On July 9, 2023, a serious cybersecurity incident occurred at the Alberta Dental Service Corporation (ADSC), affecting various dental providers and patients across Alberta. In this blog post, we’ll explore what happened, who was affected, and what dentists should do to protect themselves and their patients. Don’t feel like reading? Watch this. What Happened? The ADSC discovered unauthorized access to their IT infrastructure, where malware was deployed, encrypting certain systems and data. Fortunately, with expert help, the network was secured, and most of the affected data was recovered. The compromise occurred between May 7 and July 9, 2023, with an …
Phishing for the Weakest Link in Your Dental Practice
A recent study by Verizon’s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals that 85% of all cyber breaches involve a human element, illustrating how cyber-criminals continue to exploit human error. While technology advances, our vulnerabilities remain consistently low-tech. Cybercriminals have become master storytellers, manipulating humans into opening the doors to networks in order to circumvent cybersecurity controls. The Ostrich Approach Many believe they are not a likely target for hackers, underestimating their attractiveness in the digital world. Whether it’s your network or the company you work for, there’s something to gain for cyber-criminals. Sometimes, it’s not even about you; it’s about …
Why the Just Kids Dental Data Breach Matters: The Importance of Protecting Personal Health Information
Recently, a significant cyberattack targeted Just Kids Dental (Acadia Health), a children’s dental healthcare provider, compromising the personal records of more than 129,000 patients and clients. Though the breached data did not include any banking or credit card information, the cybercriminals did get hold of sensitive personal health information (PHI). While this might sound less alarming than the compromise of financial data, the potential impact of a PHI breach can be both severe and long-lasting. The Sensitivity of Personal Health Information It is crucial to remember that personal health information is highly sensitive. Unlike a credit card number that can …
Revolutionizing Dental Practices: The Affordable Path to Dental Cybersecurity with CaaS
In the ever-evolving world of technology, dental practices are often at the crossroads of innovation and risk. As medical professionals strive to provide the best care, they must also ensure that their patients’ information is secure and protected. This can be a daunting task for dentists with smaller budgets, who may have an IT provider but not specialists in cybersecurity. Enter CaaS, or Cybersecurity as a Service, a new offering from Alexio, Canada’s leading dental cybersecurity firm, that is poised to transform the dental industry. What is Cybersecurity as a Service (CaaS)? CaaS is a solution that provides dental practices …
Is There a Cybersecurity Imposter in Your Dental Practice?
Dental practices have to defend themselves against the same types of cyber attacks as multinational corporations, yet they have far less budget to do so. Additionally, like big corporations and hospitals, the dental industry is not immune to the widespread shortage of qualified IT and cybersecurity providers. As a cybersecurity instructor and risk assessment specialist, I’ve seen a disturbing trend of practices relying on IT services that lack a deep understanding of cybersecurity. In many cases, these providers install an antivirus and a firewall, then consider the job done. The reality, however, is much more complex. A truly secure environment …
Is Your Dental Practice a Hacker’s Dream?
You may be wondering, “Why would a hacker target my dental practice? We only deal with smiles!” This is a common misconception in the industry. The truth is, your dental practice is a prime target for hackers, and here’s why. Why Dentistry is a Target Like any healthcare sector, the dental industry is rich with valuable personal and financial data. Your patients’ files contain sensitive information such as names, addresses, health histories, social insurance numbers, and payment information. Cybercriminals can use this data for identity theft, insurance fraud, or to sell it on the dark web. Additionally, due to limited …
From Drills to Firewalls: My Quest for Safe Digital Dentistry
My entire career has been spent in the dental industry as an educator. By the early 2000’s it became apparent that regulations and online threats were both expanding. I realized the importance of becoming a bridge between regulations, risk, and dentists wanting to leverage technology to advance their practices. In today’s digital age, where data breaches and cyber threats are prevalent, cybersecurity has become an essential aspect for every organization, including dental practices. As a cybersecurity instructor with over 20 years of experience helping dental teams, I recognized a significant gap in their understanding of securing their data and practice …
Transforming Your Dental Practice with “Atomic Habits”
I normally write about the challenges of data security for dental practices, but I after I read the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, I started thinking about how it could be applied to dentistry. I have spent more than 20 years helping dentists grow their practices using technology, and I’ve learned a lot about growing this type of business in general. It’s a highly competitive type of business with many moving parts. Those that flourish have something in common, they know how to leverage ‘systems’. If you’re seeking inspiration to improve your dental practice, James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” may …
One Simple, Low-Cost Action to Fortify Your Dental Practice Against Cybercrime
With sensitive patient data on the line, the stakes are high. However, the good news is, you can increase your dental practice’s data security by up to 70% with one straightforward, cost-effective solution: Cybersecurity awareness training.
Teeth, Tech, and Trust: Using AI Safely in Dental Practices
There are some potential privacy and security risks associated with using AI technologies like ChatGPT in a healthcare environment such as dentistry.