Security Conversations: Managing access rights with Cytiva and Johnson Controls

Want to find out how Genetec ClearID™ directly impacts its users?

In this short Q&A, Niru Satgunananthan, Sales and Delivery Manager at JCI, and Larry Allen, Technical Product Manager for facilities security and crisis management at Cytiva, explain how the implementation of a physical access management solution has transformed security operations at Cytiva.

Niru shares their perspective on partnering with Genetec experts and the sales engineering team to understand Cytiva's requirements before deploying the solution. And Larry Allen discusses how ClearID has directly impacted Cytiva and helped address challenges within the organization.

CUSTOMER STORY

 

Q: What challenges or goals was Cytiva aiming to address?

Niru: Cytiva is a world leader in delivering preparative protein purification solutions to the life sciences community. With 17 active sites and expansion plans, their goal was to assess high-risk areas and determine where to enhance their security. They aimed to transition from on-premises solutions, gradually replacing existing technology with Genetec solutions. Ensuring GDPR compliance, especially for European sites, was a key consideration.

Larry: Given the nature of our operations in biopharma, each site presents unique configurations due to regulations. We needed a flexible solution that would meet all of our requirements and allow for our expansion goals. Typically, the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) teams collaborate with the security function to define and validate specific requirements for each site. We also need to follow specific compliance mandates when determining the protocols for securing our facilities.

Q: How did ClearID contribute to meeting Cytiva's goals?

Niru: ClearID played a crucial role in advancing Cytiva's product roadmap and positioning it for future success. It facilitated customization and further configurations, aligning with their goal of achieving a high level of automation. The investment in ClearID was strategic, supporting expansion plans across multiple locations through a standardized security platform.

Larry: ClearID has helped automate our access provisioning, and allowed us to be nimbler and more responsive, so employees can self-serve access requests. It's made the whole process smoother, especially for area and access requests. We also rely on ClearID for keeping a solid audit trail—crucial for demonstrating transparency during audits. So, when someone asks, "Who approved that access right?", we've got it all neatly logged.

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.

Q: What factors contributed to the successful implementation of ClearID?

Niru: The success of the ClearID implementation was attributed to the expertise of Genetec professionals, a controlled methodology, and having a fully developed solution. Collaborating closely with exceptional account managers at Genetec, who provided support and addressed escalations, played a pivotal role in achieving the desired outcomes. Their responsiveness and willingness to provide immediate guidance when we had questions have been invaluable assets to the success of the project.