Monday, Jul 7, 2025

 Dental Cyber Risk Bulletin – July 2025
Is Your Practice Worth the Risk?

In 2004, a man named Ashley Revell sold everything he owned and bet it all on a single spin of a roulette wheel in Las Vegas. He walked away with $270,600. A wild gamble—but he won.

Today, many dental practices are unknowingly making a similar gamble. But instead of chips on a roulette table, they’re risking patient data, business continuity, and their reputation—without even realizing it.

Why Dental Offices Are Prime Targets

Cybercriminals have shifted their focus. Healthcare, especially dental and surgical practices, is now one of the most targeted industries. In fact, healthcare was the most breached sector in 2024, accounting for nearly a quarter of all data breaches. And the trend has continued into 2025.

Just this year:

• Episource, a major healthcare data provider, suffered a breach affecting over 5 million patients, exposing sensitive medical and insurance data.
• Ascension Health and Change Healthcare were hit by ransomware attacks that disrupted operations nationwide.

Dental and oral surgery practices are especially vulnerable. In May 2024, the FBI warned that cybercriminals were shifting their tactics to target oral and maxillofacial surgery offices, after previously attacking plastic surgeons.

It’s Not Just Hackers in Hoodies Anymore

Modern cybercriminals operate like businesses. They use AI, social media scraping, and spear phishing to trick staff into giving up access. These attacks are often timed when key personnel are away or distracted, using personal details to make their messages seem legitimate.

What’s at Stake?

A single cyberattack can cost your practice:

• Thousands to millions in recovery and legal fees
• Fines for exposing Patient Health Information (PHI)
• Lost revenue during downtime
• Permanent damage to your reputation

Some practices never recover.

What Can You Do?

It’s time to stop thinking of cybersecurity as just a tech issue—it’s a business risk. Start by asking:

• What systems do we rely on daily (appointments, imaging, billing)?
• Where is our data stored, and who has access?
• What would it cost us to be offline for a day?

From there, build a plan. Know your risk tolerance. And don’t wait until it’s too late.

Kickstart your security checkup by taking this brief self-assessment form. It’s a quick way to find out how your office security measures up. Once you've completed it, we can schedule a short call to review your results and explore the best next steps to strengthen your security posture.

Dental Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Click link https://bit.ly/4l4Cwar

Dan Mortenson
HDS@hiredgeek.com