For most of us, "cyber security" still sounds like something for IT departments in big corporations, not a dental practice with a handful of surgeries and a receptionist juggling three jobs at once. But talk to any practice that has been hit by a ransomware attack, and cyber security becomes far more important.
This can be the aftermath of a dental practice hit by a cyber incident:
Appointment system won't open
X-rays are inaccessible
Phones are ringing with patients asking why their appointment has been cancelled
A message demanding payment to unlock the practice's own data.
This is the reality cyber security exists to prevent. It is not a niche technical concern, it is now a core part of running a safe, resilient, compliant dental practice, alongside infection control, staff training and CQC compliance. In 2025-26, nearly half (43%) of UK businesses reported a cyber-attack or data breach, with the most common incidents being phishing attacks to which 38% of businesses fell victim.1
What are some common forms of cyber-attacks?
Phishing: when fake emails, texts or calls designed to trick someone into handing over a password or making a payment
Spear phishing: highly targeted phishing aimed at a specific person or company role
Ransomware: a malicious software that locks or encrypts a practice's systems until a ransom is paid
Malware: bad programs like viruses or spyware infiltrate a device to damage files or steal data
Denial of Service (DoS): flooding an IT system or network with fake web traffic to overwhelm the server and cause your website or systems to crash and go offline.
What does cyber security actually mean?
Put simply, cyber security is everything a practice does to keep its computers, networks, software and the information stored on them safe from unauthorised access, damage or disruption. In a dental setting, that spans far more than the front-desk PC, it covers:
Practice management system
Digital X-ray equipment
Card payment terminals
Email
Cloud backups
Every staff laptop or phone that connects to practice systems.
Why it matters: The repercussions of getting it wrong
Dental practices are, unfortunately, an efficient target for cyber criminals. They hold exactly the kind of information attackers want, for example, names, dates of birth, NHS numbers, medical histories and payment data. Many practices run their entire clinical operation through a single management system, often with no dedicated in-house IT security expertise. When that system is compromised, the consequences rarely stay contained to "IT".
Clinically, appointment books, treatment plans and imaging can become unavailable overnight, forcing cancellations and disrupting patient care at short notice
Financially, practices face potential ransom demands, lost income from cancelled appointments, the cost of IT recovery, and possible regulatory fines on top
On the regulatory side, a breach affecting patient data must generally be reported to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) within 72 hours and may also need to be reflected in the practice's NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit submission
Reputationally, the damage can outlast the technical recovery by a long way. Patients have placed a great deal of trust in your practice, which holds their personal information. A poorly handled breach can undermine that trust for years
Legally, your practice can face claims from patients or third parties whose data was compromised as a result of inadequate security.
How are cyber security and data protection related but not the same?
It is easy to assume that being careful with patient data and being cyber secure are the same thing. They are closely linked, but they are not interchangeable, and it is worth being clear on the distinction.
A practice can have excellent data protection policies such as clear consent forms, well-managed paper records, and GDPR-compliant procedures. However, it can still suffer a serious cyber-attack if its systems are poorly secured. The reverse is equally true. In practice, good cyber security is what makes a practice's data protection commitments achievable. It is very difficult to keep a promise to protect patient data if the systems holding that data are left exposed. Both need ongoing attention, and neither one substitutes for the other.
How can dental practices protect themselves?
The good news is that meaningful cyber security does not need to be complicated, expensive, or require an in-house IT security specialist. For BDA members, two practical steps form the foundation of a well-protected practice, and they work best done together.
Step #1: Complete the Lloyd & Whyte training and checklist
As the BDA's insurance partner, we provide guidance on the importance of cyber security and cyber insurance via a practical checklist designed to help practices identify and close the most common gaps.
Working through it with a practice manager and IT provider is the quickest way to establish exactly where a practice currently stands, and what to prioritise first. It is worth involving the whole team rather than just whoever manages IT, since many incidents are linked to staff error and can begin with an everyday action like opening an email.
Step #2: Cyber insurance
Even a well-protected practice cannot reduce its risk to zero, which is exactly why cyber insurance should be seen as a core part of protection, not an optional extra bolted on afterwards. A good policy, such as those we make available to BDA members, usually provides the following:
24/7 incident response helpline for specialist support in the first most critical hours
IT forensics and support to contain an attack and safely restore systems
Business interruption cover for income lost while the practice cannot operate normally
Support with data breach and regulatory response costs, including ICO notification
Cover for cyber extortion and third-party liability claims.
Actions to take
Complete the Lloyd & Whyte cyber security training and checklist with your practice manager
Review your current insurance arrangements and confirm you hold dedicated cyber cover separate from general practice insurance
Contact Lloyd & Whyte to arrange robust cyber insurance for your practice.
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