BLUE BELL, Pa., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Life sciences
and healthcare companies will follow the lead of other industries
and integrate connected technologies including Internet of Things
(IoT) and intelligent scanners across their ecosystems as a means
to improve operational efficiencies, enhance supply chain
visibility and deliver better patient care – but the increasing use
of such technologies will accelerate security risks, according to a
new set of predictions from experts at Unisys Corporation
(NYSE:UIS).
"Market forces that to this point have primarily affected other
industries are now demonstrating the potential to transform the way
life sciences and healthcare companies operate," said Jeff R.
Livingstone, PhD, vice president and global head, Life Sciences and
Healthcare, Unisys. "For example, if the pharmaceutical industry
looks at the processes and best practices being utilized in other
types of manufacturing, they can apply and adapt those
technological advancements in how they manufacture, provision and
supply therapeutics. Ultimately, there is a lot of
interconnectivity between industries that can be taken advantage
of."
Consequently, Dr. Livingstone predicts a fundamental
consumer-driven shift based on the "retailization" of industries
such as healthcare, which incorporates expanded roles for security,
and which in turn facilitates a shift from on-premise data
management to the cloud.
Prediction: The "retailization" of healthcare – based on the
IoT – will fundamentally alter how life sciences and healthcare
organizations conduct business.
As industries like retail have already started utilizing
connected technology like intelligent scanners and e-readers to
track and ship their products, so too has this technology
demonstrated potential for life sciences and healthcare.
Unisys predicts that in the coming year, connected technology
will take a more prominent role within the supply chain, as
sensor-based track-and-trace technology will allow companies to
verify product shipping information, monitor temperature issues and
adjust routes based on environmental factors affecting drug
viability, as well as utilizing cross-platform analytics based on
tracking data to help improve route efficiencies and deliver
critical medications to people who need them, when they need
them.
Prediction: Continued rise in cyberattacks and shift in how
patient data is accessed will require a multi-tiered approach to
cybersecurity.
According to a recent report, in the second quarter of 2017 life
sciences and healthcare organizations suffered more security
incidents than any other industry, surpassing the public sector.
Simultaneously, as more providers utilize personal or hand-held
devices to access data, it means extremely valuable patient data is
more vulnerable to cyber threats. In the coming years, the industry
will see a rapid rise in ransomware and DDoS attacks that threaten
patient data, as well as the business reputations of the
organizations trusted to protect it.
These security risks are not lost on consumers; the recent
Unisys Security Index™ found that a large majority of U.S.
respondents registered concern about the possibility of hackers or
malicious intruders gaining access to internet-connected medical
devices such as defibrillators, pacemakers or insulin pumps
belonging to them or someone they know.
As a result, Unisys predicts companies will shift toward a
multi-tiered, holistic approach to security. To ensure proper
security, all devices will require equally strong protection,
including personal devices that interact with multiple networks.
While it will require more than one type of protection, those that
are best poised to adapt will start with a thorough security
assessment to analyze network and devices, which in turn can
determine how different aspects of security can work together best
for the business.
Prediction: Compliance and certification move to the
cloud.
Historically, legacy hardware and a lack of centralized mandates
for certification have hindered migration to the cloud in life
sciences and healthcare. This has largely been based upon a general
distrust of allowing critical IP and patient information "outside
the gates."
Unisys predicts that advancements in cloud-based software and
security, coupled with proper guidance, will help providers more
quickly adapt to ensure up-to-date compliance-based regulatory
needs and help bridge the gap between compliance, security and
privacy.
"To prepare for what's to come, first you have to take a step
back," Livingstone said. "Completing a thorough review and
assessment of one's technological and security needs, as well as
data and compliance management as it relates to IP, patent and
regulatory issues, life sciences and healthcare companies will make
one well-positioned to succeed in the digital future."
Unisys leverages deep domain expertise across several important
vertical markets, including life sciences and healthcare, financial
services, government and travel and transportation. Recently,
Unisys launched ActiveInsights™ MedDevice, a comprehensive,
integrated medical device management platform providing healthcare
and life sciences companies with the ability to seamlessly monitor
all of the medical devices within their organization. For more
information about how Unisys can help you manage your life sciences
and healthcare needs across the globe, please visit
http://www.unisys.com/industries/commercial/life-sciences-and-healthcare.
About Unisys
Unisys is a global information technology company that
specializes in providing industry-focused solutions integrated with
leading-edge security to clients in the government, financial
services and commercial markets. Unisys offerings include security
solutions, advanced data analytics, cloud and infrastructure
services, application services and application and server software.
For more information, visit www.unisys.com.
Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn.
RELEASE NO.: 1106/9552
Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein,
as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product
referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered
trademark of its respective holder.
UIS-C
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SOURCE Unisys Corporation