Several government agencies have partnered to create a cybersecurity toolkit for the health care and public health sector, many elements of which will benefit dentists. 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group are delivering tools, resources and trainings in order to help the health care sector increase cybersecurity, an area in which many organizations are facing ongoing challenges. 

According to CISA, the toolkit will help organizations “build their cybersecurity foundation and progress to implement more advanced, complex tools to strengthen their defenses and stay ahead of current threats” as well as “proactively assess vulnerabilities and implement solutions.”

For dentists, several resources may be especially useful, including the cybersecurity education platform Knowledge on Demand. Knowledge on Demand offers five free cybersecurity trainings that align with the top five threats named in HHS’ Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices. Each training contains job aid, interactive videos, a PowerPoint presentation with notes and content intended for a learning management system. 

Dentists are also encouraged to check out CISA’s Secure Your Business information sheet, which examines four ways to protect an organization from online threats: teaching employees to avoid phishing, requiring strong passwords, requiring multifactor authentication and updating business software. 

Finally, dental providers should visit the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s Security Risk Assessment Tool, a resource designed to help medium and small providers conduct a security risk assessment as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The desktop application will determine whether an organization is compliant with HIPAA’s administrative, physical and technical safeguards, as well as whether protected health information is at risk. 

For more information, visit the CISA Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity webpage.