When most practices think about backups, they assume that having a copy of their data somewhere is enough. Unfortunately, many “backups” used in dental offices fail HIPAA requirements, leaving practices exposed to fines and data loss.
Common problems include:
- Unencrypted backups stored on local drives or external USB devices
- Cloud backup vendors that don’t provide a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- Backup jobs that fail silently and are never tested
- Imaging databases that aren’t included in the backup scope
HIPAA requires more than just data storage — it demands encryption, access controls, audit logs, and proof of recovery.
💡 Takeaway: Ask your IT provider for evidence of successful restore tests and confirm that every backup system is HIPAA-compliant. The only thing worse than losing data is thinking you’re protected when you’re not.