Penetration Testing

Q: Which DTAC criteria relates to penetration testing?

Penetration testing is covered under C3 – Technical security criteria , which focuses on the technical security of digital health solutions. C3 requires evidence that systems are secure and robust against cyber threats, and one of the recommended ways to demonstrate this is through independent penetration testing.

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DEFINITION

What is NHS DTAC

The NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) is a standard introduced by NHS England to ensure that digital health technologies — including apps, platforms, and software systems — meet key requirements. DTAC provides a baseline for NHS organisations to assess third-party digital solutions before adoption, helping to safeguard patient data, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote trustworthy innovation across the healthcare system.

Penetration testing plays a critical role in meeting the Technical Security requirements of DTAC. It provides a practical demonstration of an application’s resilience against cyber threats and helps validate the implementation of appropriate technical and organisational security controls.

benefits

Why should you do it

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Mandatory Component of DTAC Compliance

Penetration testing is not just a best practice — it is an explicit requirement under the NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC). Any organisation that supplies digital health technologies to the NHS must demonstrate that its application, platform, or service has been thoroughly tested for technical vulnerabilities and cyber risks.

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Protects Patient and Sensitive Data

Healthcare data is highly sensitive and heavily regulated. Penetration testing identifies and helps remedy vulnerabilities that could lead to data breaches, ensuring compliance with GDPR, NHS data policies, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

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Strengthens Your Product and Reputation

A well-secured digital product not only supports DTAC compliance but builds trust. Knowing your application has been tested and hardened adds to its quality, longevity, and competitiveness in the NHS marketplace.

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Identifies Real-World Security Weaknesses

Penetration testing simulates attacks by malicious actors and helps detect flaws that are often missed through other means, such as insecure APIs, misconfigured servers, or inadequate access controls.

clear and defined scope

Affordable penetration testing

We understand that meeting these requirements, especially penetration testing, can be a significant challenge, particularly for startups navigating budget constraints. Our extensive experience in providing affordable penetration testing services specifically tailored for NHS DTAC compliance addresses this challenge head-on. We’ve worked with numerous companies to meet their penetration testing needs, ensuring robust security without breaking the bank.

Our approach focuses on accurate scoping of the assessment, ensuring that the testing is both comprehensive and cost-effective, targeting the most critical areas of your systems. This allows startups and established organisations alike to meet the stringent demands of DTAC C3 without overspending.

Crucially, the methodology we employ is not a one-size-fits-all. It is carefully determined based on the type of test required—for example, whether it’s a black-box external assessment, a grey-box internal test, or a more in-depth white-box audit involving credentials and code-level access. We align our testing strategy with the nature of your application and its deployment environment to provide realistic and relevant insights. This tailored approach ensures that you can demonstrate robust information security practices to the NHS, regulators, and your users—without overspending or undergoing unnecessary testing.

FAQ

Further Information

Can you help us stay compliant despite our budget constraints?

Yes. We specialise in offering affordable, DTAC-aligned penetration testing tailored to startups and SMEs in digital health. We focus on accurately scoping tests to ensure cost-effectiveness while fulfilling NHS requirements. Our goal is to help you demonstrate compliance with high standards—without overspending.

Does a vulnerability scan count as penetration testing?

No. Vulnerability scans automatically search for known issues but do not simulate real-world attacks or assess how vulnerabilities could be exploited in combination. DTAC expects more thorough manual testing, including exploitation and active analysis, which is characteristic of a proper penetration test.

How often should we conduct penetration testing?

As a general rule, penetration testing should be conducted at least annually or after significant updates to your product or infrastructure. For DTAC, a recent and relevant test (ideally within 12 months) is typically expected. If changes have been made to your system’s architecture or data flows, a new test may be required to maintain compliance.

What is the NHS DTAC?

The NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) is a framework designed by NHS England to ensure that digital health technologies used within the NHS meet a minimum level of assurance across key areas such as clinical safety, data protection, technical security, usability and accessibility, and interoperability.

Which DTAC criteria relates to penetration testing?

Penetration testing is covered under C3 – Technical security criteria, which focuses on the technical security of digital health solutions. C3 requires evidence that systems are secure and robust against cyber threats, and one of the recommended ways to demonstrate this is through independent penetration testing.