IoT in scientific research: putting the limelight on data security

Internet of Things (IoT) enabling devices offer an extensive range of opportunities for scientists working in laboratories. Software solutions revolutionise the laboratory environment, facilitating greater levels of connectivity and efficiency. These changes are expected to fuel new waves of scientific discoveries. Yet for all the benefits IoT brings, some researchers harbour reservations over whether their data is truly secure on these online platforms.

When data takes an online format, it inevitably triggers questions regarding security in the digital age; this is because IoT services regularly deal with data storage and online processing. The fear of having personal or business data intercepted is now more prevalent than ever, as we become more reliant on digital technologies for even the most basic tasks. The WannaCry ransomware worm was an example of a powerful cyberattack that spread like “wildfire”, encrypting hundreds of thousands of computers and crippling a number of public services globally. The following year the Cambridge Analytica scandal came to light, it saw a political consultancy company harvesting personal data from Facebook to influence political campaigns without the consent of individuals. Just recently, concerns have been raised over the Amazon ‘Ring’ product which has come under fire for “allegedly violating consumers’ privacy rights”. The lesson born out of these events is that for all the opportunities the digital world creates, there are costs that we need to consider. Any software solutions implemented whether it be in the laboratory environment or anywhere else need to have reliable and efficient security systems to ensure data is safeguarded.

IoT implementation is dramatically altering the laboratory environment. Software solutions enable the physical and digital realms to converge facilitating a more connected, flexible ecosystem. Components of this updated system include the electronic lab notebook (ELN), a digitalised version of the paper lab notebook which provides a central platform for research data. It is a key asset to the laboratory as it aids the organisation of data, which helps ensure the quality and integrity of research. The ELN can be used in conjunction with other IoT software solutions which will give researchers greater access to not only their research but also the laboratory at any given time, allowing scientists to conduct experiments at the optimal time instead of being constricted to working hours. Laboratory automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots are also a key aspect of this, yet are often expensive to implement. A cost-effective IoT solution is the Laboratory Execution System (LES) which allows existing laboratory equipment to be connected to the lab. Combined, these systems unify the laboratory environment allowing scientists to spend less time focusing on repetitive tasks, and more time on the hard benchwork tasks.

Yet for all the benefits of these systems, there is still an unshakable perception that the implementation of connective software in the laboratory poses security risks; which has deterred people from integrating IoT software into the laboratory. This is due to a number of factors, and one of the most common is manufacturers rushing to dominate the market at the expense of adequate security features- which creates a distrust of IoT solutions. Secondly, there is a tendency to assume that all connective software is reliant on cloud storage and any data kept on this platform is more susceptible to cyber-attacks. Whilst some products on the market rely on cloud storage, others give the scientist the option to store their data on their local server, protected by their own firewalls which adds another layer of security.

These deterring factors are important to consider, but they should not deter scientists from implementing IoT and other enabling technologies into the lab. As mentioned previously, these solutions allow scientists to conduct research with increased efficiency, which improves overall productivity in the laboratory resulting in the increased yield and quality of research. The opportunities it facilitates are simply too good to pass on.

So how do you adopt the system and safeguard your data at the same time?

First of all, you need to ensure that you pick a product/software that has strong and reliable security features. This software should have state of the art technical and organisational measures that prevent unauthorised access. It should be designed to give the user the best possible control, ensuring that if the user adopts good security practices, data is safeguarded. Further to this, it is important that your chosen software is compliant with privacy regulations in the form of GDPR. You can typically find out what level of security a company provides by reading whitepapers on security which provide in-depth information about what the product/software complies with and which security features have been implemented.

It’s important to note that these risks can be addressed and alleviated by adopting good laboratory practices. This may seem obvious, but it is fundamental that passwords are updated regularly, they must contain a mixture of characters and numbers and the practice should be mirrored throughout your organisation. Some software such as Dashlane stores your passwords for you, so you can have a number of complex passwords and don’t have to worry about remembering them. Further to this, you should look into strengthening your IoT system with the combination of separate devices such as firewalls/intrusion detection and prevention systems. If you choose to implement these, then you will have to ensure that your selected solution enables you to connect your devices to your local server and not just the cloud. Further to this, once you have implemented your IoT environment, it’s a good idea to arrange regular security audits to ensure your security posture doesn’t have any gaps.

Ultimately risk can never fully be eradicated, but it can be minimised. Even paper laboratory notebooks could easily be damaged or destroyed or in some cases, they could be useless because of a lack of clarity. However, with the implementation of digital devices and software into the laboratory, we can expect greater transparency, quality and accessibility to research data: the cost? Nothing other than the adoption of good laboratory practices, choosing the right solution and investing in further protection to ensure data and devices are safeguarded. The opportunities IoT solutions offer the laboratory environment are simply too good to reject solely on the argument that it is “too dangerous”. We must overcome our reservations of IoT, automation and robots and make them standard features in our future laboratories, to enable research and development to thrive and humanity to progress as a result.