From FDA Services (FDAS) — the trusted insurance agency of the Florida Dental Association
Q: What is cyber insurance?
A: Cyber insurance helps protect your dental office if someone hacks your computers or steals patient information. It can pay to fix your systems, notify patients, cover legal costs and even help if your office must close.
Q: Do I need cyber insurance if I already have antivirus software?
A: Antivirus software is a great start, but it’s not enough. Cybercriminals are continually finding new ways to circumvent security tools. Cyber insurance is your backup plan, helping to cover the costs if an attack still occurs.
Q: What if I already have a great IT company?
A: That’s a smart move. But even with strong IT support, no system is 100% safe. Most IT providers strongly recommend a cyber insurance policy, especially since they will not pay for any data breach notifications required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Q: Isn’t this covered under my office insurance policy?
A: Most office insurance packages include Electronic Data coverage, but that only pays for damage to your office’s computer systems after certain events like a fire or power surge. Some policies also have Data Breach coverage that does not cover liability in the event of a lawsuit from patients or lost income.
Q: What should my cyber insurance include?
A: Your cyber policy should include:
- Notification to patients and credit monitoring
- Business income reimbursement
- Ransomware coverage
- Legal fees and regulatory fines from lawsuits (third-party liability)
- Funds transfer fraud coverage
- Computer software and hardware replacement
Q: How much cyber insurance do I need?
A: A good rule is 2x your monthly revenue. If your office earns $200,000 a month, you should carry at least $400,000 in cyber liability coverage. About 80% of dental offices carry $1 million in coverage.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Cyber insurance is affordable — typically between $150–$200 per month per office. Premiums depend on the number of patient files, the number of employees, and office size.
Real Claim Example – May 2025: Business Email Compromise
In May 2025, a dental office experienced a business email compromise attack. A hacker broke into their email system, created fake invoices, and sent them to patients. Some patients paid these fraudulent invoices — more than $10,000 was stolen before the scam was discovered.
Patients were angry, calling the office confused and frustrated. The dentist’s reputation took a hit.
Thankfully, the practice had a Cyber Liability policy with Funds Transfer Fraud coverage. The insurance:
- Reimbursed the affected patients
- Provided public relations help
- Covered the cost for a forensic investigation required under HIPAA that determined no patient files were compromised and provided a certified letter stating that.
Important Security Update: Windows 10 Will No Longer Be Supported
As of Oct. 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10. That means no more security updates — making your system more vulnerable to hackers. If your office is still using Windows 10, it’s time to upgrade.
This change will lead to a sharp increase in cyberattacks targeting unsupported systems.
What should you do?
- Call your IT provider now to discuss upgrading your systems
- Learn more from our friends at Sunset Technologies here.
Want to Learn More?
Reach out to FDAS for help protecting your practice with cyber liability insurance. Call or text us at 850.350.7155 or visit fdaservices.com/cyber-liability. We’re here to help you stay protected and prepared.
Beyond the Bite 