Q&A: Managing access rights and operations at biopharma sites
Want to simplify access rights management? Niru Satgunananthan from JCI and Larry Allen from Cytiva shared how Genetec helped them improve efficiency and streamline access requests.
In this short Q&A, Niru Satgunananthan, Sales and Delivery Manager at JCI, and Larry Allen, Senior IT Manager at Cytiva, explain how the implementation of a physical access management solution has transformed security operations at Cytiva.
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Q: What challenges or goals was Cytiva aiming to address?
Niru: Cytiva is a global biotech company that helps develop and manufacture life-saving treatments like vaccines and biologic drugs. With over 100 locations in 40+ countries, Cytiva focuses on innovation while ensuring security and compliance across its facilities.
Today, the Cytiva team manages access control and video surveillance across 17 critical research and manufacturing sites. As they plan to expand, they want to identify high-risk areas and improve security. Their goal was to move away from on-premises systems and gradually switche to a cloud-based approach with Genetec solutions while ensuring GDPR compliance, especially in Europe.
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Larry: When a new parent company acquired Cytiva, we needed to upgrade our physical security systems. Each biopharma site has unique setups due to regulations, so we needed a flexible solution that meets our needs and supports our expansion goals. Typically, our environmental, health, and safety (EHS) teams collaborate with security teams to set and confirm site requirements while ensuring compliance with security protocols.
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Q: How did ClearID contribute to meeting Cytiva's goals?
Niru: ClearID was key to advancing Cytiva’s product roadmap and future growth. It enabled customization and configuration, helping them achieve greater automation. This strategic investment supported expansion across multiple locations with a unified security platform.
Larry: Genetec ClearID™ has improved how we handle employee access requests by automating and streamlining the process. It allows employees to submit self-serve access requests, making us nimbler and more responsive.
The solution has also strengthened our audit trail, making it easier to track approvals and demonstrate transparency during audits. As a result, we can quickly answer questions like, "Who approved that access right?" while saving time and resources. Since implementing ClearID, we’ve seen a noticeable improvement in workflow efficiency, reducing the time spent managing credentials and access rights, which has been a great benefit to our team.
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We now also have peace of mind when it comes to cybersecurity, thanks to stronger resilience in our systems. In the past, staying on top of vulnerability patching, software updates, and managing those environments was challenging. With the vendor handling most of these tasks, we’ve been able to save time and rely on a more dependable system. This change has allowed us to focus on other priorities, knowing that our cybersecurity needs are being effectively managed and continuously updated.
“Since installing Genetec ClearID, we’ve seen a 30% efficiency gain in our resources. We have improved our workflow processes, so there’s just less time required for provisioning and managing employee credentials and access rights, which has benefited our team.”
Larry Allen, Senior IT Manager for CYTIVA
Q: How were access rights managed at Cytiva before the implementation of ClearID?
Larry: Before implementing ClearID, each facility had its own procedures for managing access requests. Typically, employees would contact the security team to request access. After meeting specific criteria, the team manually adjusted cardholder access rights in the old access control system.
There were instances in the past where requests were overlooked, or approvals were delayed. The significant improvement with ClearID is the self-service feature. Now, employees can initiate access requests, and the entire process is automated until approval from the designated area approver is granted.
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Q: What factors contributed to the successful implementation of ClearID?
Niru: The success of ClearID came from the expertise of the Genetec team, a clear plan, and a complete solution. We worked closely with Genetec account managers, who provided strong support and quick problem-solving, helping us reach our goals. The team was always willing to offer guidance, and their fast responses made the process smooth and successful. Whenever we had questions, like "How would this work?" the Genetec team was quick to provide immediate and helpful responses. Their ongoing support has been a huge asset, making the entire experience seamless.
