What do you think when you hear the term “cybersecurity?” Do things like anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewalls come to mind? These are crucial factors in an appropriate, layered security plan. However, every practice needs another aspect of security that costs very little but can make a big difference - a password policy.

Most practice owners and office managers are working to improve their cybersecurity posture to prevent the same attacks and breaches that have made headlines in the past several years. They are updating their firewalls, looking into antivirus and antimalware tools, and performing penetration tests to uncover any weakness in their practice network.

In a digitally evolving world, it’s imperative that you have a cybersecurity plan in place. No matter what the size or specialty of your dental practice is, digital security is a must. Having a regularly scheduled cybersecurity audit and assessment for your practice is important.

Time flies by so fast, and soon, it’ll be a new year yet again. Congratulate yourself on being able to keep your practice going despite so many looming external threats like ransomware and phishers! However, you must not rest on your laurels because cybercriminals sure won’t. Here are New Year’s resolutions your organization must make to continue enjoying cybersecurity in 2022.
Implement multifactor authentication
Passwords are becoming easier to crack by the day.

Ransomware continues to be the most dangerous type of malware, with one in five businesses in the United States falling victim to an attack. For those who don’t know, ransomware is designed to block one’s access to a computer system until a specific sum of money is paid.

Phishing continues to be one of the most effective methods of cyberattack plaguing many dental practices today. Phishing refers to a technique that involves an outside entity gaining access to private networks or data with the assistance of someone with legitimate access to them, obtained through deception and social manipulation.

Data breaches pose grave threats to dental practices because they manage sensitive information relating to patients and their medical histories. If cybercriminals get a hold of this data, they can use it to commit fraud like forging credentials and making unauthorized transactions.

Despite an ever-changing digital world, email has held strong as a popular form of communication for the dental community. Email targeting has allowed cybercriminals to excel at their craft and develop new and creative ways to scam you out of personal and potentially sensitive information.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an intense impact on the global economy and healthcare system — including the dental industry. In the early days of the pandemic, dental offices were forced to close except for emergency procedures, while other businesses quickly shifted to a work from home setting to continue their operations.

Businesses around the globe, including those in the dental industry, felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some companies were forced to shut down, while others switched to a work from home setup to keep their operations afloat. Dental clinics, however, didn't have a choice but to temporarily halt their operations to prevent staff and patients from being infected.