Founders and CTOs of digital health startups wear a lot of hats.
Product strategist. Fundraiser. Team builder. Sometimes even part-time designer or QA tester. But while juggling all these roles, infrastructure can quietly become a critical vulnerability. Not because it’s ignored, but because there simply aren’t enough hours in the day.
Great Developers, but No Security Expertise
This happens often. A high-performing startup team builds a strong product with impressive features. The developers are talented, focused, and fast.
But when it comes to infrastructure and security, no one on the team has deep experience. That is completely normal.
DevOps, short for Development and Operations, is a specialized discipline that integrates infrastructure, deployment processes, and often security. It frequently gets postponed in early-stage startups. Without it, even the most capable developers can unintentionally introduce serious vulnerabilities into production.
This is not about placing blame. It is about giving teams the right support.
Three Infrastructure Mistakes Even Savvy Teams Make
Here are some of the most common and dangerous infrastructure issues we see in digital health:
1. Exposed API Tokens in Frontend or Repositories
Developers unfamiliar with cybersecurity or DevOps often leave secret keys or tokens directly in the code of mobile apps or web frontends. This allows attackers to easily extract credentials and gain unauthorized access to backend services, paid APIs, or sensitive databases.
Even when the rest of the system is well-built, one exposed token can act like a master key for attackers.
2. Weak or Missing Firebase Security Rules
Firebase is popular for good reasons. It is fast and easy to implement. But that convenience comes with hidden risks. A common problem is failing to apply strict rules to real-time databases.
In 2025, researchers discovered a widely used app with Firebase configured incorrectly. There was no password protection, which exposed data from 320,000 users, including GPS locations, phone numbers, and critical API keys.
Now imagine if that had been clinical trial data or personal health records. The privacy implications would be enormous and likely in violation of HIPAA regulations.
3. Deployments That Do Not Meet HIPAA Standards
In digital health, HIPAA compliance is not optional. It is a legal requirement.
Yet we continue to see production environments that:
- Lack encryption for data at rest or in transit
- Do not include audit logging
- Rely on cloud services without a valid Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- Transmit sensitive health data through non-compliant channels
These are not minor technical flaws. They are violations that can lead to regulatory audits, legal consequences, and permanent damage to user trust.
Just because an app works smoothly does not mean it is secure.
You Do Not Have to Wear the DevOps Hat Alone
Security is not a one-time fix. It is a mindset, a system, and a shared responsibility —especially in healthcare.
If there is uncertainty about the state of infrastructure, that is completely understandable. Many high-performing teams are in the same position. This is exactly where DevOps support makes a critical difference.
At Alternova, we help digital health innovators build quickly while ensuring their foundations are secure, compliant, and scalable.
Let us help you protect what you are building.
