Cyber criminals are specifically targeting the healthcare industry, a trend that started in 2016 and will carry into the New Year, according to Sophos’s 2018 malware forecast. In fact, according to this report, healthcare is the single most targeted industry because victims are most likely to pay ransoms. This is a disturbing revelation for a couple of reasons. On one hand, it indicates that healthcare businesses, dental practices included, have outdated or compromised security protections. In addition, and perhaps more egregiously, the staff is so desperate to regain their patient data that they feel compelled to pay the ransom. At that point, it’s game over and these criminals have won.,
As Sophos notes, the United States is the top country for ransomware victims (17.2%) compared to No. 2 Great Britain (11%). Cyber criminals are focusing on ransomware attacks that amount to less than $5,000. As Cory Nachreiner, CTO of WatchGuard Technologies. explained in a previous article, this is because if the ransom is low enough chances are the FBI won’t get involved and local police often don’t have the resources to investigate such a crime.,So where does this leave small businesses like your dental practice? Here’s the truth: it’s largely your responsibility to research and install the right tools and services. That’s why it’s so important to have a single source IT provider, like Henry Schein TechCentral, that you trust to help you determine how to best protect your practice. Begin by having TechCentral perform a complementary network assessment.,In addition, the IT professionals at TechCentral recommend a 3-part ransomware defense for all practices:,1 . Preparation,2. Prevention,3. Response,Learn more about protecting your dental practice and schedule a free network assessment performed by a TechCentral technology professional who will evaluate your networks, servers, firewall and more. Call 844.206.1228 or visit www.HSTechCentral.com/assessment to schedule your assessment today.,[Top photo credit: Air Force Reserve Command],This article is paid for by Henry Schein TechCentral. 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.
