GP Clinic Cyber Security Health Check
Healthcare is now the most targeted industry for cyber attacks. Patient data is worth more than credit cards on the dark web.
Medical practices are being hit with ransomware every week.
The scenario is terrifyingly common: a GP practice arrives Monday morning to find every system locked. Patient records inaccessible. Appointments can't be booked. Prescriptions can't be issued. The ransom demand: pay $50,000 in Bitcoin or lose everything. Some practices pay and still lose their data. Others spend weeks rebuilding from scratch—if they can recover at all.
Your patient records are incredibly valuable to criminals. Medical records contain everything needed for identity theft and insurance fraud: Medicare numbers, dates of birth, addresses, medical histories. Unlike credit cards that can be cancelled, this information is permanent. A stolen medical record is worth 10-50 times more than a credit card number.
AHPRA, the Medical Board, and the Privacy Act have real consequences.
Protecting patient confidentiality isn't just an ethical obligation—it's a registration requirement. AHPRA can impose conditions, suspend, or cancel registration for practitioners whose practices suffer preventable data breaches. The Privacy Act adds penalties up to $50 million for failing to protect health information—which is classified as "sensitive information" requiring higher protection. "The practice manager handles IT" is not a defence.
PRODA and Medicare portals are high-value targets.
Your PRODA credentials provide access to Medicare claiming, PBS prescriptions, and My Health Record. Compromised credentials mean fraudulent claims in your name, bulk prescriptions for controlled substances, and investigations that take months to resolve. Multi-factor authentication isn't optional anymore—and when did you last review who has access?
Prescription fraud starts with compromised practice systems.
Criminals target GP practices specifically to generate fraudulent prescriptions—particularly for opioids and other controlled substances. If your clinical software is compromised, you could find prescriptions issued in your name to patients you've never seen. The TGA and police will come knocking, and proving your innocence takes months.
This health check is built specifically for GP clinics.
Plain-English questions covering PRODA/Medicare portal security, clinical software protection (Best Practice, Medical Director, etc.), patient records handling, prescription security, My Health Record access controls, and staff awareness. No technical jargon—designed so any practice owner or manager can complete it and understand the results.
What you get:
What You Receive
Every assessment generates a comprehensive report. Download a sample below.
Summary Report
Plain-English findings with scores, prioritised improvement plan, risk associations, and resources
Download SampleComplete it in about 60 minutes. No technical knowledge required. Your data never leaves your device.
Who is this for?
Practice owners, practice managers, and GPs responsible for clinic operations. Solo practitioners and group practices alike. Any medical practice that handles patient records and Medicare claiming—and wants to understand their cyber security posture without needing IT expertise.
Your Assessment Includes a Personal AI Security Advisor
Two AI assistants are built into the tool — one to help you during the assessment, one to help you make sense of your results. Like having a security professional on call.
Not sure what a question is asking? Just ask.
Every question in the assessment has an AI helper built in. Tap it and ask anything — "What does this question actually mean?", "Can you give me an example?", "Why does this matter for my business?" — and you'll get a plain-English explanation instantly.
- ✓ Explains technical concepts in everyday language
- ✓ Gives real-world examples relevant to your industry
- ✓ Never suggests how to answer — just helps you understand
- ✓ No technical background required to complete the assessment
Your Personal Security Advisor — available the moment you see your results.
Once your results are in, an AI security advisor has your full assessment in front of it and is ready to answer any question about what it means — in plain English, as if you're talking to a security professional.
- ✓ "Explain my highest risk gap in simple terms"
- ✓ "Walk me through how to fix action #3"
- ✓ "Which gaps are easiest to fix myself?"
- ✓ Ask anything — your advisor knows your specific results
No consultants. No jargon. No guesswork.
For the first time, small businesses get the same quality of guidance that used to cost hundreds of dollars an hour — built directly into the assessment.
Common Questions
Why are GP clinics targeted by cyber attacks?
GP clinics hold the most comprehensive health records of any provider — medical histories, medications, mental health notes, referrals, and test results. Patient health data commands the highest prices on dark web markets, often more than financial data. Clinics also hold Medicare provider credentials, My Health Record access, and pathology system logins — each representing a fraud opportunity for criminals.
What cyber security obligations do GP clinics have?
AHPRA's Code of Conduct requires practitioners to take reasonable precautions to protect patient information. The Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles impose obligations on all practices collecting health information. The My Health Record Act requires security controls for connected providers. Medicare participation requires protecting PRODA credentials and reporting suspected misuse. Medical indemnity insurers assess cyber risk at renewal.
What does the GP Clinic Health Check cover?
The health check covers practice management and clinical software security, My Health Record and PRODA credential protection, Medicare billing system access controls, pathology and imaging system security, patient communication security, staff access management, device and network security, backup and recovery procedures, and incident response planning for general practice.
What do I receive after completing the health check?
You receive a professional Word report with an overall security score and recommendations prioritised by risk. The report is tailored to GP clinic risks — not generic small business advice — and is suitable for sharing with your practice manager, medical indemnity insurer, or IT provider.
Further Reading
Resource
AHPRA Cyber Security Requirements for Health Practitioners
What AHPRA's Code of Conduct and the Privacy Act require from GP clinics and allied health providers — and what 'reasonable steps' looks like in practice.
Read the guide