Cyber Security is all about the management of risk in the dental business. Every day dentists handle thousands of pieces of regulated and protected data to take care of our patients and earn a living. The government through the Health and Human Services or HHS has regulated the use and handling of it, however it has left dentists with little oversight or assistance on how to protect that data. Cyber Security measures are what we put into place to mitigate the risk of exposure and loss of that data, for the betterment of our patient care, as well as the protection of our business.

The cyber security measures we put in place help us to prevent data loss, or a security breach, as well as prepare if the worse were to happen. Prevention is our best defense, and is only possible if we take action now. Preventative steps will not help once a breach, theft or fraud event has occurred. It's often a tough first step to take, but Siligent is here to help.

40% of small businesses fail to re-open after a significant data loss. Preparation is the key to making sure you are not one of those 40%. So how do we prepare?

Starting with good cyber hygiene is your first step in preventing data loss. You can read all about cyber hygiene here, but the gist of it is maintaining those security patches and updates for all of your software and hardware. Just as you maintain good oral hygiene through regular check ups, good cyber hygiene keeps your computers running in tip top shape.

Installing the right threat hunting software, allows us to stop cyber attacks before they become detrimental. Curating the right technology, and balancing the usability and safety, we can help to prevent data compromises or losses.

Another part of prevention is the training, policies and steps you put in place. At Siligent, we understand the importance of the human side of this business.

Training is definitely prevention, but it is also preparation in the event something happens. Making sure everyone knows what to do is imperative. A good plan should be in place in the case of an attack. There are steps that can be taken every day in order to minimize the damage and down time!

Policies are key. The first step is a good backup strategy, and validating those backups. A good backup strategy will help in any cyber incident, and is required by insurance. Cyber liability insurance is another important part of preparation, having that in place will help you to get back on your feet. As part of training, a good plan is an important part of cyber security preparedness.

Not sure where to start, or even where you are? Contact us for a free cyber security scan. We can easily see what steps you have taken in terms of prevention, and ask a few questions to see where you are in terms of preparation. Don't know where to start or afraid to take a look? Download the free checklist here to ask yourself what you need in your practice, what you should have at a minimum and what your IT provider should be doing on your behalf. At Siligent we partner with you to ensure that a data breach will not mean a business closure, but an event we have prepared for.