CASE STUDY
Reducing the risk in pharmaceuticals

In the spring of 2003, Blue Sky was approached by a major pharmaceutical manufacturer*, headquartered in the UK but with global operations.

Though well used to maintaining the high standards of commercial security which this sensitive industry requires, the company's security chiefs had grown concerned about the escalating climate of protest and eco-terrorism.

What they needed was not answers to specific problems, but a new level of reassurance that their risks were fully mapped and understood, and were being addressed to the degree that both corporate governance duties and responsible management practices now demand.

Threats and vulnerabilities

Blue Sky began by carrying out a detailed Threat Assessment, backed by information from a wide variety of sources, on the activist threats that might be targeting the company in its various operations.

This was matched with a detailed assessment of the company's assets - encompassing their premises, their people and their intellectual property - in order to determine the potential areas of vulnerability.

Site security analysis was conducted by our Technical Services team. They reviewed every facet of the physical security, including electronic surveillance and counter-surveillance systems, penetration testing of potential entry points and designation of an access control strategy.

Personnel security aspects, information security, procedures and continuity plans, and finally the 'security culture' of the company were assessed and analysed.

Cost-effective solutions

Based on Blue Sky's extensive Audit Report, workshops were facilitated to agree the way forward, and determine the actions the company should take without delay.

In many cases, the exercise showed that the development of new or better procedures, rather than expensive system or hardware investment, were the right way forward.

In the words of the client, "Blue Sky provided an excellent, thoroughly detailed security audit of every aspect, supported by a clear and cost-effective solution. The low key, personal approach of the Blue Sky staff was much appreciated."