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World Backup Day: Safeguarding Your Practice’s Future

Posted March 25, 2024 by Jennifer G

As World Backup Day approaches on March 31st, it’s an opportune moment for businesses, especially dental practices, to reflect on the critical importance of data backup. In today’s digital age, data is not just a part of our daily operations; it is the backbone of our businesses, holding everything from patient records to financial information. The loss of such data can be catastrophic, making backup practices not just advisable but essential.

Why Backup is Crucial

The significance of backing up data cannot be overstated. It’s about protecting your practice against the unforeseen—be it cyberattacks, hardware failures, natural disasters, or even simple human errors. Data loss can lead to significant downtime, loss of patient trust, and in severe cases, the closure of practices. A robust backup strategy ensures continuity, security, and peace of mind.

Best Practices for Data Backup

  • Regular Backups: Implement a schedule for regular backups, ideally daily. Consistency ensures that, in the event of data loss, the most recent data is recoverable with minimal loss. 
  • 3-2-1 Backup Rule: This rule suggests having three total copies of your data, two of which are local but on different devices, and one copy off-site. It ensures that if one backup fails, you have alternatives. 
  • Test Your Backups: Regularly testing your backups to ensure they can be restored is crucial. There’s no point in backing up data if it can’t be recovered when needed. 
  • Secure Your Backups: Encrypt your backup data and ensure it’s protected against unauthorized access. This is especially important for sensitive patient information. 
  • Choose the Right Solution: Not all backup solutions are created equal. It’s vital to select a service that aligns with your practice’s specific needs, considering factors like ease of use, reliability, and the level of support provided.

How XLDent Enhances Your Practice’s Data Security

XLDent takes data backup to the next level with XLBackup, our managed and fully automated, online, off-site service designed with dental practices in mind. Recognizing that every practice is unique, we’ve tailored our solution to offer the following benefits: 

  • Automated Backups: Scheduled daily, XLBackup ensures that your data is consistently up-to-date without requiring manual intervention, freeing your staff to focus on patient care. 
  • Compatibility: Whether you’re using XLDent Practice Management Software or other practice or imaging software, XLBackup is designed to work seamlessly, providing a versatile solution to all dental practices. 
  • Managed Service: Our team of experts, well-versed in the dental industry, manages the backup service, offering peace of mind and ensuring that your backups are conducted efficiently and effectively. 
  • Routine Audits: We conduct regular audits with each client to ensure that XLBackup meets your practice’s evolving needs, offering a personalized approach to data backup. 
  • Disaster Recovery: In the event of data loss, XLBackup’s off-site storage and easy restoration capabilities ensure that your practice can quickly recover, minimizing downtime and protecting your reputation. 

As World Backup Day reminds us of the importance of data protection, it’s crucial to choose a backup solution that not only meets today’s needs but also adapts to future challenges. XLDent’s commitment to providing a secure, reliable, and user-friendly backup service means that your practice can face the future confidently, knowing your data is in safe hands.

Posted in: Dental Software, Dental Technology, Dental Web-based Solutions, Electronic Dental Records, Leave a comment/ No Comments »
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World Backup Day 2022: Why backing up your data is important

Posted March 30, 2022 by Jennifer G

Most of us have gone through losing some sort of data from a computer, mobile phone or tablet. Whether it’s personal, such as pictures, school assignments, or tax files, or business-related data like patient records, x-rays, or accounting files, losing important information unexpectedly can be a nightmare.

World Backup Day

Data backup has your back!

The 31st of March is World Backup Day and serves as a reminder to take measures to prevent data loss. However, a data backup plan is not limited to one day of the year. It is vital to follow a backup strategy throughout the year as a continuous cyber hygiene process.

What is data backup?

Most everyone using a computer either in their practice or at home is likely aware of what a data backup is but it’s worthy of a quick review. A backup is a separate copy of all your important files. Data backup guides you to save a copy in another secure location rather than storing all your data in one device. In case anything happens to your device, your data will stay safe and can be restored easily.

Why should you backup your data?

Data loss is way more common than anyone would think. It usually happens in several forms, such as hard drive failures, cyber-attacks, human errors, or physical theft. The event of data loss urges the need to implement a data backup plan.

Facts and figures about data loss

  • 30% of all computers are already infected with malware1
  • 29% of data loss cases are caused by accident2
  • It is expected that ransomware attacks a business every 11 seconds by the end of 20213

How XLDent helps you protect your practice’s data

When backing up your data, consider the solution that best suits your data protection strategy. Not all solutions are equal! It’s important to consider the method (how and when the backup is done) and the service that accompanies it. XLBackup is a managed and fully automated, online, off-site service making it easy for your organization to restore lost files, images and critical data during a disaster recovery situation. Automated means it is scheduled to run at regular intervals (daily) so a current copy of data is available if needed. XLDent conducts routine audits of the backup with each client to ensure the service is best meeting their needs. The backup service is managed by XLDent’s team of experts who know your dental business. Whether you are using XLDent Practice Management Software or another practice or imaging software, this offsite backup solution is compatible with all.

Resources
1Dataprot, Malware Stat. 2021
2Ponemon Institute, 2013
3https://cybersecurityventures.com/global-ransomware-damage-costs-predicted-to-reach-20-billion-usd-by-2021/

Posted in: Dental Software, Dental Technology, Electronic Dental Records, IT Services, XLDent Company, Leave a comment/ No Comments »
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Your 2021 Backup Audit

Posted March 24, 2021 by Beth

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It is that time of year again! World Backup Day is on Wednesday, March 31 this year. It is a great time to review your backup procedure and disaster recovery plan with a 2021 Backup Audit. The following questions are what you need to know your backup solution is on track for the coming year.

 

1) Is my practice creating a backup?

If you are not sure of the answer, you’ll want to find out as soon as possible. Backups are the only way to protect your practice from catastrophic data loss of all your patient charts and health information. To find out that your practice is not creating a backup of any kind should be a wake-up call to prioritize a new process. 

 

2) How is your backup created?

Practices can create backups in a variety of ways. One might manually run a backup using a software program at regular intervals. They might store those backups both on an external device and offsite to the cloud to create a reliable redundancy. Backups should always be encrypted, and you should also know the process for restoring a backup and test that the process and your backup files both work. 

 

Make a list of your answers to these questions so that you can review your current backup plan for any flaws:

  • Who is in charge of running the backups? 
  • What software program, if any, is running the backups? 
  • Where is it installed? 
  • When and how often do the backups run? 
  • Where does the backup go? 
  • Flash drive, external hard drive, network storage appliance, offsite to the cloud? 
  • Are the backups only on one device, or is there redundancy?
  • Is there a time in which data expires from the backup? 
  • If a file was deleted several months ago, would I be able to restore it from a backup? 
  • Are the backups encrypted? 
  • What is the process for restoring data from the backup?

 

What does the backup include?

Make a list of all your most important programs and where the resulting data is stored. Compare that list to what is included within each backup that you create. You may already back up your practice management database and patient x-rays but overlook data from your accounting software or email. Include anything that you would want to restore to a brand new computer in your backup. 

 

Does your backup work?

The only way to make sure that your backups are reliable is to conduct a periodic audit. An audit should check to see that the backup is complete of all of the data you need to include, that the backup is correct, that the backup file is not corrupt or too large for the external and cloud spaces in which it will be saved, and that your restore process is functional.

 

Could this process be more manageable?

With the help of a trusted solution like XLBackup, your backups are already sorted. From secure encrypted data transmission to an offsite location, daily monitoring to ensure your backups are running without error, annual audits of your backups to restoring your data in a disaster recovery situation, XLDent makes your backups our business. 

 

Posted in: Dental Software, Dental Technology, Electronic Dental Records, IT Services, XLDent Company, Leave a comment/ No Comments »
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Choosing Software for Your Dental Practice

Posted November 6, 2020 by Beth

XLDent_choice

 

When it comes to selecting the software your dental practice will use for practice management, charting, or otherwise, dentists are often looking for just the right product to increase their practice’s efficiency, productivity, and revenue. This is no small task given the vast array of vendor options and features to select. We propose four key variables that can help you find out if a software is right for your practice: support, innovation, scalability, and integration. 

 

Support

Some software vendors offer little customer support or onboarding process for their products. Especially with your first software, a lot of time, money, and effort will go to setting up, installing, and learning to use the software. Your practice will need support to adapt quickly and realize the software’s productivity benefits as soon as possible. 

You’ll also need professional technical support on hand to make the most of your investment and avoid downtime.

 

Whether you have an existing practice or are starting a new practice, XLDent is here to guide you in managing or establishing a successful dental practice with our software. We not only understand the importance of the software selection process, but we also take pride in the experience and knowledge our XLDent Certified professionals will offer you during the process and long after you decide to move forward with the XLDent Suite of products.

 

The XLDent Software Assurance and Business Care Plan protects your investment. We are here to help long after your initial training is complete. Our knowledgeable and friendly Implementation Specialists genuinely care about your happiness and success with the XLDent Suite. We will consistently go the extra mile to answer your questions and help you reach your software implementation goals.

 

Innovation

A software product that does not evolve cannot grow with your practice. Not only does your vendor need to be able to invest in the growth of their company to keep up with regulations, but they also need to keep up with the challenges and opportunities created by new dental technologies.

 

XLDent is committed to innovation. We use current and updated development tools for the continual enhancement of the XLDent Software Suite. At XLDent, we dedicate ourselves to providing software features and solutions focused on our clients’ success, and we work with them to define those goals. We express that dedication in our commitment to the continual enhancement and redevelopment of the tools we create. We are continually re-evaluating the current development landscape with a strong emphasis on using proven, secure technologies and features to the advantage of the dental practices that partner with us. 

 

Scalability 

The needs of dental practices are continually evolving. So is technology. A software product that gets you started today may not serve your practice in the long run as you continue to grow. Before you adopt any technology, make sure that you understand how technology can adapt and scale to align with your future goals as a business. 

 

XLDent Cloud offers a scalable cloud solution that can meet your practice where you are now and scale with you as you grow. With XLDent, all of your clinical documents, charts, patient contact information, and other practice management data can be accessed at any time by any authorized user. XLDent Cloud allows you to work in a secure environment without complicated network connections to retrieve your data. 

 

Integration

The right software for your dental practice will integrate with as many of the tools and services you need for success as possible. Always look for software solutions that offer a complete suite, or at least integrate Real-Time Insurance Eligibility, Electronic Remittance Advice, Patient and Doctor Portals, Encrypted Email, and more. 

 

XLDent has already integrated the eSolutions you need to stay competitive and maximize the efficiency of your practice. By partnering with an elite group of market leaders in the healthcare industry, we can offer you a comprehensive, fully integrated Electronic Services solution. All eSolutions are seamlessly integrated with your XLDent Suite to improve workflow processes, accuracy, patient experiences, and patient outcomes. XLDent has it all: electronic prescribing, patient and doctor portals, appointment reminders, credit card processing, electronic statement processing, electronic claim processing and claim status, real-time eligibility and benefits verification, electronic remittance advice, dental claim attachments, custom websites, marketing, offsite backup storage, Practice Booster for coding strategies, HIPAA-compliant email, cloud-based phone system through Mango Voice, and more. 

 

Posted in: Dental Practice Management Software, Dental Software, Dental Technology, Dental Web-based Solutions, Electronic Dental Records, IT Services, Perio Chart, XLDent Cloud, XLDent Company, XLDent Patient Experience, XLDent Referrals, XLDent Website, Leave a comment/ No Comments »
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How Are You Celebrating World Backup Day?

Posted March 27, 2019 by Nathan N.

Dental_Software_XLDent_XLBackupSunday, March 31st, is World Backup Day. It may not be as exciting as something like National Cheesecake Day, but it does serve as a good reminder to set aside time to go over your backup procedure and disaster recovery plan. Here are some good questions to ask yourself.

AM I DOING ANY KIND OF BACKUP AT ALL?

This is the most important question. The answer should be a strong, confident YES. If it isn’t, I urge you to find a solution ASAP. Trust me, you do not want to be a victim of major data loss!

HOW AM I BACKING UP?

Who is in charge of running the backups? What software program, if any, is running the backups? Where is it installed? When and how often do the backups run? Where does the backup go? Flash drive, external hard drive, network storage appliance, offsite to the cloud? Are the backups only on one device or is there redundancy? Is there a time period in which data expires from the backup? If a file got deleted several months ago, would I be able to restore it from a backup? Are the backups encrypted? What is the process for restoring data from the backup?

WHAT IS GETTING BACKED UP?

Is everything important getting backed up? The obvious things are your practice management software database and patient x-rays, but there are other important things than can get overlooked. Do I use a software program for accounting and financials, and is that data getting backed up? Do I use Outlook to receive and view e-mails? Are e-mails stored on the mail server or do they get saved locally to the computer? Are important documents getting backup? Where are they stored; on a front desk or office computer? Or are they on the server and shared to the other computers in the office? It is a good idea to make a list of all your crucial data and where it is located so that you can ensure it’s backed up and protected.

IS IT WORKING?

How do I know everything I need backed up is getting backed up? Are the backups running every day? How do I know the backup data is good? How do I know it can be restored in a disaster recovery situation? Make certain that your backup is reliable by conducting periodic audits of your backups to make sure everything you need backed up is getting backed up, the backed-up data isn’t bad or corrupt, and the restore process is functional.

WILL MY HAIR GROW BACK AFTER I’VE PULLED IT ALL OUT?

While this may feel like an overwhelming, hair-pulling topic, it doesn’t have to be! With the help of a trusted solution like XLBackup, each of the above questions is answered. You’ll have peace-of-mind knowing you’ve done your part, and we’ve done ours. From secure encrypted data transmission to an offsite location, daily monitoring to ensure your backups are running without error, annual audits of your backups, to restoring your data in a disaster recovery situation, we take care of it.

As you work on this list of questions, if any remain unanswered or have left you feeling uncertain, contact us for more information about the XLBackup Offsite Storage Solution.

Posted in: Dental Practice Management Software, Dental Software, Dental Technology, Electronic Dental Records, Leave a comment/ No Comments »
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