IT Infrastructure a DSO Needs Before a Second Location

• Ezra Angelo
• • September 10, 2025
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Going from one dental location to two is one of the most operationally complex transitions a dental group makes. The second location does not just add another set of patients. It adds a second network, a second server or cloud environment, a second set of HIPAA obligations, and a second set of staff who need IT support.

Most dental groups that struggle with the jump to two locations do so because they underestimated the IT infrastructure required to operate two locations reliably. Here is what needs to be in place before you open your second practice.

A Centralized Backup Strategy

With a single location, your backup lives on a device in one office or in one cloud account. When you add a second location, that location generates its own patient data that needs its own backup. Without a centralized backup strategy, you have two separate backup systems to monitor, verify, and manage independently.

A centralized backup solution that covers all locations under a single management console gives your IT provider visibility into every backup across the organization. It also enables standardized recovery procedures so a failure at one location can be addressed with the same process used at every other location.

Network Infrastructure at the New Location

The second location needs the same network foundation as the first: structured Cat6 cabling, a business-class firewall, managed switches, and properly configured wireless access points. The patient Wi-Fi network must be segmented from the clinical network.

Additionally, if the DSO wants to share data or reporting between locations, a secure VPN connection between the two sites needs to be configured. This allows centralized reporting and management without exposing clinical systems to public internet traffic.

A Scalable Practice Management Platform

If the first location uses Dentrix, Eaglesoft, or Open Dental and the second location opens on a different platform, you immediately have the reporting, training, and support complexity that makes multi-location IT expensive. The decision about which practice management platform to standardize on should happen before the second location opens, not after.

Cloud-based platforms like Dentrix Ascend and Curve Dental have natural multi-location advantages because they do not require a separate server at each location and they offer centralized reporting across all locations from a single interface. On-premise platforms work well too but require consistent server infrastructure at each location.

HIPAA Compliance at Every Location

HIPAA compliance obligations do not scale automatically. Each new location that handles patient data has its own compliance requirements. This means signed BAAs with every vendor at that location, workstation encryption and access controls, staff training documentation, and an updated risk assessment that includes the new location’s systems and workflows.

Many multi-location groups discover that adding a location revealed compliance gaps at the original location that were never fully addressed. An IT audit before the second location opens is an opportunity to close those gaps across the organization.

Remote IT Management Capability

Managing IT at two locations with on-site visits is expensive and slow. Before the second location opens, your IT infrastructure should support remote monitoring and management. This means your IT provider can see the health of servers, workstations, backup status, and security events at both locations from a central dashboard without needing to physically visit either site.

Remote management capability is what makes multi-location IT support cost-effective. Without it, every issue requires a truck roll and the support costs per location increase dramatically as the group grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the second location use a different IT provider than the first?

Technically yes, but it creates significant complexity. Two different IT providers managing different locations means different documentation, different security configurations, different backup systems, and no unified visibility across the organization. Most DSOs that start with multiple providers eventually consolidate to one for consistency and cost reasons.

Should the second location have its own server?

It depends on the software platform. On-premise software like Dentrix and Eaglesoft requires a dedicated server at each location. Cloud-based platforms like Dentrix Ascend and Curve Dental eliminate the per-location server requirement. If the group is opening multiple locations quickly, cloud-based platforms offer a meaningful infrastructure advantage.

How long does IT setup take for a new dental location?

Cabling, network equipment installation, server setup, software installation, and testing typically takes four to eight weeks when coordinated with the build-out. Practices that involve their IT provider early in the planning process avoid the delays that come from starting too late.

Does Ekim support DSOs opening new locations?

Yes. Ekim IT Solutions works with DSOs and multi-location dental groups to plan and execute IT setup for new locations. We provide on-site support in New England and New York and remote support for locations nationwide across all 50 states.

Opening a second dental location? Get the IT right from the start.

Ekim IT Solutions works exclusively with dental practices. We serve New England and New York with on-site support and dental practices nationwide with remote support. Security, compliance, and everything in between so you can focus on patients.

Schedule a Fit Call: Find out in 15 minutes if we are the right fit for your practice.

• Ezra Angelo
• • September 10, 2025
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