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When it comes to cybersecurity in the pharmaceutical industry, having an online presence means vulnerability to cyber-attacks.

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As cybercrime becomes more sophisticated, pharma companies are plagued by cyberattacks that can be both advanced and persistent.   

For pharmaceutical companies, any cyber-attack has the potential to both wreck both operations and damage a company’s reputation. The implications of cybercrime within the pharmaceutical industry are, therefore, particularly dangerous.

Leading pharmaceutical companies manage an array of assets. These generally include infrastructure, applications, managed and unmanaged endpoints, mobile devices, and cloud services, all of which can be attacked. 

Global cybersecurity spending is expected to reach $198bn by 2025. Over the same period, hardware spending will increase from $26.5bn to $40.7bn, a CAGR of 10%. Services will record the smallest CAGR, 5%, rising from $47.9bn in 2020 to $60.7bn in 2025. 

Discover the leading cybersecurity companies for the pharmaceutical industry  

Using its experience in the sector, Pharmaceutical Technology has listed some of the leading companies providing products and services related to cybersecurity.  

The information provided in the download document is drafted for pharmaceutical executives and technology leaders involved in pharmaceutical cybersecurity solutions.  

The download contains detailed information on suppliers and their product offerings, alongside contact details to aid purchase or hiring decisions.  

Amongst the leading suppliers of cybersecurity in the pharmaceutical industry are Sensato, Upguard, Fortinet, Hashed Health, CynergisTek, Atos, BridgeHead Solutions, CyberMaxx, Protenus, and ClearDATA. 

Related Buyer’s Guides which cover an extensive range of pharmaceutical solutions, suppliers and equipment providers, can also be found here.

Targeted cybercrime in pharma and healthcare  

The Covid-19 pandemic is still having far-reaching implications on cybersecurity within the pharmaceutical industry, even to this day.

During the pandemic, sophisticated hackers targeted hospitals with ransomware and used a popular university dashboard showing Covid-19 cases as a vehicle to deliver Android spyware.

While some companies have had a remote working structure in place for several years, many preferred their staff to work from offices.   

Suddenly, the entire organisation had to be allowed to work remotely, so the breadth and depth of remote working – and the risk – dramatically increased.   

Firms already looking for cost reductions across functions will ask themselves if they have the right model for security and whether they should look at cybersecurity differently as part of any post-Covid-19 corporate transformation.

For full details (including contact details) on the leading companies within this space, download the free Buyer’s Guide below:

Frequently asked questions

  • Why is cybersecurity essential for pharmaceutical companies?

    Cybersecurity is critical for pharmaceutical companies as they handle vast amounts of sensitive data, including proprietary research, patient records, and clinical trial results. A breach can result in significant financial losses, damaged reputations, and legal issues due to the loss of intellectual property and compromised patient safety. Furthermore, with digitalisation increasing in drug development and manufacturing, protecting these systems is paramount to ensuring data integrity, safeguarding intellectual property, and maintaining regulatory compliance.

  • What are the biggest cybersecurity risks faced by pharmaceutical companies?

    Pharmaceutical companies face several cybersecurity risks, including ransomware attacks, phishing scams, data breaches, and intellectual property theft. As these companies work with high-value data such as drug formulas, research, and patient information, they are often targeted by cybercriminals and nation-state actors. These threats can disrupt critical operations, compromise sensitive research, and result in regulatory penalties if patient data is leaked.

  • How can pharmaceutical companies protect themselves from cyberattacks?

    To protect themselves from cyberattacks, pharmaceutical companies need a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity. This includes encrypting sensitive data, deploying advanced firewalls and intrusion detection systems, and ensuring secure cloud storage. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments help identify weaknesses. Companies also need to train employees to recognise phishing attempts, and implement strong access controls such as multi-factor authentication to limit access to sensitive systems.

  • What role do cybersecurity companies play in the pharmaceutical sector?

    Cybersecurity companies provide a range of services tailored to the pharmaceutical industry, including threat detection, managed security services, and data encryption. They help secure digital assets, protect intellectual property, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards like GDPR and HIPAA. Cybersecurity firms also assist with incident response and remediation in case of a cyberattack, helping pharmaceutical companies mitigate damage and recover quickly.

  • How does the shift to cloud-based operations impact cybersecurity in pharma?

    As pharmaceutical companies increasingly adopt cloud-based solutions for research, development, and operational tasks, they face new cybersecurity challenges. Cloud services offer scalability and efficiency but also introduce potential vulnerabilities if not properly secured. Data stored in the cloud must be encrypted both in transit and at rest, and pharmaceutical companies should partner with cloud providers that have robust security measures in place, including regular audits, security certifications, and strong access control policies.