As the life sciences industry evolves, so do the cybersecurity threats it faces. Cybercrime has risen dramatically in recent years, and life science organizations are increasingly the target of these cyber threats. Access to personal information and sensitive, proprietary business information make the life science industry an attractive option for cybercriminals.
However, being aware of critical vulnerabilities can help keep your organization a step ahead of those looking to exploit them. Below are some of the most common vulnerabilities facing the life sciences industry today.
Keeping Pace with Growth:
Life sciences organizations often undergo rapid growth as they transition from the investigational stage to market launch. As the company grows, so do opportunities for cyber threats that target employees due to the increased staff size needed to meet the growing company’s needs. A critical vulnerability comes when companies are unprepared to scale up their cybersecurity, compliance, and IT plans to match their growth. Establishing an IT roadmap can help minimize vulnerabilities associated with rapid growth.
Maintaining Compliance:
The high level of regulation in the life science industry can make maintaining compliance difficult. There are compliance rules and regulations on storing the organization’s data and the secure transference of said data to outside entities if needed. However, in many cases, simply maintaining compliance isn’t enough, as the regulations are frequently evolving to further protect personal data, preserve patient safety, and maintain a considerable level of transparency. Due to this evolution, life sciences organizations must be ready to pivot quickly to maintain overall compliance.
Protecting Intellectual Property:
Intellectual property (IP) is invaluable to a life science organization. A cybersecurity breach that leads to the theft of IP can be detrimental to the organization’s market value and competitive stance. Reliance on external contractors and partners, who often have access to sensitive networks that house intellectual property, poses a significant potential vulnerability—especially for smaller partner organizations that may not have robust cybersecurity defenses and processes.
Business Continuity:
Events of recent years have served as a wake-up call for organizations in life sciences to re-evaluate business continuity plans. Is your organization prepared for the next major catastrophe it will face? Risks are particularly acute for the life sciences industries due to the nature of the data housed within them. Being caught unaware or unprepared can expose vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can take advantage of. While it isn’t always possible to anticipate future events that could threaten normal business functions, it is possible to create a plan preemptively to minimize the impact of these events and continue serving customers.
With a solid background in supporting life science organizations at all stages of growth, the experts at Coretelligent have the knowledge and experience required to address any needs you may have. Our team of technical and business professionals will support each stage of your journey from inception to IPO, ensuring that you have the solutions and support needed to fuel your growth. Contact us today at 855-841-5888 or fill out our online form.
