Protecting Innovation with Intellectual Property Risk Review

Client

A global biotechnology firm specializing in drug discovery and proprietary genomic research. The company relied on advanced AI models, trade secrets, and patents to maintain a competitive edge and sought to safeguard its intellectual property (IP) from cyber threats, insider risks, and regulatory non-compliance.

Challenge

The client faced growing concerns regarding the security of its intellectual property, including:

  • Trade Secret and Patent Theft
    Proprietary drug formulations, AI-driven research models, and genomic data were vulnerable to unauthorized access and cyber espionage.
  • Insider Threats and Data Leaks
    Weak access control measures increased the risk of internal data leaks and unintentional exposure of critical research.
  • Cyberattacks Targeting IP
    The company faced increased threats from state-sponsored cyber actors and corporate espionage attempting to steal research data.
  • Third-Party and Supply Chain Risks
    Collaboration with research institutions and external partners introduced security gaps in intellectual property management.
  • Regulatory Compliance Complexities
    The firm needed to ensure adherence to global data protection and IP laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and pharmaceutical regulatory standards.
Solution

COE Security delivered a comprehensive Intellectual Property Risk Review, implementing advanced security strategies to protect trade secrets, proprietary research, and critical IP assets.

Phase 1: IP Asset Identification and Risk Assessment
  • Conducted a full inventory of IP assets, including patents, confidential research, and proprietary algorithms.
  • Mapped threat vectors, such as insider threats, cyber espionage, and supply chain vulnerabilities.
  • Identified high-risk zones, including cloud storage, R&D networks, and intellectual property repositories.
Phase 2: Access Control and Data Protection
  • Implemented zero-trust security models and role-based access controls (RBAC) to restrict access to critical IP data.
  • Applied end-to-end encryption for research data, source code, and confidential reports.
  • Deployed data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to detect and block unauthorized file transfers.
Phase 3: Secure Collaboration and Supply Chain Protection
  • Developed secure collaboration frameworks for third-party vendors and research institutions.
  • Enforced contractual security requirements to mitigate risks in intellectual property sharing agreements.
  • Conducted vendor security audits to ensure compliance with IP protection policies.
Phase 4: Cyber Threat Intelligence and Incident Response
  • Deployed threat intelligence solutions to monitor for cyber threats targeting IP assets.
  • Integrated real-time anomaly detection to identify unauthorized access attempts.
  • Established an incident response framework to contain and mitigate intellectual property breaches.
Phase 5: Compliance and Legal Safeguards
  • Ensured full compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and global pharmaceutical IP regulations.
  • Developed and enforced IP security policies aligned with industry best practices.
  • Provided cybersecurity awareness training to research teams and executives.

Results

Through COE Security’s Intellectual Property Risk Review, the client achieved:

  • Enhanced IP Protection
    Secured proprietary research, trade secrets, and patents from external and internal threats.
  • Reduced Insider and Supply Chain Risks
    Strengthened access controls and vendor security practices.
  • Regulatory Compliance Assurance
    Ensured adherence to global data protection laws and industry regulations.
  • Advanced Cyber Threat Monitoring
    Proactively detected and responded to IP-related cyber threats.
  • Security-Aware Workforce
    Fostered a security-conscious culture to prevent accidental data leaks and insider threats.
Client Testimonial

COE Security’s expertise in intellectual property protection helped us safeguard our most valuable research assets. Their structured approach to risk mitigation, access control, and compliance ensured that our innovations remain secure, enabling us to continue groundbreaking discoveries with confidence.