8 Strategies to Ensure Data Privacy and Security in Healthcare Mobile App Development

With the digital evolution, people are increasingly seeking convenient ways to connect with their healthcare providers or insurers, manage prescriptions, get easy access to premium bills, and monitor their health conditions - all from the comfort of their smartphones. This shift has led to an explosion in healthcare mobile app development (mHealth). According to a report shared by INQVIA*, globally, over 350,000 mHealth apps are currently available and operational. With the growing demand, global mHealth market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 11.6% over the next seven years, reaching a valuation of $49.2 billion. 

However, with the rise of these technological advancements comes a critical responsibility: ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive patient data. As a leading healthcare mobile app developer, Mirra Health Care understands these challenges intimately and offers a full-stack service solution designed to ensure strong data privacy and security in healthcare app development. Our solutions are built to help developers navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance while delivering innovative and secure mobile healthcare applications.

The Importance of Security in Healthcare Mobile App Development

Healthcare apps collect, store, and transmit vast amounts of personal health information, including medical histories, treatment plans, prescriptions, and more. The security of this data is crucial for the following reasons: 

• Build Trust: Patients trust healthcare mobile apps with their most sensitive information. A data breach can impact patient engagement and trust and damage the reputation of healthcare brands. It can also create legal consequences for developers, healthcare providers, and insurers. 

• Compliance Requirements: Healthcare apps are subject to stringent regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in hefty fines and legal action. 

• Patient Safety: Inaccurate or compromised medical data can lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment decisions, putting patient safety at risk. 

How to Ensure Data Security in Healthcare Mobile App Development

1. Prioritize Healthcare App Regulatory Compliance

In the United States, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient data. HIPAA compliance involves implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of protected health information (PHI). This includes encrypting data, limiting access to authorized personnel, and regularly monitoring systems for unauthorized access. 

To ensure compliance with these regulations, developers should: 

• Understand the specific legal requirements for data protection in the regions where the app will be used. 

• Ensure that regulatory requirements are integrated into the app’s design from the outset, rather than being added as an afterthought. 

• Regularly update compliance measures according to latest updates. 

Mirra Health Care’s full-stack development service offerings are designed with these regulatory requirements in mind. Our healthcare mobile app development solutions ensure that healthcare apps are not only compliant with HIPAA but are also built to adapt to future regulatory changes. 

2. Implement Strong Authentication and Access Control

Strong authentication mechanisms, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and biometric authentication, act as digital gatekeepers and ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data.  

These mechanisms require users to verify their identity through multiple factors, such as something they know (a password), something they have (a smartphone), or something they are (a fingerprint). By enabling multifactor authentication, developers can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. 

Access control mechanisms further enhance security by limiting user access based on roles. For example, a patient might have access to their own medical records, while a healthcare provider might have broader access to multiple patients’ records. Implementing role-based access control (RBAC) ensures that users can only access the information necessary for their role. 

3. Incorporate Data Encryption 

Data encryption transforms data into a coded format that can only be deciphered by those with the correct decryption key. This means that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable and useless to unauthorized parties. 

There are two primary types of data encryption in healthcare mobile app development: 

• Encryption in Transit: Protects data as it moves between the app and external systems, such as servers or cloud storage. Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols are commonly used to encrypt data during transmission. 

• Encryption at Rest: Protects data stored on servers or devices. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms are widely used to secure data at rest. 

By encrypting data both in transit and at rest, developers can ensure that patient information remains secure, even in the event of a breach. 

4. Conduct Regular Audits & Risk Assessment

Security is not a one-time effort in healthcare mobile app development. It's an ongoing process that requires regular audits.  

Conduct penetration testing, where ethical hackers attempt to exploit potential weaknesses in your system, to identify vulnerabilities beforehand. In addition, regular security audits can also identify outdated software, misconfigured settings, and other potential risks. 

5. Implement Data Minimization

While data is the lifeblood of any healthcare software solution, collecting more data than necessary can increase the risk of a breach. The data minimization principle dictates that developers should only collect and store the data necessary for the app’s functionality. It not only reduces the amount of sensitive data at risk in the event of a breach but also aligns with regulatory requirements. 

Regularly review and delete data that is no longer needed to minimize the risk of exposure. Also, wherever possible, anonymize data to protect patient identities. 

6. Secure APIs

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are essential for enabling data exchange between healthcare apps and other systems. However, insecure APIs can be a significant security risk, as they may expose sensitive data to unauthorized access. 

To secure APIs: 

• Implement authentication and authorization protocols in the healthcare mobile app development process where only authorized users can access them. 

• Replace sensitive data with tokens that can be used to access the data without exposing it directly to potential threats. 

• Keep APIs up-to-date with the latest security patches and monitor them for potential vulnerabilities. 

7. Prioritize User Consent and Transparency

Write privacy policies in plain language to explain how their data will be used, stored, and shared, and obtain explicit consent before collecting any sensitive information. Also, allow users to control their data by providing options to modify their privacy settings, revoke consent, and delete their data if they choose.  

This process not only fosters trust but also aligns with regulations like HIPAA, which emphasizes user control over personal data.

8. Ensure Regular Updates and Patch Management

Outdated software is a common entry point for cyberattacks. Regularly update your app’s software and apply security patches to protect your app against known vulnerabilities. 

Developers should establish a patch management process in the healthcare mobile app development process to ensure that updates are applied immediately. Before deploying updates, test them in a controlled environment to ensure they don’t introduce new vulnerabilities. 

Why Trust Mirra for Secure Healthcare Mobile App Development?

Mirra Health Care’s full-stack development service is a part of Medicare Advantage in a Box suite, designed with a deep understanding of the healthcare industry’s unique security needs. Here’s why you can trust us for your secure healthcare app development: 

• Industry Expertise: Our team of developers and security experts has extensive experience in healthcare technology, ensuring that our solutions are tailored to the specific needs of the healthcare sector. 

• Configurable Architecture: Mirra’s platform offers a highly configurable architecture, allowing us to adapt quickly to changing regulations like HIPAA.  

• Secure Coding Practices: Our secure coding practices, including input validation and encryption, minimize vulnerabilities and protect sensitive patient data from potential breaches. 

• End-to-End Encryption: Mirra’s expert developers follow industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard all data, whether in transit or at rest, ensuring that patient information remains secure. 

• Continuous Monitoring and Support: We provide ongoing monitoring, updates, and support to address potential security threats and maintain compliance, giving you peace of mind. 

Connect with us to build a secure healthcare app that safeguards your data. 

*Data retrieved from Digital Health Trends 2021. (n.d.). IQVIA.