Cybersecurity Challenges Dental Practices Must Be Aware of in 2021
We have come a long way from the days of handwritten prescriptions and papered data. With the superfast evolving technology, every sector, including health, has grown a lot. While you adopt electronic health records as your primary base, you cannot overlook dental practice cybersecurity risks. As your IT expert, we would like to share with you the main cybersecurity challenges Dental Practices face and how to protect your business from cybercriminals.
As a modern-day healthcare provider, you are relying more on technology to store all client data. It helps you manage the workflow more smoothly and keep track of your practice efficiently. And like all other health care provides, you too must comply with healthcare-specific regulations like HIPAA. Any breach or non-compliance can cause severe damages, both financial and client trust-related.
So, here’s why cybersecurity should be a priority for dental practices and other small businesses.
Impacts of Cybersecurity Breach on Your Dental Practice
Many things are at stake in case of a cybersecurity breach. There are stringent regulations and privacy compliance laws around patient data and electronic records. Even a whiff of a potential data breach can warrant a formal investigation causing undue alarm amongst your clients. not to mention the financial losses involved in case of an actual violation.
Financial Losses
Healthcare sector was hit the hardest globally, with a total cost of $7.13 million.
A cybersecurity breach can cause you heavy financial losses. According to IBM Data Breach Report 2020, the most expensive industry for a data breach in healthcare. Moreover, the Covid-19 emerged in 2020 opened a pathway for data breaching, making the healthcare industry more vulnerable. And if you think you are a small, independent practitioner, so you are safe, you might be wrong.
A data breach can cause you to lose much money. Not only can cybercriminals hack all your financial data, but they also put a threat to it. Moreover, the cost of data recovery from an IT breach can be higher depending on the severity of the attack. Hence, prevention is better than cure.
Loss of Patient Data
Here comes the most significant part. A cybersecurity hack can cause severe legal complications since it will breach HIPAA or The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This federal act is stringent when it comes to securing sensitive patient data.
However, many people have this false notion that dentistries do not have much sensitive data. But that is a false assumption. Instead, this healthcare sector works with the most sensitive patient group- kids.
Hence, any data breach keeps your patient’s data at risk. And it may snatch all your medical protection, making you non-compliant to the HIPAA rules. Apart from only the dental labs, healthcare labs can also face the same situation under a cybersecurity threat.
Loss of Reputation
Businesses rely on reputation. Apart from all these financial losses and data loss, you’ll lose more is your reputation. Your patients or clients may not trust your business anymore, and they’ll start avoiding it. It takes time to earn trust and credibility.
You have worked hard to get where you are today. Especially if you are a dentist, you are likely to have more sensitive data related to children. But once your dental practice cybersecurity is compromised, the patients will be less likely to trust you with their data anymore. So, it will be bad for both small businesses and independent practitioners. Hence, business computer security is necessary.
Why Are Small Businesses or Offices Are at A Greater Risk?
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about cybersecurity is that it is a matter of concern for enterprise-level or big organizations. But the truth is quite the opposite. Smaller offices are often at a greater risk of such threats. According to an old study conducted in 2013, it says that cybercriminals prefer targeting small businesses more. Here’s why:
Less Trained Employees
Small companies do not worry much about training their employees when it comes to cybersecurity. Since these smaller offices do not have Managed Security Services enforced, they are more vulnerable to such threats. On the other hand, large sectors take these actions on a priority basis, making them safer.
Less IT Security
Small businesses or independent practitioners are less concerned about IT security. Also, with the absence of managed security devices for small businesses, they become more vulnerable to such threats.
How to Protect Your Dental Practice from Cyber Attacks
So, what is the right thing to do to ensure your protection against cyber threats? The most efficient trick so to seek some expert help. Many IT companies are offering you such services. Especially if you are a dental practitioner, you can find some best antivirus software for the dental business. But, here, let us help you.
