If you’re running a small healthcare practice—maybe you’re a dentist, podiatrist, therapist, pharmacist, or own a small lab—you might think you’re flying under the radar. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Healthcare was the most targeted industry for cyberattacks last year. According to Microsoft, one in three small to medium-sized businesses were hit with a cyberattack—and healthcare organizations, regardless of size, are at the top of attackers’ lists (Microsoft Security Report).
That’s a 33% chance of being hit every year. Zoom out to three years? The odds of getting hit at least once are closer to 70%.
Cybercriminals know that smaller organizations often don’t have full-time IT staff or fancy cybersecurity tools. But they do know you’re sitting on a goldmine of data: names, birthdates, insurance details, medical records. That data is incredibly valuable on the black market, which makes you a prime target.
The average healthcare provider stores thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—of patient records. Even a small solo practice might have 3,000 to 5,000 active patient files, not to mention archived data. Each one of those records represents potential exposure in a breach.
And if you’re a covered entity under HIPAA, there’s more at stake than stolen data. A breach could mean serious fines—ranging from $137 to $68,928 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $2,067,813 depending on the level of negligence (HHS OCR Penalty Tiers). Beyond that, you’re looking at mandatory reporting, possible investigations, legal costs, and a real risk to your reputation and patient trust.
So, what can you do about it?
Start with a HIPAA Risk Assessment. It’s not just a good idea—it’s required under the HIPAA Security Rule. A risk assessment helps you identify where your systems might be vulnerable, what threats you face, and what steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming the next headline.
Think of it like an annual check-up for your practice’s digital health. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. But it does need to happen.
If you haven’t done a risk assessment in the past year (or ever), now is the time. We can help guide you through it in a way that makes sense for your size and budget.
Don’t wait until after a breach to find out what you should’ve done. Let’s talk today about making your practice more secure.
📞 Call us today: 760-759-5900
🌐 Contact us: www.magisterba.com
