Data Security for Your Dental Dashboard That You (and Your Patients) Can Trust

“Trust is a two-way street.”

Believing that implies a mutual understanding between two people. Or in this context how you feel about the relationship between technology and stored data.

For example, trusting your dental dashboard for data security would fit the analogy. But that’s not always easy given the reality of cybersecurity threats.

Trust is something you can’t afford to lose to a data security breach

Let’s start with patient trust. That’s something you have earned. And rightly so.

It’s a big deal for patients to entrust not just their dental health to you but also the data surrounding it. And much of that data is of a sensitive nature.

Sensitive (personal) data is what appeals to hackers. Not to sound alarmist, but a breach of that nature would also lead to a breach of trust.

You have more than one level of trust to safeguard. One, is, of course, your patient’s trust.

And then there’s the trust required by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Their compliance guidelines are designed to protect your patient’s records. Also included in their jurisdiction is HIPAA compliance.

The patient trust would seem to be “ground-zero” in this discussion. Apply vigilance there and you will naturally meet all additional requirements – government included.

Safeguard trust with the right data security strategies for your dental dashboard

Pinpoint your network vulnerabilities

Thinking you’re immune from a security breach or a hacker is naive in this era of technology. Weak points in your system or common missteps create easier opportunities for cyber threats.

It’s important to do a vulnerability assessment in your dental practice or across your organization. Look for human and technical vulnerabilities.

• Outdated or unfamiliar network users. Basically, it’s auditing who’s designated and credentialed to access and use your system. Update and confirm those who have network access.
• Donated or unused computers. It’s essential to remove the connection from your server or cloud system if you upgrade, discard, donate, or sideline a personal unit. Otherwise, open access to your network could be possible.
• User access and password protection. Treat user access and password sharing as a privilege. Granting blanket access to your system could be exploited. And make sure your passwords are complex (e.g., character count, capitals, symbols, numbers, etc.).

Implement an “assurance policy” across your organization

Like it or not, you’re aware of the value of insurance policies. The investment assures protection.

The same assurance applies – in principle – to your valuable patient database. Because cyber-attacks are a potential liability you want to ensure you’re protected.

Certain “insurance” policies protect the trust patients and government entities place upon your practice or organization.

• Audit your cybersecurity protocols. Check your IT environment for any vulnerabilities (e.g., data access points and procedures, remote and portable capabilities, encryption protection, etc.)
• Implement and update any written policies related to protecting patient health information
• Appoint a team member to run point on data management in your practice or within each across your organization
• Routinely review and train your team(s) about data security and compliance guidelines
• Repair any discovered vulnerabilities immediately

Probe your IT environment (including your dental dashboard capabilities) to test its security and compliance

In essence, view this strategy as a sort of “ethical hack” into your systems and related technology. It’s better that you/your team(s) find them rather than someone else.

This approach keeps you vigilant. Anticipating problems puts you in a more proactive position to solve them.

• Expose your network to an “ethical hack.” Allowing your network to experience a “fake” or “white hat” hack will flag vulnerabilities.
• Solve the problems immediately that are discovered via the test hack.
• Create a data recovery plan. This enables you to get your network back online faster and without costly delays to your practice or organizational production. And data loss risk can be reduced or eliminated.

Technology (like a dental dashboard) should streamline your dental practice or DSO workflows. And why worry about security in the process?

Apply some vigilance and you can stay productive, profitable, and secure.

Do more and do it securely with an all-in-one dental KPI dashboard for DSO, group practice, and solo private practice success

The Jarvis Analytics platform helps assure that you’re securely tracking the important metrics and staying on track with your goals as your dental practice and/or DSO grows and expands.

Jarvis…

• Integrates seamlessly with your chosen practice management software/platform
• Presents the metrics you want and need in an easy-to-view dental dashboard that reduces data complexity for growing dental practices, dental groups, and DSOs

Experience Jarvis in action. Request a demo today!

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