting malicious codes. Its robust detection engine helps by automating the process of identifying vulnerabilities related to SQL injections. The tool supports databases such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.

Conclusion

Testing the security of applications or websites has become a critical requirement in the SDLC. This is due to the growing threats from cybercriminals who are adopting every possible means to hoodwink the security protocol or exploit the inherent vulnerabilities in a system. The only insurance against such a growing menace is to make security testing a responsibility for every stakeholder in the SDLC and beyond.

How to Secure your Web Applications - Complete Guide

Digitization has led to the development of web applications, websites, and other tools. Besides changing the way that we share information, interact, or do business, these digital elements have transformed our lives for the better. Enterprises, in order to stay flexible, profitable, and competitive, are moving their operations online. This way, they allow their employees, clients, customers, and other stakeholders to stay connected 24x7. Also, employees working in remote offices across countries can interact and collaborate in real-time by using such technologies.

The introduction of Web 2.0 has brought convenience, speed, choices, and quality on a platter for the customers. The growing customers’ appetite for top-notch web applications has led businesses or entities to share sensitive data all across the value chain. The examples of e-commerce stores and online banking exemplify this trend. If such advancements have brought enormous benefits for individuals, businesses, and organizations, they have attracted hackers and scammers as well.

The news about malware, ransomware, trojans, and viruses playing havoc has become common now. In fact, cybercrime has become a $1.5 trillion industry as we move into the year 2020. It has the potential to push individuals, businesses, and organizations into a downward spiral. The cumulative effect of cybercrime has given rise to the industry of web application security.

Let us take you through the ways to secure your web applications in the form of a guide. Here, the focus would be on conducting a comprehensive web application security audit encompassing web application security testing.

Assessing the Target Web Application: The process can involve the use of an automated web vulnerability scanner provided the pre-scan activities are already done. However, the procedure is not foolproof and can give rise to several false positives as well. This happens as the web vulnerability scanners are meant to scan a number of complex web applications. The users, thus, need to align these scanners to the specific business needs.

The web application security testing can begin by conducting a manual assessment of the target web application. Thus, you can get familiarized with the architecture and topology of the web application. Find out about the directory, file structure, number of pages, and files present in the application. Also, know about the application’s root directory, source code, online forms, and URL structure. Since there are a number of vulnerabilities specific to web technologies, it is better you know the one used to develop the application - PHP and .NET, among others. Find out if the web application had crawled from the black-box scanner before launching the scan. Remember, if the web application is not crawled and leaves out some parts or parameters, then securing the application will not happen.

Denial of Service (DOS) Checklist: Web applications cannot distinguish between valid traffic and a malicious attack. Among the reasons, the uselessness of IP addresses as identification credentials comes at the top. For example, during a distributed attack the web application cannot identify a real attack from multiple users reloading at the same time. In this type of software application security testing, the number of sessions per user should be checked and regulated, if need be.

Penetration Testing: Make sure all the web penetration tools are available in a centralized repository supporting the import and export of data. The application security testing services should use penetration testing - manually as well as using tools to check for logical vulnerabilities and to audit the application.

Web Application Firewall (WAF): It can analyze web traffic emanating from IP addresses containing both HTTP and HTTPS. This way WAF can identify malicious traffic that works at the application layer. It can block connections to known vulnerabilities in a web application thereby preempting any malicious attack. However, it comes with a few shortcomings as well:

• Ability to detect only known security vulnerabilities
• Depends on the expertise of the user
• No fixing of security holes in web applications

The software application security testing should be conducted throughout the SDLC and not when the application goes live. It comprises of several methods such as:

• Using a black-box scanner
• Conducting a manual source code audit
• Identifying coding issues using an automated white-box scanner
• Penetration testing
• Conducting a manual security audit

Conclusion

Web applications can be the ideal conduit for the ingress of malicious codes into an IT system. However, the quality of such applications can be enhanced, and security strengthened by using the right vulnerability scanner. By employing a focused application security testing methodology, both logical and technical vulnerabilities can be identified and fixed. The other avenues include limiting remote access, switching off unnecessary functionalities, using accounts with limited privileges, segregating live environments from development and testing, installing security patches, and staying informed.