By Lance Reid, CEO, Telcion Communications Group
LinkedIn: Lance Reid
LinkedIn: Telcion Communications Group
NOTE: The following article was developed with additional guidance and commentary from Telcion’s Director of Security, Eric Grimm, MSCSIA.
Cybersecurity in healthcare isn’t just about compliance anymore, it’s about resilience. As threats become more sophisticated and regulators tighten expectations, healthcare organizations are facing growing urgency to find weaknesses before someone else does. That’s why more organizations are turning to ethical testing – commonly known as penetration testing – as a critical part of their security strategy.
More and more organizations are using ethical testing not just to check a box, but to prove their systems can stand up to real-world attacks. At Telcion, we’ve leaned into this need by rolling up our sleeves and running real-world simulations that show clients where they’re vulnerable – and how to fix it.
Why now?
We’ve observed a growing urgency from customers to proactively identify and remediate security weaknesses before threat actors can exploit them. Regulatory frameworks are also becoming more prescriptive, requiring stronger evidence of security controls and testing. Penetration testing fits right into this new mindset, as it helps organizations stay ahead of risks while meeting compliance demands. It’s no longer just a “nice to have,” it’s becoming foundational.
A natural extension of a strong cybersecurity posture
Penetration testing gives you a chance to see your defenses the way an attacker would by providing a proactive, attacker’s-eye view of an organization’s security posture. Unlike traditional check-the-box approaches that focus on defense and compliance, ethical testing shows you the holes you didn’t know were there. This deep insight helps tailor defense strategies and continuously improve resilience, which is essential for healthcare environments where patient safety is always on the line.
What exactly is ethical testing?
Penetration testing, or “ethical hacking,” is a controlled, manual simulation of cyberattacks against a client’s systems to identify exploitable vulnerabilities. Unlike automated vulnerability scanning, which lists potential issues, penetration testing actively exploits weaknesses to demonstrate real-world impact. It’s also more focused and in-depth than general IT audits, which review policies and configurations but don’t test the actual security defenses in practice.
Clients typically start with scoping discussions to define systems and goals. Then the testing team conducts reconnaissance and manual testing over a defined timeframe, identifying vulnerabilities and attempting controlled exploits. Throughout the process, communication is transparent to avoid surprises. After testing, a detailed report is delivered with findings, risk ratings, and prioritized remediation steps, followed by a debrief session to align on next actions.
What we find (and why it matters)
Common issues often include misconfigured access controls, unpatched software, weak or default credentials, and outdated third-party components. A surprising recurring problem is the exposure of sensitive data via misconfigured cloud storage or insufficient network segmentation. Many of these are easily avoidable with disciplined patch management and configuration hygiene.
The takeaway? It’s often basic oversights, not advanced tactics, that open the door to attackers.
Why ethical testing isn’t optional anymore
In today’s healthcare environment, skipping ethical testing means leaving critical vulnerabilities exposed. Patient safety, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance are all at risk. Penetration testing helps uncover hidden weaknesses before attackers do, and supports mandates like Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) by providing real-world evidence of security readiness.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be disruptive. With careful planning, tests are run during low-impact windows, isolated from live systems, and communicated transparently every step of the way. Trust is built through clear scope, client oversight, and a shared goal: to strengthen, not stress, your systems.
Once testing is complete, organizations receive actionable insights, such as what went wrong, why it matters, and how to fix it. Common recommendations include patching critical flaws, tightening access controls, improving segmentation, and building employee awareness. Follow-up support and retesting ensure improvements stick.
The threats keep evolving, so should your defenses. Annual testing is a baseline. High-risk environments or major tech changes may warrant more frequent assessments. And as attackers grow more advanced, so do the testers. Ethical hacking isn’t just about staying compliant, it’s about staying ahead.