Harnessing Data for Informed Cybersecurity Decisions in Dental Service Organizations

dental cybersecurity

In the dynamic landscape of modern business, data-driven decision-making is the cornerstone of success. Executives and leaders within DSOs have long relied on data to inform strategic business decisions, ensuring optimal patient care, operational efficiency, and financial performance. However, when it comes to cybersecurity, a surprising number of decisions are still made based on intuition, feelings, or assumptions about what constitutes robust protection. This approach leaves organizations vulnerable to evolving cyber threats. To safeguard sensitive patient data and maintain the integrity of their networks, DSOs must adopt a data-driven approach to cybersecurity.

The Critical Role of Data in Business Decision-Making

Business leaders are adept at leveraging data to drive various aspects of their operations. For instance, patient satisfaction metrics guide improvements in service delivery, financial data informs budget allocations, and market analysis helps in strategic expansion decisions. These data points provide a factual basis for making choices that enhance efficiency, competitiveness, and profitability.

Similarly, cybersecurity decisions should be grounded in data. The threats DSOs face are sophisticated and constantly changing, making it essential to base security measures on solid, quantifiable information rather than subjective judgment. As a DSO leader, you must have strong security data and analytics to truly address your risk. Most DSO leaders have zero visibility into their risk and are relying on others to tell them that “everything is fine, we are good, or we just bought some new anti-virus software.”

Where Is Your Security Data Right Now?

If you are like many DSOs, your security data either does not exist, is scattered across many IT companies, or is strewn throughout numerous dashboards—all of which is too much to analyze or maintain, resulting in inaction.

  • Do you have visibility into whether your firewalls are configured properly?
  • How many high-risk vulnerabilities each server, workstation, and firewall have?
  • What is the status of your cybersecurity awareness and HIPAA training at the employee level?
  • How many threats have been detected and stopped?
  • What is your overall security risk for your organization and each of your locations?
  • Is your security risk increasing, decreasing, and how do you benchmark against other DSOs?

Unlike your financial data, your security data is probably not readily available (or available at all), which impedes your ability to understand your legal, operational, and compliance risk. From a regulatory and compliance perspective, this is a nightmare.

dental cybersecurity

 

What Does a Data-Driven Cybersecurity Approach Look Like?

DSOs must move to a data-driven security approach to address the highly sophisticated attacks that will impact them. Some of these data points include:

  1. Real-time data into their overall security posture through actionable dashboards that ingest data from all your computers, servers, firewalls, anti-virus, and people…presenting you with what is known as your “attack surface.” The attack surface provides a clear picture of where you have security risk so you can either accept it or remediate it vs. “flying blind.”
  2. Current and historical data so the leadership team can make sure their IT and cybersecurity investments are producing results.
  3. A cybersecurity risk score that is based on vulnerabilities from computers and firewalls, threats stopped, cybersecurity training, simulated phishing, open ports on firewalls, etc. This risk score helps non-technical leaders grasp their overall risk and helps them align budgets to address it or ask more pointed questions.

dental cybersecurity

Drawing Parallels with Business Decisions

For instance, if patient data shows a high rate of no-shows, a DSO might implement reminder systems to improve attendance rates. In cybersecurity, if data reveals frequent phishing attempts, the organization could enhance email security protocols and conduct staff training to mitigate this risk. Both scenarios illustrate the power of data in making informed, effective decisions.

Overcoming Barriers to Data-Driven Cybersecurity

Transitioning to a data-driven cybersecurity approach requires overcoming several challenges. Firstly, DSOs must invest in technologies that enable the collection and analysis of security data. This includes advanced threat detection systems, security dashboards and analytics, and offensive measures like penetration testing and vulnerability management.

Secondly, cultivating a culture of data-driven decision-making is essential. This involves training staff to understand and utilize security data, fostering collaboration between IT, cybersecurity companies, and executive teams, and prioritizing cybersecurity as a strategic business imperative.

dental cybersecurity

 

Conclusion

In the same way that data-driven strategies enhance patient care and operational efficiency, leveraging data for cybersecurity decisions empowers dental service organizations to protect sensitive information and maintain the trust of their patients. By adopting a data-driven approach, DSOs can stay ahead of cyber threats, ensuring a secure and resilient digital environment. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, the integration of data into security strategies will be pivotal in safeguarding the future of dental service organizations.

dental-cybersecurity


🚨Recent notable healthcare cyber incidents:

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are looking into whether a class action lawsuit can be filed in light of the Coastal Orthopedics data breach. Coastal Orthopedics & Sports Medicine of Southwest Florida released an updated notice regarding a data breach that potentially exposed the personal and medical information of current and former patients. The incident was first reported in August 2023.

To assess the impact, Coastal Orthopedics scrutinized the compromised files to identify sensitive content and the individuals affected. The company also verified contact details through a thorough review of internal records. According to a notice on the health care provider’s website, the Coastal Orthopedics data breach may have exposed a combination of names, Social Security numbers, patient and medical record numbers, diagnoses, additional medical details, addresses, driver’s license numbers, health insurance information, financial account information, and dates of birth. Coastal Orthopedics has since notified those impacted via written communication.


Dental Group of Amarillo (DGA) notified patients who may have been impacted by an incident involving some of their personal information. According to a news release, on Oct. 26, 2023, the dental group discovered that an unauthorized third party had gained access to its network. DGA reviewed the files for any personal information that could have been accessed and on January 9, 2024, learned that some patient information was contained in those files.”

GA said the type of data accessed varied for each impacted individual, but it may have included their name, address, telephone number and email address, as well as health information such as provider name, dates of service, X-rays, limited medical history and dental insurance information. For a limited number of individuals, the data may have also included their Social Security number and/or driver’s license number. DGA said has taken additional steps including enhancing its cybersecurity posture to help reduce the likelihood of any similar event from happening in the future.


Change Healthcare has begun mailing data breach notification letters to affected individuals. The company published a substitute data breach notice on its website to inform affected individuals of the breach that resulted from the February 2024 cyberattack against the company. Change has publicly stated that the cyberattack involved the data of approximately one-third of Americans.

On April 22, Change confirmed that the impacted data “could cover a substantial proportion of people in America.” Change Healthcare said that it would begin mailing written letters to affected individuals on June 20, once it completed its data review. Additional customers may be identified as impacted as the review continues. The following information was involved in the breach: health insurance information, health information, billing, claims and payment information and other personal information such as Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses or state ID numbers, or passport numbers.


Dental Cyber Watch is sponsored by Black Talon Security, the recognized cybersecurity leader in the dental/DSO industry and a proud partner of Group Dentistry Now. With deep roots within the dental and dental specialty segments, Black Talon understands the unique needs that DSOs and dental groups have when it comes to securing patient and other sensitive data from hackers. Black Talon’s mission is to protect all businesses from the devastating effects caused by cyberattacks—and that begins with a robust cyber risk mitigation strategy. To evaluate your group’s current security posture visit www.blacktalonsecurity.com.

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