Explore why pharmaceutical cyber security is critical for protecting intellectual property, clinical trial data, patient information, patents and connected healthcare technologies from targeted cyber attacks.
Intellectual property, patient data and patents: why pharma is a prime cyber target
Pharmaceutical companies hold some of the most valuable data available, from intellectual property, drug patents and clinical trial results to personal health information and pharmaceutical technologies. That makes the sector a prime target for cybercriminals, ransomware groups and advanced persistent threat actors. Research cited in the report suggests a cyber security incident could trigger a 20% drop in company valuation, a 5% drop in share price, losses of up to $363 million due to lost IP, and regulatory fines of up to 4% of global turnover.
The threats are sophisticated and global. The report highlights advanced persistent threat groups, including Russia's Fancy Bear/APT28 and North Korea's Lazarus, targeting pharmaceutical and clinical research firms through spear phishing, brute force attacks and password spraying. In one example, attackers posed as World Health Organisation officials to harvest login credentials.
This report explains how digital transformation, third-party suppliers, IoT, spear phishing and ransomware increase cyber risk across the pharmaceutical industry, and why employee awareness remains a critical first line of defence.
In this free eBook, you'll discover:
Protect pharma data from targeted cyber threats
TSC helps pharmaceutical organisations strengthen security awareness and reduce people-side cyber risk through practical training focused on spear phishing, ransomware, credential theft, third-party risk, IoT exposure and the protection of sensitive research, IP and patient data.
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Pharmaceutical cyber security FAQ
Why is the pharmaceutical industry a target for cyber attacks?
The pharmaceutical industry is targeted because it holds highly valuable data, including intellectual property, drug patents, clinical trial results, research data, patient information and commercially sensitive business records. Attackers can use this data for ransom, fraud, identity theft, espionage or resale on criminal marketplaces.
What are the biggest cyber security risks for pharmaceutical companies?
Key pharmaceutical cyber security risks include spear phishing, ransomware, credential theft, brute force attacks, password spraying, third-party supplier breaches, IoT vulnerabilities, compromised clinical trial data, stolen IP and attacks from advanced persistent threat groups.
How can pharmaceutical organisations reduce cyber risk?
Pharmaceutical organisations can reduce cyber risk by improving employee security awareness, training staff to spot spear phishing, strengthening password and MFA controls, managing third-party supplier risk, securing IoT devices, monitoring access to sensitive data and building a security culture that protects IP, patents, patient data and clinical research.
