The pharmaceutical industry deals with highly volatile chemicals and even minor changes can cause significant consequences. In addition, these chemicals must be stored in exact conditions. Even the slightest change in the manufacturing process could lead to catastrophic results. Minimal changes would likely go unnoticed, but the impact on pharmaceuticals would be tremendous.
COVID-19 vaccine development
A multitude of factors could impact the global supply chain of vaccines, from the production and procurement of vaccines to the distribution of the vaccines. There is also the issue of addressing country-specific regulatory issues and challenges, and cybersecurity considerations for pharmaceutical companies must be taken into account. In addition, because vaccine production is heavily concentrated on a small number of manufacturers, the international supply chain is vulnerable to shocks and delays.
The world needs a better vaccine supply chain. While the production of vaccines is concentrated in a small number of regions, many countries desperately need vaccines. There is an opportunity for the private sector to fill this gap. However, there is no guarantee that this approach will result in a huge increase in vaccine production, as the cost of building new manufacturing facilities will be high.
Third-party supply chains
In a world where the supply chain is decentralized, pharma companies must take security measures to protect their products and reputations. The GDP guidelines help pharmaceutical companies mitigate risk and improve the security of their third-party suppliers. However, a lack of control or visibility in the supply chain can result in significant product damage to public trust. As a result, end-to-end visibility and zero-trust are now table stakes for pharma supply chains. In addition, pharma companies must constantly evaluate their cybersecurity readiness and cyber risk.
Healthcare delivery organizations spend billions of dollars every year on third-party supply chains. This shows that supply chain management is one of the largest blindspots in healthcare.
Expanding attack surfaces
As the pharmaceutical industry grows, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that all its systems and applications are protected against cyberattacks. The industry is notorious for mergers and acquisitions, often involving highly sensitive and confidential data. This makes it a tempting target for hackers who want to steal money or sell information on the dark web. In addition, companies are increasingly sharing data with other companies, which increases the risk of data breaches. As a result, companies need to implement a strong cybersecurity program as early as possible. This means implementing a patching and endpoint solution to keep their networks secure and prevent a breach from happening.
The importance of protecting intellectual property
The pharmaceutical industry produces a vast amount of information that is critical for the development of new drugs. The information can help inform strategic business decisions and determine therapeutic areas to focus on. This is why pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities. Intellectual property (IP) is the most valuable asset of pharmaceutical companies, and it is vital to protect it.
The pharmaceutical industry has long been a target of hackers, with many companies admitting fraudulent activities in 2015. These criminals often seek to steal confidential information and sell it on the dark web. By implementing a cybersecurity program early on, pharmaceutical companies can ensure that their network remains protected and effective. This includes implementing an effective endpoint patching solution.