Guide
The IT checklist for veterinary clinics.
Ten checks every clinic should pass. Based on the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security's baseline controls for small organizations, written for vet practices.
- 1
Backups are also stored in the cloud
Keep a fast local backup and a second copy off-site. A copy in the same building does not survive fire, flood or ransomware.
- 2
A restore was tested in the last 6 months
A backup is only real once you have restored from it. Test practice data and email at least twice a year.
- 3
Two-factor login is on for email and remote access
Stolen passwords are the most common way in. Two-factor login blocks most of those attacks.
- 4
Updates install automatically
Windows, browsers and practice software updates close known holes. Schedule them after hours.
- 5
Guest Wi-Fi is separate
Clients and visitors should never share a network with practice software, lab equipment or payment terminals.
- 6
The team had phishing training this year
Most attacks start with one email. Short, regular training is cheap and effective.
- 7
The firewall is managed and monitored
A firewall nobody watches is a lock nobody checks. Someone should review alerts and keep it updated.
- 8
There is a written plan for an outage or ransomware day
Who to call, how to keep seeing patients, how to restore. Write it down before you need it.
- 9
Computers are under 5 years old
Older machines slow down check-in and imaging and often can't run current security. Replace on a schedule.
- 10
There is one number to call, even for vendor issues
When lab results stop syncing, staff shouldn't have to work out whose problem it is.
Want us to check for you?
Take the 60-second IT check-up, or book a free site visit and we'll go through every item on site.
Book a free site visit.
We'll check every system and give you a simple written plan. No obligation.