Don’t Let Cyberattacks Disrupt Patient Care: Dental Practice Cyberattacks on the Rise

Cybersecurity in dental practices is increasingly important as healthcare organizations report a spike in cyberattacks. A recent survey by the Ponemon Institute revealed that 92% of healthcare organizations faced a cyberattack in the past year, highlighting an urgent need for stronger defenses. While healthcare organizations averaged 40 attacks annually, about 69% of these attacks disrupted patient care, with some resulting in increased mortality rates. These alarming statistics underscore that dental practices are also vulnerable, as they store sensitive patient data and rely on continuous access to it.

Cybercriminals use tactics such as ransomware, phishing, and business email compromise (BEC) to disrupt or exploit these practices. Thesurvey shows that 56% of healthcare respondents saw poorer patient outcomes dueto delays from attacks, which often compromised patient safety. Ransomwarealone, an often-used method in healthcare cyberattacks, averages a ransom of$1,099,200, a 10% increase from previous years. Meanwhile, the most substantialfinancial burden to healthcare organizations was $1.47 million due to systemunavailability.

Why Dental Practices Are at Risk

Dental practices, much like larger healthcare institutions,manage extensive sensitive information, making them attractive targets forhackers. However, they often lack the robust cybersecurity resources of largerorganizations. This vulnerability can result in serious disruptions if acyberattack strikes, affecting not only business continuity but also patientwell-being and trust. In particular, supply chain attacks impact 68% ofsurveyed healthcare organizations, suggesting that dental practices should alsosecure third-party integrations.

Practical Steps for Protecting Dental Practices

Strengthening cybersecurity is essential for dentalpractices aiming to prevent such devastating consequences. Here are essentialstrategies:

1. Invest in Comprehensive Security Training: Human error contributes to many breaches. With 71% of healthcare organizations enhancing cybersecurity training, dental practices should likewise prioritize staff training for identifying phishing schemes and data-handling best practices.
2. Deploy Strong Access Control and Authentication: Controlling access and using multi-factor authentication helps ensure that only authorized personnel can access patient data, significantly reducing the chance of unauthorized entry.
3. Data Backup and Recovery Protocols: Regularly backing up data allows practices to recover information without paying ransoms, minimizing downtime and financial losses.
4. Utilize AI and Machine Learning Tools: Interestingly, 28% of healthcare organizations are now using AI in cybersecurity, and 67% find it enhances their security. Implementing AI can help practices proactively identify threats and secure their systems.

With the average cost of cyberattacks rising—$4.7 million for healthcare organizations—the need for robust security is evident. Taking these preventive measures not only helps practices stay operational and HIPAA-compliant but also protects their patients, ensuring that dental practices can provide high-quality, uninterrupted care in today’s digital landscape. Luckily, Darkhorse Tech is proud to be in business with hundreds ofdental practices all over the United States, helping to protect them from cyberattacks, ransomware, and more. Interested in learning how you can protect your patients and your practice? Visit us at darkhorsetech.com.

For further insights, read the full HIPAA Journal report.

About theAuthor: ReubenKamp, CEO, and Founder of Darkhorse Dental IT, specializes in blending ITinnovation with comprehensive cybersecurity measures to protect dentalpractices. With an unwavering commitment to data security and regulatorycompliance, Reuben and his team are dedicated to equipping dental professionalswith the tools and knowledge needed to thwart cyber threats and maintain thetrust of their patients.

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Darkhorse Dental IT Is Here For You

We understand that caring for your patients is your top priority. Dealing with a computer issue, slow IT response time or HIPAA compliance requirements just aren’t high on your list of to-do’s. That’s where Darkhorse Dental Tech comes in. Our team of Dental IT specialists are experts when it comes to running a great, secure and successful practice —and so much more. Whether you’re looking for IT services for startups, or existing support and security services for your practice, Darkhorse can do it all for you, so you can get back to your patients.

Have questions? Looking for ideas? Just want to talk teeth? Drop us a line at sales@darkhorsetech.com to get the conversation started! Or head to our Contact page to send us a message. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!

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