Cybercriminals have had a busy year, and some of the biggest data breaches of 2024 have made headlines, costing companies millions. But what does this mean for your dental practice? While these breaches may involve major players, small to midsize businesses, including dental practices, face the same risks. The consequences of not securing your practice’s data can be devastating.

Let’s look at five of the biggest breaches of 2024 and what they mean for your practice.

1. National Public Data

In a massive breach, hackers claimed to have stolen 2.7 billion personal records from a data-brokering site. This data includes sensitive information like Social Security numbers and addresses, some of which has surfaced on the dark web. If your information is compromised, it could have serious consequences for your practice’s financial security.

Take immediate steps by freezing your credit and monitoring your financial accounts closely. Tools like haveIbeenpwnd.com can help you check if your information has been exposed.

2. Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster faced a breach that exposed the personal and financial information of 560 million customers, including names, emails, and payment information. Imagine if a breach of this size hit a company storing patient data—the consequences for your practice could be catastrophic.

Now more than ever, it’s crucial to protect your systems from unauthorized access and stay vigilant.

3. Change Healthcare

In one of the largest breaches in healthcare history, Change Healthcare was hit with a ransomware attack that exposed the data of 145 million people, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical records. For a dental practice, this type of breach could expose patient information, leading to regulatory penalties and lost trust.

A solid cybersecurity plan is essential to protect sensitive patient data.

4. AT&T

In March, AT&T had a breach affecting 73 million customers, with personal details like Social Security numbers and account passwords exposed. While you might not have millions of customers, a breach in your practice could result in data loss and legal trouble.

Stay ahead of threats by training your team on cybersecurity best practices, from secure password use to phishing prevention.

5. Dell

Dell was breached by a brute-force attack that exposed the data of 49 million people. Imagine if patient names, emails, and payment information from your practice were exposed this way. Would your systems be prepared to withstand such an attack?

What Does This Mean for Your Dental Practice?

While these breaches involve large corporations, dental practices are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals who know smaller businesses often have weaker defenses. A single breach could cost you thousands in downtime, lost patient data, and damage to your practice’s reputation.

Protect Your Practice with a FREE Security Risk Assessment

If these breaches have you worried about your practice’s vulnerabilities, you’re not alone. The best defense is a proactive one. We’re offering a FREE Security Risk Assessment to evaluate your network for potential risks. Our team will identify vulnerabilities, help patch the holes, and ensure your systems are secure.

Don’t wait until you’re the next headline – get your FREE Security Risk Assessment today! Click here to schedule or call our office at 440-397-3000.