Years of research can be carried out of a laboratory on a memory stick. A prototype photographed on a bench can save a competitor a decade of work. Some facilities hold materials that are dangerous in the wrong hands, and some carry out research that makes them a target for protest. Laboratories are also, by nature, collaborative places, full of visiting researchers, students and suppliers.
Openness versus control
Research thrives on collaboration, which makes strict security feel unwelcome. We test whether the balance is right: whether visitors and temporary staff can reach areas they should not, whether controlled spaces are truly controlled, and whether sensitive work is visible from places it should not be.
What we look at
Access to laboratories, clean rooms, stores and server rooms. Handling of samples, prototypes and research data. How visiting academics, contractors and suppliers are managed. Security of hazardous materials and the records that track them. Detection of out-of-hours access.
Insider and outsider
Intellectual property theft in research often involves someone with legitimate access. Testing considers both the outsider trying to get in and the insider who could quietly take something out, which our insider threat work can investigate further.
Safety and compliance
All testing respects laboratory safety rules and biosecurity requirements, with scope agreed with your safety and security leads.
Many research organisations pair testing with clear security procedures and staff awareness. Get in touch.
