Cloud Computing for Pharma: The Road to Digital Transformation Posted on September 18, 2024November 14, 2024 by Marta Fetsatchyn Massive challenges like the global pandemic forced many industries to rethink how they handle data storage, and pharma was no exception. When COVID hit, the urgent need to accelerate drug development meant shrinking timelines from years to months, with no room for compromises on quality. Cloud computing was one of the facilitators of this shift. Cloud-based tools allowed pharma companies to capture and share clinical data between research teams both securely and quickly. The rest is history: vaccines were delivered worldwide in record time, saving millions of lives. In this article, we will explore the main use cases for cloud computing in pharmaceutical industry, its benefits, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. Intro to Cloud Computing in Pharma Cloud computing gives life sciences companies a flexible way to handle data storage. Instead of pouring money into physical data centers and servers, they can access remote, on-demand, storages as needed. This allows them to scale quickly, gain a competitive edge, and save money for more important things like research and development. Let’s not forget the massive amount of data the life sciences industry generates daily. Cloud-based systems help eliminate data silos, allowing companies to better use their data to drive business growth. Cloud computing empowers life sciences organizations to transform various business processes and adopt innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Why Cloud Computing is Crucial in the Pharmaceutical Industry Cloud technologies have revolutionized the life sciences industry. Let’s explore the areas that have seen the most significant changes. Cloud computing accelerates drug discovery The gap between companies investing in cloud technologies and those avoiding it is set to grow. For example, AstraZeneca, which relies on cloud solutions to accelerate drug research and development, will likely get products to market faster than any company that has resisted this digital transformation. “Ultimately, the cloud is the latest example of Schumpeterian creative destruction: creating wealth for those who exploit it; and leading to the demise of those that don’t.” – Joe Weinman, Senior VP at Telx. This innovative approach has brought more than 40 successful drug discovery projects to AstraZeneca. Thanks to its partnership with AWS, it can conduct 51 billion statistical tests in less than 24 hours. By the end of 2026, the company will be able to analyze two million genomes. Isn’t scalability one of the most important goals each drug manufacturer is striving for? Thanks to cloud computing, research teams can collaborate and share their findings securely and efficiently. This allows scientists to analyze lab results and draw conclusions more quickly. Life sciences companies can adopt third-party software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for drug discovery or build custom tools in collaboration with a cloud provider. For instance, many pharmaceutical companies use cloud-based platforms for remote research and development labs, regulatory compliance, and clinical trial data management. Cloud computing facilitates effortless collaboration Cloud computing makes it easier for life sciences companies to communicate and collaborate globally. With cloud platforms, professionals can share ideas, seek second opinions, and fill knowledge gaps faster, speeding up breakthroughs in healthcare. Today, cloud-based collaboration tools help stakeholders keep communication open at every product lifecycle stage, from discovery to manufacturing. Cloud applications also let healthcare providers (HCPs) cooperate with patients, track their side effects, and prompt patients to seek care when needed. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) teamed up with Oracle to develop a cloud-based health check system that allowed the reporting of COVID-19 vaccine side effects. This quick reporting helped the CDC gather crucial data on the vaccine’s effectiveness, contributing to its further improvements. Medical journals then used this data to debunk myths about the vaccine circulating online and raise public awareness about the deadly virus. Cloud computing provides secure data sharing for clinical trials High dropout rates in longitudinal trials are a big concern for drug manufacturers. An analysis of 71 randomized controlled trials published in leading medical journals shows that 18% of trials have a dropout rate of 20%, which leaves room for biased clinical results. Why do so many patients leave the clinical trials? Many are still designed with life sciences companies in mind, requiring patients to make frequent hospital visits without compensation for their time or effort. Cloud computing is helping to change this by enabling decentralized clinical trials. Source: Pharma Technology Focus Cloud solutions have shifted the burden away from patients. With decentralized trials, patients can now report their health status from the comfort of their homes. With less time commitment and fewer scheduling conflicts, it is no surprise that dropout rates have decreased dramatically. Besides, cloud computing pairs well with AI, allowing scientists to analyze clinical trial data with surgical precision. This is especially helpful in recruiting participants and designing the trials. The cloud also merges with other technologies like electronic health records (EHRs), wearables, telemedicine, and mobile apps, enhancing patient engagement and communication. Sano Genetics is a great example of a cloud app that connects patients with clinical research opportunities tailored to their genetic data. Its Virtual Waiting Room provides personalized content to keep users engaged between trial stages, which helps boost compliance rates. Cloud computing helps to comply with regulations Cloud technology helps life sciences companies navigate a heavily regulated industry without the need to gather physical dossiers. The regulatory submission process has become much smoother and quicker. The regulatory bodies can now access company data directly from cloud servers and track drug safety in real-time. Traditional pharmacovigilance leads to time-consuming manual reporting. Cloud computing makes real-time monitoring possible, allowing timely detection of drug safety signals. The data submitted to the cloud lets regulators perform instant analysis and expedite approvals. What’s more, pharmaceutical regulations change and evolve rapidly, making compliance quite tricky. Cloud technology empowers companies to trace regulatory changes and revise processes and procedures accordingly. Cloud computing improves supply chain resilience Counterfeit products are a serious issue in the life sciences industry, posing a significant threat to patient health and safety. Cloud computing enhances transparency in the supply chain by enabling drug manufacturers to trace every component back to its origin. Real-time monitoring of a drug’s location drastically reduces the possibility of errors and prevents counterfeiting. Cloud-based systems collect data at every stage of the drug’s journey, combating the grey market and ensuring product authenticity. Cloud computing enhances pharmaceutical marketing efforts It is no secret that great marketing starts with having complete, high-quality data. Traditional on-premises systems often struggle with data silos, making it hard to share information and perform solid data analysis. This stifles effective customer segmentation, personalization, and omnichannel marketing efforts. Cloud computing solves this by allowing brands to centralize terabytes and petabytes of data securely. Marketing teams can easily collaborate with other departments and clients, sharing documents and files to create compelling campaigns. Additionally, advanced cloud analytics provide key insights into how to guide HCPs and patients through the sales funnel. It gives marketers a clear view of what really matters to customers – and what is holding them back. Let’s say an HCP browses a pharmaceutical company’s website. Cloud data analytics can monitor the pages they explore, the links they click, and even the areas where they linger. Marketers can then leverage this data to tailor personalized content that meets their specific needs. Not to mention, this kind of personalization is possible in real-time. Cloud technology coupled with AI data analytics helps life sciences companies gain data-driven insights and create engaging, relevant content on the fly. Example of real-time content personalization By analyzing the HCP’s actions on the website, AI-driven cloud analytics can choose the most relevant pre-approved modules and create content that is tailored to their immediate needs. Since customer preferences can shift rapidly, this gives pharmaceutical brands a significant competitive edge in engaging their audience. Let’s Talk Numbers The cloud market is piping hot right now. According to recent statistics, 95% of companies in sectors like public services, manufacturing, IT and technology, retail, and finance now use cloud solutions. It is no surprise that the global market is growing at a compound annual rate of 20%. Another key finding: 96% of respondents said cloud-based systems have exceeded their expectations. However, the survey also shows that only 42% of companies have fully moved to the cloud, while 55% still rely on on-premises solutions to some extent. If the cloud is so effective, why are so many companies digging in their heels and resisting innovation? Let’s explore this further in the section below. Cloud Computing in Pharma Today: Challenges & Solutions Anything connected to the Internet can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Moving your data from in-house servers to the cloud exposes your system to potential security risks. In addition, this change shifts responsibility for security from your organization to a third-party cloud provider, which can be difficult, especially if there are trust issues. However, if you choose a reliable cloud vendor like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure, these extreme worries are often overblown. Leading providers typically have hundreds of experts dedicated to data security, ensuring your data remains safe and is not accessed by unauthorized third parties. Data sovereignty is another key concern for most pharmaceutical brands as they decide whether to move to the cloud. Personal data is subject to the legal regulations of the country where the individual resides, which can make cloud adoption painful. For instance, if you are based in Greece and want to work with a trusted provider like AWS, you could run into data sovereignty issues, as AWS does not have a data center in your country. To address this, many major cloud providers set up data centers in various countries to enable local data storage. Yet, they must navigate different internet governance regulations to make this happen. Moving to the Cloud with Ease These days, nearly every sector has its own success story of moving to the cloud. However, this shift did not happen overnight. It has brought significant changes to companies of all sizes, impacting everything from business operations to internal processes. If you want to change your infrastructure, the Viseven team is here to guide you through the entire journey. We have over a decade of expertise delivering our cloud-based content experience platform, eWizard, and helping numerous pharmaceutical companies make a smooth move to the cloud. Our cloud services also cover cloud architecture design, consulting, management, DevOps as a service, and cloud cost optimization. Ready to turn the page to the cloud-based future? Get in touch, and we will reach out to you soon.
Healthcare Data Security: Protecting Patient’s Info Posted on June 26, 2024November 11, 2024 by Andrii Nikulin With the rapid digitization of medical records and increasing reliance on electronic systems, the importance of data security in healthcare cannot be overstated. Healthcare organizations are entrusted with vast amounts of highly sensitive information, including medical histories, diagnoses, treatment plans, and personal identifiable data. A single breach or data security issue in healthcare can have devastating consequences, jeopardizing individuals’ privacy and the integrity of clinical decision-making. One of the biggest threats to the security of healthcare data is the potential for unauthorized access by malicious actors or inadvertent mishandling of sensitive information. The latest data from the Office for Civil Rights shows 315 cyber attacks on the medical sector in 2024. Alarmingly, the most prevalent type of data breach has been hacking/IT incidents, highlighting the persistent threat posed by malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities in healthcare organizations’ digital infrastructure. This underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and proactive threat prevention strategies to safeguard patient data and mitigate the consequences of cyber attacks targeting the medical field. Let us figure out what data protection means for healthcare organizations and how you can achieve higher levels of security for sensitive data within the clinical environment. What is Healthcare Data Security? Healthcare data security refers to the measures and practices implemented to protect sensitive patient data, health information, and digital data within healthcare organizations. It encompasses a wide range of safeguards and security protocols aimed at preventing unauthorized access, data breaches, and security incidents that could compromise protected health information. Effective data security requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both technical and administrative aspects. This includes implementing robust data encryption techniques and role-based access control (RBAC) measures to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive patient data. Additionally, it involves establishing rigorous policies, security management processes, and ongoing security awareness training for healthcare practitioners to cultivate a culture of data protection and privacy. The healthcare sector remains a prime target for cyber attacks, with malicious actors continuously seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to valuable patient health information. Successful data security in healthcare requires a proactive approach to threat prevention, regular risk assessments, and the implementation of strong security measures to protect patient data and safeguard patient safety. By prioritizing data security for healthcare and implementing robust security protocols, healthcare organizations can not only protect sensitive patient information but also maintain data integrity, foster trust, and facilitate secure medical research and healthcare services. What are Related Challenges to Consider? Establishing adequate data security in healthcare is an uphill battle fraught with numerous challenges and risks. The sheer value of healthcare data, encompassing personal details, financial information, and comprehensive medical records, makes it an irresistible target for cybercriminals. This data can be exploited for identity theft, financial fraud, or sold on the dark web, making healthcare organizations high-value targets for sophisticated attacks and complex security breaches. Complexity of the healthcare ecosystem The complexity of the healthcare ecosystem, with its dense network of providers, insurers, and technology vendors, further amplifies vulnerability. Each participant in this interconnected web represents a potential entry point for cyberattacks, and the diverse nature of their systems and cybersecurity preparedness complicates the security landscape. As data flows across this ecosystem, the risk of exposure multiplies, necessitating stringent measures and collaborative cybersecurity strategies. Rapid adoption of digital technologies The rapid adoption of digital technologies, such as electronic health records, telemedicine platforms, and remote patient monitoring tools, expands the attack surface and creates new vulnerabilities. Legacy systems The prevalence of legacy systems in healthcare settings also makes them more susceptible to cyber attacks, as these outdated systems often lack regular security updates and patches to address emerging threats. This increased digital footprint demands robust cybersecurity measures to protect patient data and ensure service continuity. Regulatory compliance Compounding these challenges are stringent regulatory demands, with frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, and HITECH Act setting baseline standards for data protection and severe penalties for non-compliance. Adhering to these regulations while safeguarding patient privacy and upholding service integrity and availability is a continuous endeavor for healthcare organizations that requires effective compliance management. Role of HIPAA and HITRUST Compliance for Healthcare Organizations HIPAA and HITRUST compliance is paramount for healthcare organizations to ensure robust data security and safeguard sensitive patient data. Here’s an overview of their significance in the context of data security in healthcare. HIPAA HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) serves as the cornerstone of healthcare data security in the United States. This federal law establishes the legal foundation for protecting sensitive healthcare data and electronic protected health information. Privacy and Security Rules – HIPAA’s Privacy Rule protects patient health information, while the Security Rule focuses on safeguarding electronic health records (EHRs) and other digital data. Breach notification – Requires healthcare organizations to report data breaches involving protected health information (PHI) to affected patients and relevant authorities. Access controls – Mandates that only authorized people can access sensitive patient information, promoting the principle of role-based access control. Data encryption – Encourages the use of data encryption to secure patient records and health information during storage and transmission. HITRUST HITRUST (Health Information Trust Alliance) plays a pivotal role in enhancing data security and ensuring robust data protection practices across the healthcare sector. At its core, HITRUST offers a comprehensive framework known as the Common Security Framework (CSF), which provides healthcare organizations with a standardized approach to managing security and privacy. This framework incorporates various healthcare regulations, offering a unified solution to address the complex landscape of data security in healthcare. Risk management – Helps healthcare institutions assess and mitigate data security issues in healthcare more effectively. Certification process – Offers a rigorous certification that demonstrates an organization’s commitment to healthcare data protection and information security. Threat prevention – Regularly updated to address evolving cyber attacks and security incidents in the healthcare sector. Third-party assurance – Provides assurance to patients, healthcare workers, and business associates about an organization’s data security practices. Top Healthcare Data Security Best Practices To significantly enhance your data protection efforts and reduce the risk of breaches and other security incidents, consider implementing these nine top healthcare data security best practices. Implement strong access controls: Utilize role-based access to make sure that only authorized users can access sensitive patient data. This includes multi-factor authentication and regular access audits. Develop and maintain security policies: Create clear, detailed security policies and procedures aligned with HIPAA Security Rule requirements. Ensure all healthcare workers are trained on these policies regularly. Encrypt sensitive data: Utilize robust data encryption for both data at rest and in transit. This applies to electronic health records, protected health information, and other sensitive medical data. Conduct regular risk assessments: Perform comprehensive security risk analyses to identify vulnerabilities in your health information technology systems and processes. This helps in proactively addressing potential data security issues in healthcare. Keep systems updated: Regularly update and patch all software, like operating systems, applications, and medical devices to protect against known vulnerabilities and cyber attacks. Train staff on security awareness: Conduct regular training sessions to educate healthcare workers about data security best practices, phishing threats, and the importance of protecting sensitive patient information. Have a robust incident response plan: Develop and regularly test a comprehensive plan for responding to data breaches or other security incidents in compliance with HIPAA breach notification requirements. Carefully manage third-party vendors: Healthcare companies frequently rely on third-party vendors for a variety of services. Ensure that all business associates and third-party vendors adhere to the same rigorous data security standards to maintain the integrity of your healthcare data protection efforts. For instance, our eWizard platform recently enhanced its security with penetration testing. Backup data securely: Regularly backup all critical health data and store backups securely, preferably off-site or in a secure cloud environment, to ensure data integrity and availability in case of a security incident. Healthcare Data Security Insights and Trends Healthcare data security is evolving rapidly in response to technological advancements and emerging threats. Let’s discuss. Switch to electronic records The transition to electronic health records (EHRs) has been a pivotal development in health information technology, dramatically improving the efficiency of patient care. However, this digital transformation has also expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals, making healthcare organizations high-value targets for data breaches. The widespread adoption of EHRs, which surged from 6.6% to 81.2% in the decade leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the urgent need for enhanced data security measures to safeguard sensitive patient information. Rising threats Cybersecurity threats in healthcare continue to rise, with phishing attacks emerging as the most prevalent method for compromising data security. The increasing sophistication of these attacks, potentially leveraging artificial intelligence for more convincing phishing campaigns, poses a significant challenge to healthcare institutions. To combat these threats, organizations are turning to AI-powered security solutions for advanced threat detection and real-time incident response, helping to mitigate the risk of healthcare breaches. Unique nature of healthcare data The unique nature of healthcare data adds another layer of complexity to data security challenges. Healthcare organizations handle vast amounts of sensitive patient data, often stored across multiple systems and providers. This diverse and unstructured data, accounting for about 30% of the world’s data volume, creates interoperability issues and multiple points of vulnerability. To address these challenges, emerging technologies like blockchain are being explored to ensure data integrity and prevent unauthorized modifications to protected health information. IoMT security The rise of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is another significant trend impacting healthcare data security. As more medical devices become connected, securing this expanding network becomes crucial for protecting patient safety and privacy. Healthcare organizations must implement robust security measures to safeguard these devices and the sensitive healthcare data they transmit and store. Cloud security As healthcare organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based solutions, ensuring robust cloud security becomes paramount. Cloud security measures must be implemented to protect electronic protected health information and maintain HIPAA compliance in these distributed environments. Final Remarks The healthcare sector faces unprecedented challenges in data security, driven by technological advancements, evolving cyber threats, and regulatory changes. To address these challenges, healthcare organizations must adopt a multi-faceted approach to data security, leveraging emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, implementing strong access controls and encryption, and fostering a culture of security awareness among healthcare workers. Crucially, this commitment to data security must extend beyond the organization itself to encompass all vendors and collaborators in the healthcare ecosystem. It’s essential that every entity with access to sensitive healthcare data adheres to the same rigorous cybersecurity standards. At Viseven, we exemplify this commitment to healthcare data security. As an ISO-certified company, we regularly train our employees on the latest cybersecurity policies and best practices. Our solutions undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are robust and secure, providing our healthcare clients with the confidence that their sensitive patient data is protected to the highest standards. By staying on top of these trends, implementing comprehensive healthcare data security solutions, and partnering with security-conscious vendors like Viseven, healthcare organizations can better protect sensitive patient information, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of healthcare data in an increasingly digital landscape. This holistic approach to data security in healthcare not only safeguards patient privacy but also fosters trust and enables the safe adoption of innovative health information technologies that can improve patient care and outcomes.
The Viseven Team Obtained ISO/IEC 27001 Certification Posted on July 13, 2023November 15, 2024 by Andrii Nikulin In May 2023, Viseven obtained an ISO/IEC 27001 certificate confirmed by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). After months of planning and enormous work, the Viseven team is excited to join over 50,000 businesses in over 140 countries that maintain the highest standards of informational security. While you’re reading this article, hackers are attacking dozens, or even hundreds, of businesses online. Did you know that over 75% of organizations suffered ransomware attacks in 2021? In 2022, the size of the global cybersecurity market amounted to almost $222 billion, according to a survey published on Statista. In response to the growing number of cyber crimes and threats, the market is anticipated to experience a nearly three-time increase and reach over $657 by 2030. One of the time-tested ways to protect information from criminals is to establish an information security management system and prove its effectiveness with ISO/IEC 27001 certification. What is ISO/IEC 27001? ISO/IEC 27001 is the world’s highest standard for information security management systems. The standard aims to provide a company of any size and from any industry with instructions about creating, implementing, and enhancing an information security system. Why Should Your Business Obtain ISO/IEC 27001 Certification? Obtaining ISO/IEC 27001 certification isn’t just about information security, privacy, and data protection. An ISO/IEC 27001 certificate on a company’s website shows dedication, competence, and professionalism. The standard lays the foundation for more achievements in the future and tremendously optimizes a company’s resources. Here are a few major benefits of obtaining ISO/IEC 27001 certification for our company. Building Reputation in the Market As the world’s most popular standard for information security management systems, ISO/IEC 27001 is also a sign of trust in the business world. Once obtained, the certification demonstrates commitment, responsibility, and transparency to the companies we’re cooperating with and the companies that may become our partners soon. In other words, everyone who collaborates with us can be sure that we follow the same, internationally approved, security guidelines. All three basic information security principles, such as confidentiality, information integrity, and availability of data, are observed. A Resilient Security System in One Place An information security management system includes a set of practices and procedures that help a business identify existing security gaps and vulnerabilities and minimize risks in the future by improving resilience. Following the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, a company or brand secures all the data in a centrally managed framework, which allows them to enhance internal security structure and focus on more significant goals. More Awareness and Fewer Errors When preparing for ISO/IEC 27001 certification, a company increases the level of knowledge about information security among employees and decreases the odds of being attacked due to human mistakes. The standard requires all people working in a company to pass a specific training program that boosts security awareness, and the company’s information security department informs the staff about the latest trends and threats in cybersecurity. Better Compliance and More Savings The ISO/IEC 27001 standardization is a step further towards compliance with other frameworks, standards, and regulations, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Network & Information Systems (NIS). Companies that obtained the ISO/IEC 27001 standard avoid financial losses from security breaches and prevent possible fines and penalties caused by non-compliance. Now that the security and privacy concerns were taken care of, we can focus on establishing and strengthening our partnerships and developing solutions to drive positive change in pharma.
