As a doctor or dentist, your first priority will always be your patients. Every day you and your team work hard to deliver great care, earn trust, and keep people healthy. But behind the scenes, there’s another challenge you can’t ignore: cybersecurity.
Medical and dental practices are now one of the top targets for cybercriminals. Why? Because patient health records are among the most valuable types of data on the black market—worth up to 10 times more than credit card numbers. Add in HIPAA regulations, insurance information, and payment processing, and it’s clear why attackers see healthcare as a goldmine.
The reality is this: while you’re focused on patients, hackers are focused on your practice. And the risks are growing.
How Often Medical & Dental Offices Are Targeted
Cyberattacks on healthcare aren’t rare—they’re constant. Studies show that over 90% of healthcare organizations experience at least one cyberattack attempt per year, with an average of 40 attempts per organization annually.
For small and midsize practices, that can feel surprising. Many believe attackers only go after large hospitals or big health systems. But in fact, smaller practices are often easier targets because they typically have fewer resources devoted to cybersecurity.
In other words: if you’re a doctor or dentist, you should assume your office is being targeted regularly—even if you haven’t noticed it yet.
How Often Attacks Succeed
Unfortunately, attacks don’t just knock at the door—they often get in. Research shows that 82% of healthcare data breaches involve human error. A staff member clicks on a phishing email. A weak password gets reused. A system update gets delayed.
Attackers know this and design their methods around it. That’s why phishing emails remain one of the most successful tools. All it takes is one mistake to expose patient records, compromise your systems, or invite ransomware into your network.
Even if just one of those 40 annual attack attempts succeeds, the consequences can be devastating.
The Cost of a Successful Breach
So what happens when an attack succeeds? The financial impact is staggering:The average cost of a healthcare data breach is over $10 million, the highest of any industry.
-
The cost per patient record exposed often exceeds $400 per record. If you have thousands of records, that adds up quickly.
-
Ransomware attacks often demand payments in the hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars.
And that’s just the direct cost. Add in HIPAA penalties (which can reach $1.5 million per year depending on severity), legal expenses, and reputational damage, and the total impact can be crushing for a small or midsize practice.
Perhaps most importantly, a breach erodes patient trust. Patients expect their most personal information to remain private. When that trust is broken, it can take years to rebuild—or worse, patients may choose to leave your practice altogether.
Cybersecurity Plan for Medical and Dental Practices
The good news: while the risks are real, the steps to reduce them are clear and manageable. Working with experts in cybersecurity and IT can ensure you are able to focus on your patients while they deal with the technical aspects of your practice. Look for a partner that prioritizes your needs and is well-versed in compliance requirements.
