How DAM Protects Sensitive Content in the Life Sciences Industry
Protecting sensitive content is critical for any company, but especially for those in the life sciences industry, where sensitive content takes on a higher degree of importance.
Digital asset management, or DAM, is one of the best ways to protect this essential information. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of DAM and how it can be a company’s best bet when it comes to establishing secure content governance.
Understanding Sensitive Content in the Life Sciences Industry
In life sciences, sensitive content refers to confidential information that requires extra protection. If this information is disclosed to unauthorized parties, the negative consequences often come at a high cost.
Here are some examples of sensitive content in the life sciences industry:
- Clinical trial data and results
- Personal identifying information (PII) and other patient data
- Regulatory filings
- Financial records
- Research and development data
- Proprietary research findings
- Pharmaceutical formulas and drug manufacturing processes
- Intellectual property (IP) data
- Medical device designs and specifications
- Genetic information and genomic data
- Biometric data
Any information that can lead to legal, financial, reputational, or operational consequences for involved individuals or organizations is classified as sensitive information.
Introduction to Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems
Digital asset management allows companies to store and organize their digital assets in a centralized system rather than managing individual files in various locations. This system provides an efficient and secure way to work with large databases of digital content. DAM solutions also promote streamlined asset distribution and easier collaboration between different parties.
Here’s a list of some of the key features found in DAM systems:
Consolidated Brand Assets: DAM platforms make it easy to search for and find all brand assets in a single hub, with version control and enhanced metadata tagging capabilities.
Digital Rights Management: Keep your files safe with secure brand portals and role-based access for agencies and external stakeholders. Public links allow you to publish original files from publicly accessible links for external needs.
AI-Powered Features: You can train ChatGPT on your own content in Aprimo DAM, enabling you to create on-brand, targeted content with multiple variations. Other AI capabilities include automated descriptions, automated translations, image alteration, content personalization, and content suggestions to maximize asset reuse.
Powerful Integrations: Leverage greater content management and publishing capabilities through integrations with the top tools already used by your sales, marketing, and development teams.
The Significance of Security for the Life Sciences Industry
Failure to protect sensitive data in the life sciences industry can have severe repercussions such as fines, legal sanctions, or other penalties levied by governmental agencies. In addition, data breaches often carry reputational risks and result in a loss of trust from consumers or partner institutions. A 2023 study found that over 90% of life sciences and pharmaceutical firms exchange sensitive information with third parties on a regular basis. That said, the average cost of a data breach in this industry is over $5 million.
While there are general security measures that apply to any industry, companies in the life sciences industry may need to consider additional compliance requirements. Your digital asset management system must be compliant with relevant regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and FDA regulations.
How DAM Safeguards Sensitive Content
Due to the nature of their sensitive content, life sciences organizations must go to great lengths to safeguard their digital assets.
The best way to do this is through establishing proper encryption protocols and access control in digital asset management software.
- Encryption protocols safeguard digital assets during storage and transmission by rendering the files unreadable to unauthorized users without decryption keys.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) determines who can view, edit, or share sensitive content. Authenticated users must be approved before they can access the DAM system, and additional security layers like multi-factor authentication can provide extra security.
Modern DAM software makes it easier than ever to manage sensitive content, even for inexperienced users. For instance, Aprimo’s DAM solution features visual encryption indicators to provide immediate, user-friendly insights into asset security. It also provides contextual tips or step-by-step guides to complex operations.
Implementing DAM in the Life Sciences Sector
There are many challenges to consider when implementing DAM in the life sciences sector. Even the most well-designed systems can fail due to human error. For example, an untrained user may fall victim to a phishing attempt or have their personal device hacked. The consequences of such a data breach in the life sciences sector could be severe and result in legal action.
That’s why it’s critical to follow these best practices when integrating DAM into existing workflows:
Conduct employee training programs on the importance of cyber security and data protection. Simulated attack exercises and refresher courses can help users stay vigilant.
Perform routine vulnerability assessments to identify any security weaknesses, and update software to close any security gaps.
Schedule regular data backups to safeguard against hardware failure, data corruption, or cyberattacks. Always have multiple backups stored in separate locations.
Develop a disaster recovery plan that explains how to restore your system in the event of a significant data breach. Ensure that sufficient testing and training are carried out according to the plan.
Implement a data retention policy that dictates how long different categories of digital assets are stored and how to handle expiration procedures.
