You wouldn’t leave your practice unlocked overnight. You wouldn’t store patient charts in the waiting room. So why go online without multifactor authentication (MFA)?
MFA is like locking up your digital office with two deadbolts instead of one. Instead of relying on a single password—which could be stolen, guessed, or phished—it adds a second layer of verification. Think of it like a quick fingerprint scan, a text message code, or a tap on an app.
For dental practices in Salt Lake City that rely on systems like Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental, this simple security measure can be the difference between a routine day and a HIPAA nightmare.
One Simple Step Can Protect Everything
Using a password alone is like locking the front door and leaving the windows open. Enabling MFA is setting the alarm system, too.
Multifactor authentication adds a powerful checkpoint to make sure only authorized users access your systems. Whether it's called two-step verification, two-factor authentication, or one-time passwords, the idea is the same: don't let a password be your only defense.
Here’s what MFA can include:
- One-time passcodes sent via SMS or email
- Push notifications from an authenticator app
- Fingerprint or biometric verification
- App-generated codes that rotate every 30 seconds
Most take just a second to complete—but that second stops most cybercriminals in their tracks.
Real Moments When MFA Saves the Day
At Qual IT, we support dental offices across Salt Lake City that operate in a fast-paced environment with sensitive data at every turn. Here are just a few common scenarios where MFA can prevent major damage:
- Your office manager clicks on a convincing phishing email and unknowingly shares their login info. The attacker tries to log in but is blocked by MFA.
- You receive a login attempt notification on your phone while seeing patients. You instantly know something's wrong and change your password before any damage is done.
- A hacker gets hold of a reused password from another site. They try logging into your patient management system but can’t pass the second verification.
According to Microsoft, accounts with MFA enabled are 99.2% less likely to be compromised.
Where Salt Lake City Dental Practices Should Enable MFA
You don’t need MFA everywhere—but you do need it where it counts. Prioritize:
- Email accounts used for insurance claims or patient communications
- Cloud-based dental software (Dentrix Ascend, Curve, etc.)
- File-sharing tools or document storage platforms
- Banking and payroll systems
- Social media accounts connected to your practice
Most platforms already offer MFA—you just have to turn it on. Authenticator apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator are easy to use and provide excellent protection.
Want Help Setting It Up?
If MFA sounds like one more thing on your plate, let us handle it. At Qual IT, we specialize in managed IT services for dental practices in Salt Lake City. We know which platforms to prioritize, how to configure MFA securely, and how to train your staff without disrupting your workflow.
Click here to book your free network assessment. Let’s make sure your digital practice is just as protected as your physical one.
