How to Secure Remote Access to Your Dental Practice

• Ezra Angelo
• • October 13, 2025
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Remote access to your dental practice systems is genuinely useful. Your IT provider needs it to support your servers and workstations without driving to your office. You may need it to access records from home or another location. The problem is that unsecured remote access is one of the most exploited entry points in dental practice cyberattacks.

The Change Healthcare breach in February 2024, which disrupted insurance claims processing for dental offices across the country for weeks, began with a single set of compromised credentials on a remote access portal that had no Multi-Factor Authentication. One unprotected access point. One stolen password. Consequences that reached across the entire dental industry.

What Remote Access Looks Like in a Dental Practice

Remote access in a dental practice typically takes one of three forms. Direct RDP, which stands for Remote Desktop Protocol, allows a user to control a workstation or server remotely using Windows’ built-in remote desktop capability. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates an encrypted tunnel between a remote device and your practice network. Remote monitoring and management tools are used by IT providers to access and manage your systems for support and maintenance.

Each of these has legitimate uses. Each also creates a potential entry point if not properly secured.

Why Unsecured Remote Access Is Dangerous

RDP exposed to the internet

RDP running on its default port and exposed directly to the internet is one of the most scanned targets in cybersecurity. Attackers use automated tools to find open RDP ports and attempt to log in using lists of common credentials. If a staff member or IT provider has set up RDP access without changing the default port or requiring MFA, it is likely being probed for vulnerabilities right now.

Shared or weak remote access passwords

Remote access protected only by a password is vulnerable to brute force attacks, password spraying, and credential stuffing. When attackers acquire credential lists from data breaches, they test those credentials against remote access portals systematically. A weak password or a reused password from another service is often sufficient to gain entry.

Vendor remote access that is always on

Some IT providers and software vendors set up remote access that stays active permanently rather than being enabled only when needed. A permanent always-on connection with a shared password is a significant vulnerability. If the vendor’s own credentials are compromised, that access extends directly into your practice.

The Right Way to Set Up Remote Access

VPN with MFA

A VPN that requires Multi-Factor Authentication is the most secure common remote access solution for dental practices. The VPN creates an encrypted connection between the remote device and your network. MFA ensures that even if the VPN credentials are stolen, the attacker cannot connect without the second factor. Your IT provider configures the VPN on your firewall and manages the MFA enrollment for authorized users.

Zero trust remote access

Some practices and DSOs implement zero trust network access, which grants remote users access only to the specific resources they need rather than the entire network. A billing staff member working remotely gets access to the billing module but not the server. An IT provider gets access to the server they are working on but not unrelated systems. This limits the damage if any single set of credentials is compromised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I allow staff to access dental records from home?

It depends on how it is configured. Cloud-based platforms like Dentrix Ascend and Curve Dental are designed for access from any location and include security features appropriate for that use case. On-premise systems accessed remotely require a properly configured VPN with MFA. Allowing access over an unprotected connection is not appropriate for systems containing patient data.

How do I know if RDP is exposed on my network?

Ask your IT provider to check. They can scan your network and confirm whether any remote desktop ports are exposed to the internet and whether they are protected appropriately. If you do not have an IT provider actively monitoring your network, this is an important check to prioritize.

What if my IT provider needs remote access to help me?

Your IT provider should use a professional remote monitoring and management tool rather than direct RDP. These tools create controlled access sessions that are logged, time-limited, and require authentication. Ask your IT provider what tool they use for remote support and confirm that sessions are logged.

Does Ekim configure secure remote access for dental practices?

Yes. Ekim IT Solutions configures VPN, MFA, and remote access controls for dental practices as a standard component of our managed service. We audit existing remote access configurations, close unsecured entry points, and ensure that all vendor and staff remote access meets appropriate security standards. We serve practices across all 50 states remotely and provide on-site support in New England and New York.

Is your dental practice remote access properly secured?

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.

• Ezra Angelo
• • October 13, 2025
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