Beware of the Dark Side: Security in the Age of IoLT
- Life Sciences & Healthcare
The Digital Lab Poses yet another Entry Point for Cyberattackers
It is difficult to underestimate the potential for dark-sided cyberattacks as we make the move to a digital research laboratory powered by technology that runs on the Internet of Lab Things (IoLT). All those little data collection devices pumping data into cloud stores create huge vulnerabilities on company networks and should be causing all CISOs nightmares.
In July of last year, Merck, along with a number of other large corporations that rely heavily on computer networks, was crippled by a cyberattack containing the NotPetya virus that resulted in the disruption of all research and development, manufacturing and commercial operations for several months. Tens of thousands of computers were compromised and required complete rebuilds in order to bring things back to a normal state. The full financial impact suggests that the attack cost Merck in excess of $300M per quarter in the second half of 2017.
The Merck cyberattack was perpetrated through a traditional simple email attack vector. IoLT devices represent newer and more numerous entry points into a corporate network and will dramatically increase the probability of cyberattacks on the digital laboratory. While the Merck cyberattack was a typical nuisance attack with a ransom demanded in order to unlock drives, the cybercriminal of the future will combine this with other methods in order to gain access to the corporate jewels – data.
A Simple Plan to Manage – and Prevent – Sneaky Cyberattacks
So, what do we do to protect ourselves against cyber criminals planting little worms on corporate computers that leak data through the firewall at almost imperceptible levels? The inevitable cyberattacks that come as a result of digitalization need to be dealt beyond following technical analysts’ recommendations to stockpile cash in order to deal with the aftermath. To become proactive, one simple grouping of tactics could be:
- Intrusion prevention
- Provide and enforce employee training and certification
- Implement modern firewalls with current anti-virus software and definitions
- Ensure that all operating systems on all computers are current
- Intrusion detection
- Implement proactive network activity monitoring and isolate suspicious code
- Utilize AI to identify network data spikes
- Intrusion remediation
- Ensure that disaster recovery plans are current and enforced
On paper, the 68-word plan above sounds simple, but that doesn’t mean it will be straightforward to implement.
Forging a Path toward a Cybersecurity-First Culture
There will obviously be challenges that must be overcome as we work to create and protect the digitalized life sciences ecosystem of the future. Since this ecosystem doesn’t exist yet for the most part, however, there is a big opportunity to do things right the first time around.
As always, the challenges fall into people, process and technology buckets. At the highest level, change management programs with senior leadership sponsorship will be required, and cybersecurity-first culture will need be cultivated within the organization. All existing security processes will need to be scrutinized and, in many cases, modified. Additionally, improvements to our legacy technology footprints will need to be made, often with the help of a trusted technology partner.
However difficult, all of these changes will be required if we are to fully reap the benefits of digitalization and protect our data – a tremendous asset that is soon to be overflowing from your soon-to-be digital lab. That’s why we’ll explore the value of data to a corporation and the need to protect it properly in the next installment.
Hello. How Can We Help You?
-
BECOME A CUSTOMER
+1-267-759-9000
-
JOIN OUR TEAM
+1-267-759-9000
-
SEND A MEDIA INQUIRY
+1-267-978-7688
-
BECOME AN INVESTOR
+1-267-759-9000 x 59419
-
ASK US ANYTHING
+1-267-759-9000
Our Offices
-
Canada
-
Ottawa
Map343 Preston Street,
ON K1S 1N4, Ottawa
Canada -
Toronto
Map5 Park Home Avenue,
Suite 400,
ON M2N 6L4, North York,
Toronto
CanadaP: +1-416-591-4004F: +1-416-595-1551
Learn more -
-
Mexico
-
Guadalajara
MapPeriférico Sur #8110,
Col. El Mante
45609 Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
MexicoP: +52-33-462-400-98
Learn more -
-
United States
-
Newtown, PA
Map41 University Drive,
Suite 202,
Newtown, PA 18940
USAP: +1-267-759-9000F: +1-267-759-8989 -
Bellevue, WA
Map110 110th Ave. NE,
Suite 310
Bellevue, WA 98004
USA -
Cambridge, MA
MapOne Mifflin Place,
Cambridge, MA 02138
USAP: +1-267-759-9000F: +1-267-759-8989 -
Conshohocken, PA
Map101 East 8th Ave,
Suite 201,
Conshohocken, PA 19428
USAP: +1-484-382-1300 -
Mountain View, CA
Map465 Fairchild Dr,
Building B,
Suite 221,
Mountain View, CA 94043
USA -
New York, NY
Map24 West 25th Street,
5th Floor,
New York, NY 10010
USAP: +1-267-759-9000F: +1-267-759-8989 -
San Francisco, CA
Map222 Kearny Street,
Suite 308,
San Francisco, CA 94108
USA -
Santa Monica, CA
Map2950 31st Street,
Suite 130,
Santa Monica, CA 90405
USA -
Washington D.C.
Map7901 Jones Branch Drive,
Suite 400,
McLean, VA 22102
USA
Learn more -
-
Austria
-
Vienna
MapNottendorfer Gasse 11,
1030 Wien
Austria
Learn more -
-
Bulgaria
-
Sofia
Map69 Bulgaria Blvd.,
Infinity Tower,
1404 Sofia
BulgariaP: +359-700-20-273
Learn more -
-
Czech Republic
-
Prague
MapCity Tower building,
Hvezdova 2b,
Prague 4
Czech RepublicP: +420 22 888 28 23
Learn more -
-
Germany
-
Frankfurt am Main
MapFranklinstrasse 56,
60486 Frankfurt am Main,
GermanyP: +49-69-31019090
Learn more -
-
Hungary
-
Budapest
MapCorvin Offices I.
Futó street 47-53,
Budapest, H-1082
HungaryP: +36-1-327-7400 -
Debrecen
MapBethlen Street 3-9,
Debrecen, 4026
HungaryP: +36-52-999-485 / 45050 -
Szeged
MapFelső Tisza-Part 25,
Szeged, 6723
HungaryP: +36-62-808-013F: +36-62-550-655
Learn more -
-
Ireland
-
Dublin
MapAlexandra House,
The Sweepstakes,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4,
D04 C7H2
IrelandP: +353-(0)-1-631-9280
Learn more -
-
Netherlands
-
Delft
MapDelftechpark 37j
2628 XJ Delft
NetherlandsP: +31 20 241 6134 -
Schiphol
MapThe Base B
Evert van de Beekstraat 104
1118CN Schiphol
NetherlandsP: +31 20 241 6134
Learn more -
-
Poland
-
Gdańsk
MapGrunwaldzka 472D,
Olivia Six,
80-309 Gdańsk
Poland -
Katowice
MapChorzowska Str. 148
40-101 Katowice
PolandP: +48-12-222-02-02 -
Krakow
MapOpolska Str. 114
31-323 Kraków
PolandP: +48-12-222-02-02 -
Warsaw
MapAl. Jana Pawła II 23,
Atrium International,
00-854 Warszawa
Poland
-
Wroclaw
MapUl. Piotra Skargi 1,
Budynek A,
50-082 Wrocław
Poland
Learn more -
-
Sweden
-
Göteborg
MapLilla Nygatan 2,
411-09 Göteborg
SwedenP: +46-31-146-550 -
Stockholm
MapKungsgatan 50,
111 35, Stockholm
Sweden
Learn more -
-
Switzerland
-
Glattpark
MapBoulevard Lilienthal 2,
8152 Glattpark (Opfikon)
SwitzerlandP: +41-43-500-21-49
Learn more -
-
United Kingdom
-
London
Map114 Middlesex Street,
London, E1 7HY
United KingdomP: +44-203-514-0027 -
Manchester
MapTower 12,
18-22 Bridge Street,
Manchester, M3 3BZ
United KingdomP: +44-203-514-0027
Learn more -
-
Australia
-
Sydney
MapSuite 2.14
Level 2
Zhen Building
33 Lexington Drive
Bella Vista NSW 2153P: +61-2-8310-8272
Learn more -
-
China
-
Guangzhou
MapUnit B01, 23/F,
Yuexiuxinduhui Building,
No. 236, 6th Zhongshan Road,
Yuexiu District, Guangzhou,
China 510180 -
Shanghai
MapRoom A11, 6th Floor, Block C,
666 East Beijing Road,
Huangpu District, Shanghai,
China 200001P: +86-21-53080606 +86-21-53085450 -
Shenzhen
Map3/F, Block 5, Vision Shenzhen Business Park,
9th Gaoxin South Road,
Shenzhen Hi-tech Industrial Park,
Nanshan District, Shenzhen,
Guangdong, China 518057
P: +86-755-36899008 -
Suzhou
MapBuilding 12, Creative Industrial Park,
328 Xinghu Street,
Suzhou Industrial Park,
Suzhou, China 215123
Learn more -
-
Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong
Map198 Wellington Street,
17F, Central
Hong KongP: +852-5808-6018
Learn more -
-
India
-
Hyderabad
Map10, 11 & 12th Floors,
Salarpuria Sattva Knowledge City,
Plot No. 2, Phase - 1,
Survey No. 83/1,
Raidurgam Village,
Serilingampally Mandal,
Hyderabad, Telangana - 500081
IndiaP: +91-40-39-111-700 -
Pune
MapSmartWork Business Center Pvt Ltd,
Suite 8, Level 1,
West Wing, Nyati Unitree,
Samrat Ashok Road,
Yerwada, Pune - 411006,
Maharashtra
IndiaP: +91-20-4913-6025
Learn more -
-
Singapore
-
Singapore
Map5 Shenton Way
UIC Building, #10-01,
Singapore (068808)P: +65-6911-6888
Learn more -
-
United Arab Emirates
-
Dubai
MapEPAM Systems FZ-LLC
Dubai Branch,
Building 16, Office 241,
Dubai Internet City,
PO Box 501929, Dubai
United Arab EmiratesP: +971-4-568-3569
Learn more -
-
Armenia
-
Yerevan
Map15 Khorenatsi Street,
Elite Plaza Business Center,
0010 Yerevan
ArmeniaP: +374-10-60-00-65
Learn more -
-
Belarus
-
Brest
Map6A Masherov Avenue,
224030 Brest
BelarusP: +375-162-52-5268F: +375-162-50-9888 -
Gomel
Map80 Rechitsky Avenue,
246012 Gomel
BelarusP: +375-17-389-0100, ext. 54079F: +375-232-70-50-31 -
Grodno
Map87B Gorkogo Street,
230005 Grodno
BelarusP: +375-17-389-0100, ext. 69011 -
Minsk
Map1/1 Academician Kuprevich Street,
Suite 110,
220141 Minsk
BelarusP: +375-17-389-0100F: +375-17-268-6699 -
Mogilev
Map19 Cosmonaut Street,
Suite 510,
212009 Mogilev
BelarusP: +375-17-389-0100, ext. 1001 -
Vitebsk
Map11-a Stroitelei Avenue,
Suite 311,
210032 Vitebsk
BelarusP: +375-17-389-0100, ext. 54433
Learn more -
-
Kazakhstan
-
Astana
Map8 Auezova Street,
Office B,
010000 Astana
KazakhstanP: +7-7172-475-970F: +7-7172-688-774 -
Karaganda
Map58/3 Ermekova Street,
100009 Karaganda
KazakhstanP: +7-7212-93-01-01 +7-7212-93-01-00
Learn more -
-
Russia
-
Moscow
Map9th Radialnaya Street,
Building 2,
115404 Moscow
RussiaP: +7-495-730-6362F: +7-495-730-6361 -
Izhevsk
Map150 V. Sivkova Street,
426057 Izhevsk
RussiaP: +7-3412-271882 +7-3412-271337 -
Nizhny Novgorod
Map30 Poltavskaya Street
603089 Nizhny Novgorod
Russia
-
Ryazan
Map16 Gogolya Street,
390035 Ryazan
RussiaP: +7-4912-93-57-33 -
Saint Petersburg
Map22/2 Zastavskaya Street,
MegaPark,
196084 Saint Petersburg
RussiaP: +7-812-611-1094F: +7-812-611-1094 -
Samara
Map21 Michurina Street,
443110 Samara
RussiaP: +7-846-200-0970 -
Saratov
Map37 Tankistov Street,
410019 Saratov
RussiaP: +7-8452-692-981 -
Sergiev Posad
Map7 Akademika Silina Street,
141313 Sergiev Posad
RussiaP: +7-496-547-11-39F: +7-496-547-11-39 -
Togliatti
Map31E Yubileynaya Street,
445037 Togliatti
RussiaP: +7-495-730-6360, ext. 47650 -
Tver
Map8 Kolodkina Street,
170002 Tver
RussiaP: +7-4822-630-070 +7-4822-630-071 +7-4822-630-072F: +7-4822-630-073
Learn more -
-
Ukraine
-
Dnipro
Map17A Volodymyra Monomaha Street,
49000 Dnipro
UkraineP: +380-56-790-5651 -
Kharkiv
Map33G 23 Serpnya Street,
61072 Kharkiv
UkraineP: +380-57-728-06-22 -
Kyiv: Registered office
Map28 Fizkultury Street,
03150 Kyiv
UkraineP: +380-44-390-5457F: +380-44-390-0861 -
Lviv
Map45 O.Stepanivny Street,
79018 Lviv
UkraineP: +380-32-242-4642F: +380-44-390-5458 -
Vinnytsia
Map51 Ovodova Street,
21000 Vinnytsia
UkraineP: +380-432-551-294 +380-432-551-275F: +380-432-551-293
Kyiv: Visitors office
Map14B Kudryashova Street
03035 Kyiv, UkraineP: +380-44-390-5457F: +380-44-390-0861Learn more -