[Blog] Cybersecurity Risks in Pharma: Why Identity and Cloud Security Are Now Compliance Priorities
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Cybersecurity Risks in Pharma: Why Identity and Cloud Security Are Now Compliance Priorities
Cyberattacks against manufacturing companies are growing in scale and precision.
According to the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2025, manufacturing remains the most targeted industry worldwide for the fourth year in a row. Attackers are not only stealing data — they are disrupting operations and exploiting connected systems that keep production running.
When Attackers Log In Instead of Breaking In
Nearly one in three breaches now happens through valid account credentials.
Instead of hacking through firewalls, attackers use stolen usernames and passwords from suppliers, partners, or employees to gain access to production and reporting systems.
In a pharmaceutical environment, this type of intrusion can compromise serialization data, product traceability, and regulatory submissions — all critical for compliance.
Phishing and infostealer malware are the primary sources of these credentials. Once inside, attackers creep across connected systems, often unnoticed until sensitive data has already been copied or altered.
Cloud-Hosted Threats Require Cloud-Level Protection
IBM reports a rise in phishing campaigns hosted on legitimate cloud services, including Microsoft Azure. These environments are trusted, which makes malicious activity harder to detect.
For pharma companies that rely on Azure-based solutions to manage serialization, data exchange, or ERP connectivity, this highlights the need for strict configuration policies, role-based access, and continuous monitoring.
From IT Risk to GMP Risk
Cyber incidents in manufacturing are not isolated to IT departments. A compromised serialization environment can delay production, block product release, or trigger regulatory non-compliance. Protecting data integrity is, therefore, not only a technical measure; it is a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirement.
What Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Should Do
- Protect identities first. That means applying multifactor authentication and conducting regular access audits across all systems — from Level 2 equipment to Level 5 reporting.
- Segment networks. Isolate workloads and limit the impact of potential breaches.
- Keep systems validated and updated. Patch management and documentation are key to maintaining compliance.
- Use trusted platforms. Solutions built on Microsoft Azure, such as SATT PLATFORM, provide layered security and traceability across the entire supply chain.
The Bottom Line
The main lesson from the IBM research is clear:
Cybersecurity is now part of compliance. Protecting production data and serialization environments is essential to ensure business continuity, product safety, and regulatory trust.
Source: IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2025, IBM Institute for Business Value.