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INDUSTRY FACT FILE · PHARMACEUTICALS & LIFE SCIENCES
Main Products and Services in Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences
What pharma and life sciences organisations offer, the systems behind each product and service and where they create cybersecurity and compliance exposure.
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In this document 1. How pharma and life sciences firms earn their money 2. Products and services by organisation type 3. Research, development and clinical trials 4. Manufacturing, quality and supply 5. The systems behind the products and services 6. Trends that change the attack surface 7. Mapping operations to Codec Networks engagements |
1. How pharma and life sciences firms earn their money
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Revenue stream |
How it works |
Security relevance |
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Generic and branded medicines |
Domestic and export sales |
Plant uptime and quality data |
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APIs and intermediates |
Sales to formulators worldwide |
Process IP and plant OT |
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Vaccines and biologics |
Government and private supply |
High-value research and complex OT |
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Clinical research services |
Fees from sponsors for trials |
Clinical data confidentiality and integrity |
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Contract manufacturing |
Fees from clients for development and production |
Client IP and multi-client segregation |
2. Products and services by organisation type
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Organisation type |
Main products and services |
Key systems |
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Formulation manufacturers |
Tablets, capsules, injectables, topicals |
ERP, MES, SCADA, LIMS, QMS |
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API manufacturers |
APIs and intermediates |
DCS, batch systems, LIMS |
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Biotech firms |
Vaccines, biosimilars, research |
ELNs, bioprocess control, research data platforms |
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CROs |
Trial management, data management, pharmacovigilance |
EDC, CTMS, eTMF, safety databases |
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Labs and CDMOs |
Testing, development and contract production |
CDS, LIMS, MES, client portals |
3. Research, development and clinical trials
Research teams use electronic lab notebooks, research data platforms and collaboration tools shared with partners and universities. Clinical trials run on electronic data capture (EDC), trial management (CTMS) and document (eTMF) systems used by CROs, sites and sponsors. This combination of high-value IP and personal health data attracts both espionage and criminal groups.
4. Manufacturing, quality and supply
Plants run manufacturing execution systems (MES), SCADA and distributed control systems, while quality labs rely on LIMS and chromatography data systems. Many lab instruments and OT systems are legacy, vendor-maintained and connected to IT networks for reporting—creating paths for ransomware into production and risks to data integrity.
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Highest-risk moments IT-to-OT connections, vendor remote access to plants, shared logins on lab systems and research data shared with partners are where pharma incidents typically begin. |
5. The systems behind the products and services
Figure 2: Where cyber risk sits in the pharma value chain.
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Product / service |
Systems that deliver it |
Key cyber and compliance touchpoints |
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Research |
ELNs, research data, collaboration portals |
Classification, DLP, partner access control |
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Clinical trials |
EDC, CTMS, eTMF, ePRO apps |
Application testing, participant privacy |
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Manufacturing |
MES, SCADA, DCS, batch records |
IT/OT segmentation, OT monitoring |
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Quality labs |
LIMS, CDS, instruments |
Audit trails, unique access, data integrity |
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Quality and regulatory |
QMS, document control, submissions |
Access control, integrity, confidentiality |
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Supply chain |
ERP, serialisation, cold-chain monitoring |
BEC controls, integrity, monitoring |
6. Trends that change the attack surface
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Trend |
What is changing |
Security implication |
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Revised Schedule M |
Modernised GMP across manufacturers |
Computerised system controls in focus |
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Digital manufacturing |
Connected plants and Pharma 4.0 |
Larger OT attack surface |
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Decentralised trials |
Remote and app-based trials |
More participant data in apps and cloud |
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Biologics growth |
More complex, high-value processes |
IP and process data protection |
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Cloud and SaaS quality systems |
QMS, LIMS and EDC in the cloud |
Vendor and configuration risks |
7. Mapping operations to Codec Networks engagements
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If the organisation operates… |
Recommended starting engagement |
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Manufacturing plants |
OT security assessment, IT/OT segmentation, SOC |
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Quality control labs |
Computerised system and data integrity review |
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R&D centres |
IP protection, DLP and insider programme |
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Clinical trials (sponsor or CRO) |
EDC and CTMS testing, clinical data privacy, CRO assessment |
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Cloud quality and clinical systems |
Cloud and SaaS vendor reviews |
Talk to Codec Networks
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Contact Codec Networks Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi: 507, 5th Floor, New Delhi House, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001 Gurugram: 707, 7th Floor, Silverton Tower, Golf Course Extension Road, Sector 50, Gurugram – 122018, Haryana Landline: 011 430 496 96 | 011 437 522 99 Mobile: +91 99716 76124 | +91 88007 88220 | +91 88003 31124 Email: mktg@codecnetworks.com Web: www.codecnetworks.com |
Note: Descriptions are general and based on public information available as of October 2026.