Pentesting IoT & Medical Devices

Essential Security in the Era of EU Data Act and FDA Regulations
Pentesting IoT & Medical Devices

Why IoT and Medical Device Penetration Testing Has Become Critical

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and connected medical equipment has transformed how organizations operate and how healthcare is delivered. However, this digital transformation brings unprecedented cybersecurity challenges. For Belgian companies operating in these sectors, penetration testing (pentesting) of IoT and medical devices is no longer optional—it’s a regulatory and security imperative.

IoT Penetration Testing Under the EU Data Act

The European Union Data Act, which came into force in January 2024, has fundamentally changed the security landscape for IoT devices across Europe. This regulation aims to ensure fair access to and use of data generated by connected devices while mandating robust security measures.

Key Requirements for IoT Security

Under the EU Data Act, manufacturers and operators of IoT devices must demonstrate:

Data protection by design

Security measures must be integrated from the earliest development stages

Vulnerability management

Regular security assessments to identify and remediate weaknesses

Secure data transfer

Protection of data exchanged between devices, platforms, and users

Access control mechanisms

Proper authentication and authorization systems

For Belgian companies deploying IoT infrastructure—whether in smart buildings, industrial automation, or consumer products—penetration testing provides the concrete evidence needed to demonstrate compliance with these requirements.

What IoT Pentesting Covers

A comprehensive IoT penetration test examines multiple attack surfaces:

Hardware Security

Physical device analysis, including circuit board examination, firmware extraction, debugging interface exploitation, and tamper resistance testing.

Network Communication

Assessment of wireless protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRaWAN), encryption implementation, and man-in-the-middle attack vulnerability.

Firmware Analysis

Reverse engineering of device firmware, hardcoded credential discovery, backdoor detection, and update mechanism security.

API and Cloud Integration

Testing of backend services, authentication mechanisms, data storage security, and third-party integrations.

Mobile Applications

If the IoT ecosystem includes companion apps, these require separate security assessment.

What IoT Pentesting Covers

When exploitable flaws are identified—such as authentication bypasses, insecure storage, or API exposure—proof-of-concept attacks are documented to validate impact. All findings must be reported with risk ratings and suggested remediations, supporting secure coding practices and compliance requirements (OWASP MASVS, GDPR, PCI-DSS).

Continuous and Legal Considerations

By adopting a thorough, ethical approach to API security testing, organizations can significantly improve their ability to withstand advanced threats and safeguard sensitive data. Pentesting is an evolving discipline, requiring ongoing learning and adaptation as new API technologies and vulnerabilities emerge.
By adopting a thorough, ethical approach to API security testing, organizations can significantly improve their ability to withstand advanced threats and safeguard sensitive data. Pentesting is an evolving discipline, requiring ongoing learning and adaptation as new API technologies and vulnerabilities emerge.
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