Cybersecurity threats and preparedness: Implications for dental schools | Dental Technologies
Summary provided by Dental Technologies
The article “Cybersecurity threats and preparedness: Implications for dental schools,” published in the Journal of Dental Education, highlights the growing cybersecurity risks facing dental institutions as they become more reliant on digital systems. Just recently in August 2023, a significant breach at a major Midwestern dental school compromised data belonging to patients, students, alumni, staff, and contractors.
Common cyber threats include ransomware, phishing, distributed denial-of-service attacks, insider breaches, unsecured networked devices, and open ports. Any of these attacks on a company can disrupt clinical operations, delay patient care, corrupt essential data, interfere with billing systems, halt e-prescriptions, impact digital learning tools, and erode institutional trust. They may also lead to legal, financial, and regulatory consequences.
In order to defend yourself and your company from the never-ending cyber security threat it is recommended to introduce a cyber security plan with technical safeguards. Regular audits, penetration tests, vulnerability scans, network segmentation, updated antivirus software, data encryption, stringent access controls, and secure device authentication are all examples of technical safeguards. Mandatory and ongoing training for faculty, staff, and students on identifying phishing attempts, practicing safe browsing, and appropriately handling sensitive information should be part of your cyber security plan.
Operational readiness is also essential for your dental business success. Organizations should use multi-factor authentication, keep encrypted backups, and have an up-to-date incident response plan that specifies roles and channels of communication. A way this is being implemented in Dental schools through encouraging students to collaborate with cybersecurity experts, arrange for frequent third-party audits, and, where appropriate, comply with compliance regulation standards like HIPAA or GDPR.
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