Cyber Security Archives - INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

Cybersecurity and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS): A Critical Intersection for Lab Managers

Sharon Williams — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:28:17 +0000

In today’s digital landscape, protecting sensitive data—especially in laboratories handling valuable samples—is paramount. This responsibility goes beyond practical implications; there are significant ethical considerations and financial motivations for safeguarding laboratory data and systems, whether in clinical, food, agricultural, or environmental contexts. Fundamentally, cybersecurity is about defending digital systems, networks, programs, and data from unauthorised access and cyberattacks, which can result in the exposure of confidential records and the loss or corruption of sensitive information. The Role of LIMS in Cybersecurity Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) play a crucial role in bolstering cybersecurity in a laboratory setting. These systems are designed to manage samples, associated data, and laboratory workflows, providing a comprehensive framework for secure data handling. To strengthen cybersecurity, laboratory managers and IT professionals must harness the capabilities of LIMS alongside best practices and tools. Training and Awareness Awareness is the first step towards enhanced cybersecurity. Cyber threats can affect anyone with access to organisational systems, including LIMS users. Therefore, training should extend beyond the IT department to encompass all staff members. Regular training sessions, supplemented with resources from reputable sites like NHS Digital and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), can equip teams with the knowledge needed to recognise […]

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Modern challenges for Laboratory Managers

Sharon Williams — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:51:53 +0000

Modern working practises, coupled with the ongoing threat of cyber-attacks and the increased pressure placed on laboratory professionals and biobank mangers to comply with industry regulations such as the Human Tissue Act (HTA) and MHRA have placed the onus of responsibility on LIMS software developers to ensure their systems provide complete peace of mind for their service users. As part of our ongoing development programme, the team here at Interactive Software have recently introduced Modern Authentication for our current Achiever Medical LIMS customers. Modern authentication is also included in Achiever Medical LIMS 5.6, due for release later this year. This software development is designed to enhance and strengthen our existing system access and provide additional security features to safeguard and protect data. Modern Working The recent pandemic has changed how and where people work. The Office of National Statistics published an article in May 2022 titled: “Is hybrid working here to stay?” The article stated that the proportion of people hybrid working rose in 2022. In spring of this year, when guidance to work from home because of the pandemic was no longer in place in the UK, 38% of working adults reported having worked from home at some point […]

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Authentication and why it’s important

Paul Ward — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 09:14:34 +0000

The purpose of authentication is to confirm that a user is who they say they are. The authentication example most of us are familiar with is when signing-in to a website using a username and password. The username part of this combination is who the user claims to be. While the password is a way to confirm they are who they say they are. The website will verify the two pieces of information provided. If the password supplied matches the password for the username, sign in will be allowed. If the password doesn’t match, sign in will be denied. You can see that for anyone who possesses those two pieces of information, it would be possible to successfully claim to be someone else and impersonate their identity. This is why as a user we keep passwords secure by: Not reusing – Across different sites, services and applications Not writing down – On a Post-it note or in an email Avoiding the obvious – None of the most common Not sharing – With colleagues or family members Going long – The longer the password length, the harder it is for someone guess Methods for securing accounts and passwords There are other […]

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We take security seriously … and now we have the Cyber Essentials certificate to prove it!

Sharon Williams — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:00:58 +0000

We are pleased to announce that last year we successfully gained our Cyber Essentials certification. This is part of our commitment to cyber security and quality across our company and our LIMS and CRM products. Cyber Essentials is a scheme that the UK-government supports to help organisations protect themselves, whatever their size, from the most common cyber-attacks. Its aim is to ensure organisations are considering their cyber-risks effectively. As well as making sure they are mitigating the most commonly seen risks from Internet-based threats. The Cyber Essentials scheme defines a basic cyber security standard that organisations can be independently certified against. What the certification process includes To gain Cyber Essentials certification, we had to complete a self-assessment questionnaire with an approved assessor. As part of this we submitted a substantial amount of evidence relating to our existing security procedures for review and assessment. Following this, the certifying body carried out an external vulnerability assessment on our systems. This was to test that the necessary controls were correctly in place on the Internet-facing network. In addition to making sure that there weren’t any obvious vulnerabilities present. By completing the assessment and obtaining the Cyber Essentials badge we have proven we have […]

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