The Alliance for Enterprise Security Risk Management: A partnership of the three leading international security organizations, formed to address issues surrounding the convergence of traditional and logical security.

David Kent

Genzyme Corporation

David Kent is the vice president of security for Genzyme Corporation, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Genzyme is a global biopharmaceutical and healthcare products company with worldwide operations in more than 40 countries. The company performs leading-edge research and development in traditional and bio-based therapeutic manufacturing, bio-surgery products, autologous cell services, genetic testing, cloning and transgenic farming.

Mr. Kent is responsible for the company’s global asset protection program, including information and voice/data security, and he specializes in developing and managing security programs for innovative and controversial products, services and businesses.

Prior to working at Genzyme, Mr. Kent was employed as a security manager for Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., a pioneering defense consulting and data communications company credited with founding Internet technology. He has 25 years of business-focused security experience.

Mr. Kent serves on the board of directors for the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) and the CSO Executive Board, is founding chairman for the International Biotechnology Industries Organization’s Security Committee, and is the security advisor to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. He consults, develops and coordinates security plans for international biotechnology trade meetings. He also serves as a pro-bono security consultant to numerous start-up and small biotech companies.

A frequent speaker on security issues facing biopharmaceutical and health care organizations, he is also active in a variety of professional associations and public/private partnership security initiatives.

How David Kent Improved Security and Decreased Risk Within the Enterprise:

  • He established early security department involvement at the senior management level within the corporation, which allows security to align with global initiatives.
  • He established early convergence, which included physical security and information security. This allows the corporation to look at incident and business processes from both perspectives.
  • He established a global card access system, allowing employees to carry a single card for all sites.
  • He aligned the program to work with the real estate group in identifying properties and allow security to design security in the construction process.
  • He ensured that standards for access management technology are enforced with new construction and major renovation.
  • He created a state-of-the-art 24/7 Security Service Center that allows the program to monitor sites globally, creating a “virtual campus.” This control center supports all sites globally, allowing the company to:
    • Reduce staff in the field
    • Respond to issues in a timely and effective manner
    • Respond to calls in multiple languages
    • Provide 24 hour technical support for security systems.
  • He created an information security program, which typically reports into the IT department in most organizations, but with a different goal. The program was established to meet the company’s needs in all aspects of information security, including voice and data.
  • He utilizes standardized contracted technicians for purchase and installation of security devices.
  • He developed a travel assurance program for employees that:
  • Provides general security information and advice
  • Provides access to information on risks within countries
  • He implemented a global secure shredding and recycling program.
  • He implemented program to locate employees traveling globally in event of a crisis.
  • He was instrumental in the development of the company’s product security program to detect, deter and defend against potential counterfeit, adulteration, fraud and diversion.

How David Achieved Demonstrable ROI/Cost Savings

  • By having a cross-functional team in place: physical, information and product security
  • By ensuring that physical security officers are trained to deal with information security risks at off site meetings
  • By creating the security business partner role to align with the business units
  • By managing staff who lead investigations in threats to the security of employees, product and loss of intellectual property
  • By leveraging existing IT infrastructures to monitor small, remote company sites where the cost of full-time staff would be prohibitive
  • By establishing system standards, allowing better pricing of materials, technology and labor

How David Achieved Convergence Progress in All Three Domains of People, Process and Technology:

  • He nurtures cross-expertise projects within the staff of his department.
  • He provides speakers for department staff from a variety of security perspectives.
  • He provides common office space to promote interchange of knowledge and ideas.

How David Demonstrated Leadership in Sharing Convergence Accomplishments Outside His Enterprise:

  • Presented at the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research conference, June 21 and 22, 2006
  • Awarded the CSO Compass Award in 2006
  • Presented as a panelist at Secure World Boston 2005
  • Presented at the CSO Perspectives Conference, April 10-12, 2005
  • Featured cover story in CSO magazine, May 2003
  • Board member of the National Association of Biomedical Research
  • Founder of the Safety and Security Committee in Biotech Industry Organization (BIO)
  • ASIS presentations

 

 

 

 

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