ContinuousMTR: GxP-Compliant Cybersecurity for Pharma

Protect your pharma IT assets with ContinuousMTR: GxP-compliant cybersecurity-as-a-service, ensuring compliance and robust protection against cyber threats.

Chaitanya Vaidya

1.0. Are Your Life Sciences IT Assets Secure?

Industry 4.0 and smart factory technologies are revolutionizing the manufacturing landscape, but they also dramatically increase the attack surface for drug and device manufacturers. With IT/OT convergence and increased cloud adoption, vulnerabilities in systems can lead to ransomware attacks, production halts, IP theft, and regulatory noncompliance.

ContinuousMTR—xLM’s Cybersecurity-as-a-Service, powered by Sophos, helps life sciences manufacturers stay resilient. Our 24/7/365 threat detection and response protects everything from email accounts and servers to industrial control systems and cloud workloads. The result? Reduced risk exposure and continuous FDA Data Integrity compliance.

2.0. What Can ContinuousMTR Cybersecurity-as-a-Service Do?

2.1. Stop Ransomware Attacks and Data Breaches

ContinuousMTR Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a fully managed 24/7/365 service delivered by experts that detect and respond to sophisticated cyberattacks that technology solutions alone cannot prevent.

Whether you're already using security tools or starting from scratch, ContinuousMTR integrates seamlessly—protecting manufacturing networks globally and building “community immunity” against evolving cyber threats.

2.2. Secure Access to Industrial Systems

Life sciences companies must implement Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to safeguard critical infrastructure and proprietary data. ZTNA validates user identity, device health, and policy compliance—before allowing access.

This security framework ensures endpoint protection and network segmentation, preventing lateral movement by compromised devices. With ZTNA, SD-RED, and Wireless access points, you can securely connect remote devices, offices, and cloud applications—managed via a centralized cloud-based platform.

2.3. Ensure Uninterrupted Availability Across Your Manufacturing Operations

Safeguard your smart manufacturing environments with 24/7 threat detection and response powered by Sophos Intercept X. This advanced solution leverages deep learning, a robust Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS), anti-exploit, anti-adversary, and malicious traffic detection to proactively neutralize threats before they disrupt operations.
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Harness the power of the Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem (ACE)—a dynamic system that enables multiple security tools to seamlessly collaborate, automatically isolate threats, and remediate them in seconds. ACE ensures your manufacturing cybersecurity defenses continuously learn and evolve with each threat encountered.
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See the full cybersecurity picture with Extended Detection and Response (XDR), which integrates multiple data sources to give you a holistic view of your organization's cybersecurity environment and drills down into granular detail as needed.
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Get emergency support with active threats. Our team, with our partner Sophos, will help you quickly control an attack to protect your networks, applications, and data and mitigate damage and disruption.
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Identify risky users based on their recent web activity and threat and infection history so you can take appropriate action. A user's risk score can help you detect unintentional actions due to a lack of security awareness or a rogue or negligent user.

2.4. Prevent Insider Threats

ContinuousMTR Cybersecurity-as-a-Service includes advanced features to mitigate insider attacks—an often-overlooked yet highly damaging risk in the pharma and MedTech sectors.

2.4.1. User-Based Access and Controls:

Promote user-based access control and awareness across firewall policies, applications, websites, traffic shaping (QoS), and other network resources—regardless of IP address, location, network, or device.

2.4.2. User Risk Visibility:

Leverage User Threat Quotient (UTQ) to gain real-time user risk visibility, identifying the riskiest behaviors and applications to enforce policies before your cybersecurity posture is compromised.

2.4.3. Data Loss Prevention:

Implement data loss prevention (DLP) to protect sensitive data from accidental or malicious exposure with full policy control over web categories, applications, USB media, and mobile devices.

2.5. Minimize the Risk of Supply Chain Attacks

Mitigate supply chain cybersecurity risks in complex manufacturing ecosystems. Powered by Sophos, our solutions secure your operations from vulnerabilities within third-party networks.

2.5.1. Intercept X with XDR:

Defend against third-party and ransomware threats using AI, anti-exploit, and XDR technologies. Gain unified visibility to detect, prioritize, and respond to supply chain threats across endpoints and servers.

2.5.2. Managed Detection and Response (MDR):

Get 24/7 managed threat hunting with over 500 Sophos cybersecurity experts proactively detecting and neutralizing potential supply chain attacks in real time.

2.5.3. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA):

Enable Zero Trust security with identity and device verification before granting partner access. Prevent lateral movement from compromised suppliers with granular access controls and cloud-native enforcement.

2.6. Secure Your Legacy Manufacturing Technology

You need to protect your legacy or unpatched manufacturing control systems and processes from known vulnerabilities. These devices often run out-of-date operating systems or browsers that can't be updated because they are no longer supported – yet they need to be connected to the network.

Firewall and SD-RED can help. Put SD-RED in front of an exposed device, and it tunnels traffic to a protective Firewall for scanning. If your network is flat, you will likely need to make changes to IP address schemes and possible switch topology – and our technical specialists can discuss your situation and show you how to do this.

2.7. Protect Your Data Across Your Multi-Cloud Manufacturing Environments

To power up smart factories, drug and device manufacturers are increasingly using cloud platforms and SaaS applications that need to be protected from threats. Cloud Native Security provides complete multi-cloud security coverage across your environments, workloads, and identities.

It protects your cloud infrastructure and data with flexible host and container workload security for Windows and Linux. Multi-layered technologies, including cloud-native behavioral and exploit runtime detections, protect against ransomware and other advanced attacks and identify threats such as container escapes, kernel exploits, and privilege-escalation attempts.

3.0. Cybersecurity Tools Designed for Life Sciences Manufacturers

Cloud Optix: Easily identify cloud resource vulnerabilities, ensure compliance, and respond to threats faster.

*Comprehensive Security Across Platforms: Linux, Windows, and Multi-Cloud*

Intercept X Endpoint: Intercept X Endpoint delivers unparalleled protection, stopping advanced attacks before they impact your systems. Powerful EDR and XDR tools let your organization hunt for, investigate, and respond to suspicious activity and indicators of attack.

Intercept X for Server: High-impact protection with low impact on performance for on-premise, data center, and cloud workloads.

Synchronized Firewall Security: Your Firewall and Endpoint – Working Together. Firewall is part of the world’s best cybersecurity system, integrating in real time with Central and Intercept X.
XDR: Unified XDR platform enables you to detect, investigate, and respond to multi-stage threats, across all key attack vectors, in the shortest time.
MTR: Get cybersecurity delivered as a service with 24/7 ransomware and breach prevention services.
Microsoft 365 Security: Many cyberattacks start with phishing. Email Security integrates with M365 email in minutes, protecting users faster, unlocking end-to-end visibility across your full M365 suite with XDR.

4.0. Compliance Standards

Our ContinuousMTR which is delivered in partnership with Sophos complies with:

GxP - Data Integrity, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Qualification
HIPAA
PCI DSS
CIS Critical Security Controls
General Data Protection Regulation
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Children's Internet Protection Act
California Consumer Privacy Act
Australian Signals Directorate
Protection of Personal Information Act
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
NIS Directive
NYDFS Cybersecurity Regulation
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
The Ohio Data Protection Act
NIST SP800-171
NERC CIP
HITRUST Common Security Framework

5.0. Achieve Cyber Insurance Requirements with MDR

Meet cyber insurance requirements with Managed Detection and Response (MDR). MDR delivers essential cyber controls—like 24/7 Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), real-time threat monitoring, web security, and centralized logging—helping your organization qualify for and maintain cyber liability coverage.

6.0. ContinuousMTR - Delivered as a Managed Service

In every service we offer, the software app is continuously qualified. Also, the customer's instance is continuously validated. In each run, 100% regression is performed.

Secure your pharma IT assets with ContinuousMTR. Get GxP-compliant cybersecurity today – Contact us now!

7.0. Conclusion: Secure Digital Transformation with ContinuousMTR

As Industry 4.0 accelerates digital transformation in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, the convergence of IT and OT systems significantly expands the cyber attack surface—increasing risks of ransomware, IP theft, and compliance violations.

To mitigate these threats and ensure FDA Data Integrity compliance, xLM has partnered with Sophos to deliver ContinuousMTR Cybersecurity-as-a-Service, purpose-built for life sciences manufacturers.

7.1. Key Capabilities of xLM’s ContinuousMTR Cybersecurity-as-a-Service offers life sciences manufacturers:

24/7/365 Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for secure remote and internal access
Advanced Endpoint Protection with Intercept X
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) for full visibility and threat hunting
User-based access controls and risk scoring
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Supply chain attack defense
Legacy manufacturing technology protection
Multi-cloud environment security

Fully compatible with existing security tools, ContinuousMTR reduces business risk, boosts GxP compliance, and safeguards critical systems and intellectual property. It aligns with standards such as GxP, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR, and supports cyber insurance eligibility through robust cyber control.

By deploying ContinuousMTR, regulated manufacturers can confidently advance digital transformation while maintaining cyber resilience and regulatory compliance.

8.0. xLM in the News

9.0. Related xLM Managed Services

10.0. Latest AI News

Protect your pharma IT assets now with ContinuousMTR. Schedule your consultation with xLM today!

11.0. FAQs

1. What is ContinuousMTR?

ContinuousMTR is a Cybersecurity-as-a-Service solution specifically designed for drug and device manufacturers. It provides comprehensive protection against a wide range of cyber threats, including ransomware attacks, data breaches, insider threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities. The service is delivered and managed by xLM in partnership with Sophos, leveraging advanced security technologies and 24/7 expert support.

2. How does ContinuousMTR address the cybersecurity challenges of Industry 4.0 and smart factories?

Industry 4.0 and the adoption of smart factories have expanded the attack surface for manufacturers due to increased digital transformation and IT/OT convergence. This exposes them to higher risks of cyberattacks, production sabotage, and intellectual property theft. ContinuousMTR addresses these challenges through:

Managed Detection and Response (MDR): 24/7 monitoring and response to sophisticated cyberattacks.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Secure access control to critical systems and data, verifying every user and device.
Endpoint Protection with Intercept X: Proactive threat detection and prevention using AI and other advanced technologies.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Comprehensive visibility across the entire security environment for faster threat detection and response.
Supply Chain Attack Mitigation: Security measures to protect against vulnerabilities that can infiltrate through third-party suppliers.

3. What are the key benefits of using ContinuousMTR?

ContinuousMTR offers numerous benefits to drug and device manufacturers, including:

Reduced Business Risk Exposure: Minimizes the likelihood and impact of successful cyberattacks.
Increased Data Integrity Compliance: Helps meet FDA data integrity mandates and other regulatory requirements.
Enhanced Protection for Critical Assets: Safeguards intellectual property, manufacturing processes, and sensitive data.
Proactive Threat Detection and Response: Identifies and neutralizes threats before they can cause significant damage.
24/7 Expert Support: Access to a team of cybersecurity specialists who can assist with incident response and other security needs.
Compliance with Industry Standards: Aligns with GxP, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, and other relevant regulations.

4. How does ContinuousMTR secure access to critical industrial control systems and data?

ContinuousMTR uses a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) approach, which operates on the principle of "trust nothing, verify everything." This means that every user and device attempting to access critical systems and data must be continuously validated. ZTNA ensures that only authorized users and devices with a proven health status can connect, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement of threats.

5. How does ContinuousMTR protect against insider threats?

ContinuousMTR incorporates features to mitigate insider threats through:

User-Based Access and Controls: Granular control over user access to specific resources and data.
User Risk Visibility: Identifies and monitors risky users based on behavior patterns and threat history.
Data Loss Prevention: Prevents sensitive data from leaving the organization's control, whether intentionally or accidentally.

6. What role does Intercept X play in ContinuousMTR?

Intercept X is an advanced endpoint protection solution that utilizes deep learning, anti-exploit, anti-ransomware, and malicious traffic detection to proactively defend against a wide range of threats. It constantly learns and improves, providing robust protection for endpoints within the ContinuousMTR framework.

7. Does ContinuousMTR help with meeting cyber insurance requirements?

Yes, ContinuousMTR helps organizations meet the stringent cyber control requirements often imposed by insurance providers. By providing comprehensive cybersecurity measures such as 24/7 endpoint detection and response, web security, logging and monitoring, ContinuousMTR demonstrates a strong security posture that can satisfy insurance conditions and potentially reduce premiums.

8. What kind of support is provided with ContinuousMTR?

ContinuousMTR is a fully managed service, meaning that xLM and Sophos provide ongoing support, including:

24/7/365 Security Monitoring and Incident Response: A dedicated team of experts continuously monitors the environment and responds to security events and incidents.
Proactive Threat Hunting: Experts actively search for potential threats that may bypass traditional security measures.
Security Consulting and Guidance: Assistance with developing and implementing security strategies, policies, and best practices.
Software and Infrastructure Management: Continuous updates and maintenance of the security software and infrastructure.

9. How can I get started with ContinuousMTR?

If you're ready to experience a streamlined, efficient, and compliant managed threat response solution, contact xLM to learn more about ContinuousMTR and how it can benefit your organization.

Ready to intelligently transform your business?