The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) said that it recently communicated with its members about the urgent threat posed by cyberattacks. Recent news including the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, the AAO said, demonstrates the devastating impact that these attacks can have on an orthodontic practice.
“The AAO endeavors to guide our members through the wide variety of complex issues that affect US and Canadian small business owners. And cybercrime is an exceptionally complex topic to navigate,” said AAO president Dr. Ken Dillehay.
“As an association, we must understand how to identify cybersecurity threats and how these can impact our members. The AAO encourages all orthodontic practices to take proactive steps to reduce their cybersecurity risk because this threat is very real, and it grows more prevalent with each passing year,” Dillehay said.
The AAO has partnered with Black Talon Security and Cybersecurity Insurance to help enhance its members’ internal systems, the organization said.
“Many members have told us they rely on their informational technology manager to identify and address their business risks. Unfortunately, this often results in insufficient risk mitigation,” said AAO CEO Lynne Thompson Gordon.
These companies have met stringent criteria to receive the AAO’s endorsement, the AAO said. Black Talon Security provides a variety of preventive services including cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability testing, and employee training, the AAO said, Cybersecurity Insurance aims to protect orthodontists financially if they have a data breach, the AAO said.
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