The Importance of a Layered Defense in Your Dental Practice

By Howard Grainger, Product Manager Henry Schein TechCentral

Imagine how devastating it would be if you lost all of your patient data due to equipment failure, fire and water, theft and more. One especially deadly hazard, a data breach from one wrong mouse click, could be devastating to your patients’ security as well as your financial stability. Along with losing income from patient attrition due to a damaged reputation, you could also face large fines.

Protect yourself from data loss by using a layered defense. While no single defense can protect your patient data completely from computer attacks, the more layers of security you have, the higher the chance of catching an advanced threat other layers may have missed. When used as part of your comprehensive data security program, antivirus/anti-spam software and a firewall, encryption services, redundant backup and a tool to guide you through the HIPAA requirements, can help you protect your practice.

Layer 1: Network Security

Antivirus or anti-spam software is a great first line of defense—when it’s kept current. However, you need a firewall for additional network security to provide another layer of defense against hackers, such as the WatchGuard all-in-one network security solution.

Layer 2: Encryption Services

Encrypt your practice data so that if your server is lost or stolen, thieves can’t access sensitive information, even if the drive is moved to another machine. Encrypting the hard drive of your server with the latest Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) (as of this writing, AES 256-bit encryption) provides another layer to protect your data from anyone who does not have your unique key.

Layer 3: Redundant Backup Services

Are you prepared for data loss from theft, fire, or water damage? Keep redundant copies of your valuable data in two protected locations. A redundant, remotely managed backup and recovery solution should keep data encrypted with AES-256 encryption, both on the local backup device and on the cloud server. This helps minimize human error, and should disaster strike your practice, recovery of your data is quicker and more certain.

Layer 4: HIPAA

Old policy documents may be missing recent changes to your office or security measures that help protect against more current threats like ransomware. Consider an affordable cloud-based tool like LayerCompliance™ by CAEK that helps guide dental practices through the requirements of HIPAA. When used as part of your comprehensive data security program, LayerCompliance™ can help you achieve HIPAA compliance.

With a multilayered defense, you can guard your practice against different types of data loss. TechCentral can help you safeguard your practice’s data by performing an assessment specific to the dental industry. Request your network assessment and take the first step toward a better defense.

Call 844-588-6590 or visit www.HSTechCentral.com/Sidekick.

Some of the product(s) and/or service(s) described herein are provided by a third party. Henry Schein, Inc. or its affiliates (“HSI”) make no independent assessment of the content and descriptions provided by such third party and this content does not constitute an endorsement by HSI. HSI is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of such third party products or services.

About the Author: Howard began his career in dentistry in 2009. He has held roles as a Dentrix technician and a Network/Hardware technician. His current role with Henry Schein continues to advance technology offerings in the dental market and help dental offices find the right solutions for their various IT needs.

Originally published in Sidekick Magazine.