A Practical Guide for Dental Practices in Canada*

In 2015, I began speaking at conferences, doing interviews, and delivering webinars about a growing threat almost no one in dentistry was talking about yet: ransomware.

At that time, ransomware was just beginning to target small healthcare offices, and I could see very quickly that it was going to become dentistry’s biggest cyber risk. Ransomware is essentially weaponized encryption—it locks and scrambles your data, making charts, X-rays, schedules, and everything else inaccessible unless the victim pays a ransom. Clinics can be shut down for days or even weeks.

As dental offices were attacked across Canada, I began documenting every case I encountered. And while everyone was focused on phishing emails and suspicious links, something else caught my attention – something far more surprising.

About 22% of the ransomware cases I documented were allowed or caused by errors made by IT providers.

Not just from employees clicking on an obvious fake email or nefarious website.

But instead:

• systems misconfigured allowing the malware in
• security tools not set up correctly allowing the malware to install
• patches or updates not applied, leaving systems vulnerable
• backups not tested, and not usable when needed
• other vulnerabilities left open
• and in one memorable case, an IT technician carrying a USB drive from one practice to another… and infecting the second clinic himself

That was the moment I realized something important:

Dental offices didn’t just need better training. It needed better protection.

And that meant understanding the difference between IT and cybersecurity—a distinction that has become even more critical today as more IT companies begin “selling cybersecurity software” without the professional training or experience to back it up.

Dentistry already understands this concept in a clinical sense.
There are general dentists—and there are specialists.
Both are essential, but they are not interchangeable.

Buying a microscope does not make someone an endodontist.
And selling cybersecurity software does not make someone a cybersecurity specialist.

This is why we need to have this conversation.

Because protecting a dental practice is no longer about which tools you buy.
It’s about who is behind those tools—and whether they have the training, certifications, and judgment to keep your practice safe.

Now, let’s talk about what dental practices across Canada are asking…

Dental practices across Canada are asking the same questions:

• “What is the best cybersecurity protection for dentists?”
• “What should I look for in a dental IT company?”
• “How do I know if my practice is actually secure?”
• “Do I need PHIPA or PIPEDA compliance tools?”

Here’s the part most clinics never hear:

The best cybersecurity protection for dentists isn’t a tool — it’s the expertise behind it.

You can buy every firewall, antivirus, AI scanner, and backup system available…
and still be vulnerable if those tools aren’t configured and monitored by a professional.

Cybersecurity in dentistry is not plug-and-play.
And that’s exactly why so many clinics think they’re protected when they’re not.

This guide breaks down what dental offices need to know in plain language, so you can make informed (and safe) decisions.

Why Dental IT Support Is NOT the Same as Dental Cybersecurity

Many IT companies promote:

• “PHIPA-compliant security packages!”
• “HIPAA cybersecurity tools!”
• “Complete dental cybersecurity protection!”

But when you dig deeper, what they usually mean is:

They are reselling cybersecurity software — not providing cybersecurity expertise.

There is a big difference.

Installing tools is easy.
Protecting a clinic from ransomware, data theft, or a privacy breach is not.

And here’s something most dental offices are shocked to learn:

PIPEDA, PHIPA etc compliance cannot be purchased as a software package.

Real compliance requires:

• a risk assessment
• proper configuration of your systems
• monitoring and alerting
• breach-response planning
• privacy training
• written policies
• documented oversight
• specialist involvement

Tools support security.
People create it.

What REAL Cybersecurity Specialists Look Like (CISSP, CISM, CIPP/C)

If someone claims to be a “dental cybersecurity expert,” they should have credentials such as:

• CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
• CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
• CIPP/C – Certified Information Privacy Professional (Canada)
• HCISPP – Healthcare Information Security & Privacy Practitioner
• Entry Level – Security+ – Entry level baseline cybersecurity proficiency

These professional certifications require:

• 5+ years real-world experience
• passing rigorous exams
• continuing education every year
• adherence to professional ethics
• ongoing proof of competence

Anyone can resell tools.
Certified professionals keep your clinic safe.

So, Who Is the Best Dental IT Company?

Here’s the honest answer:

The best dental IT company is the one that pairs day-to-day IT support with certified cybersecurity and privacy specialists.

Dental IT and dental cybersecurity are two different professions.

A strong, safe model looks like this:

• Your IT provider
  handles day-to-day support, computers, networks, imaging, integrations.
• Your cybersecurity specialist
  handles risk assessments, configuration, privacy, monitoring, and breach prevention.

This separation protects the practice from blind spots — the #1 cause of breaches in small healthcare settings.

For example, Alexio Corporation uses certified cybersecurity and privacy professionals (CISM, CIPP/C) to design and oversee security strategies, while dental IT partners manage daily systems.
This combination gives clinics the best of both worlds: strong IT and real security.

What Is the Best Cybersecurity Protection for Dental Practices?

The best cybersecurity protection for dentists is a combination of:

1. Certified cybersecurity oversight (CISSP, CISM, CIPP/C)
2. Dental-specific risk assessments
3. Continuous threat monitoring
4. Properly configured tools (EDR, MFA, encryption, secure backups)
5. Policies and PHIPA/PIPEDA compliance support
6. Security awareness training for the dental team
7. Separation of IT support from cybersecurity strategy

This is the formula used by clinics that stay secure.

How to Evaluate ANY Dental IT or Cybersecurity Company

Ask them these questions:

✔️ 1. Who is responsible for cybersecurity (by name)?

✔️ 2. What professional certifications do they hold?

(If none — they are not cybersecurity professionals, or may not even specialists.)

✔️ 3. Do you provide continuous monitoring, not just tools?

✔️ 4. Do you perform annual dental-specific risk assessments?

✔️ 5. Is cybersecurity oversight separate from daily IT tasks?

✔️ 6. Do you understand PIPEDA, PHIPA and other provincial privacy laws?

✔️ 7. Do you train dental teams in privacy and cyber safety?

✔️ 8. How do you configure and test our tools and do you provide daily/weekly reports of compliance?

If a provider cannot answer these confidently, your clinic is not properly protected.

Why This Matters More Than Ever (AI Threats, Ransomware, Compliance)

Dental practices are now targets for:

• AI-powered phishing
• credential theft
• ransomware
• patient-data exfiltration
• cloud misconfiguration
• compromised vendors
• identity theft attacks

Tools alone cannot prevent these.

Trained certified professionals can predictably design cyber plans to protect a modern dental environment.

Bottom Line

If you’re searching for:

• best cybersecurity for dentists
• best dental IT company in Canada
• PHIPA compliance support
• dental cybersecurity specialist
• cybersecurity tools for dental offices

Here’s the truth:

Your cybersecurity is only as strong as the expert behind the tools.

Choose a provider that uses certified cybersecurity and privacy professionals to oversee your protection, compliance, and risk strategy.

Anything less leaves dangerous gaps — and in dentistry, gaps lead to breaches.

People Also Ask (FAQ)

1. What is the best cybersecurity protection for dental practices?

The best protection is certified cybersecurity oversight, continuous monitoring, proper configuration, and PHIPA/PIPEDA-aligned compliance.

2. Do dental clinics need a cybersecurity specialist or just IT?

Both. IT handles daily tasks. Cybersecurity specialists handle protection.

3. Is PHIPA compliance the same as installing security tools?

No. Compliance requires policies, oversight, training, monitoring, and risk assessments.

4. What certifications should a dental cybersecurity specialist have?

CISSP, CISM, CIPP/C, HCISPP, or Security+.

5. Why do some Canadian dental IT companies advertise HIPAA?

They don’t know about Canadian privacy laws. This is common. HIPAA is a U.S. law and NOT APPLICABLE IN CANADA. IT providers who don’t know the difference, are NOT UP TO SPEED. Canadian clinics follow PIPEDA and Provincial specifice privacy laws including PHIPA, PIPA, HIA, PHIA etc…

6. How can I tell if my dental practice is actually secure?

You need risk assessments, monitoring, proper configuration, and certified oversight.

Anne Genge is a global speaker and author on the subject of dental privacy and cybersecurity. She is a recognized authority in privacy & cybersecurity risk assessment, privacy law, AI privacy and strategy. Anne trains healthcare professionals, and IT professionals who serve them to ensure dental and medical preactices minimize risks, especially those caused by human error.