As data privacy becomes increasingly important in the clinical trial space, data protection, in turn, becomes a higher priority for data safety and monitoring boards. To ensure the data you are storing is secure and private, clinical trials must implement strong data protection measures to keep their clinical trial data secure. Here are 7 data protection tips for data safety and monitoring boards.
7 Ways Data Safety and Monitoring Boards Can Improve Data Protection
Reviewing and Establishing a Data Protection Policy for Your DSMB
Improving data protection starts by creating a data protection policy. Your data protection policy will provide answers and insights for all data protection questions and protocols.
This policy can be as robust or simple as your organization sees fit, but at a minimum, it should:
Outline the measures taken to protect data.
Outline the responsibilities of each party involved in the data collection process.
Include a list of data that should be protected.
Procedures for monitoring and responding to any potential security breaches.
Specify how long data will be retained and when it should be destroyed.
Train the Entire Team on Data Protection
Once you have your policy, it’s time to train the team. This will ensure that everyone knows the importance of data protection and knows the procedures for responding to any potential security incidents.
For training, choose the methodology that would work best for your clinical trial stakeholders - in-person, online, video on demand, workshops. The options are endless. Choose the one that works best and then ensure that the training covers all aspects of data protection, from encryption to audit and compliance procedures. The training should also cover their data protection responsibilities.
Regularly Monitor Data Access
Limiting and auditing data access is critical to strong data protection policies. DSMBs should routinely monitor data access to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the data. This can be done through the use of audit logs, which track and document any data access attempts.
Third-party tools (like the Cloud Concinnity platform) can be used to provide DSMBs with a robust toolset to manage data access and monitor data compliance. To learn more about how Cloud Concinnity can help improve DSBMs data protection policies, schedule a demo here.
Utilize Firewalls and Network Security
A mix of firewalls and other network security measures can help DSMBs keep trial data safer. Firewalls can act as a barrier between your network and the outside world, preventing unauthorized access to your data. Network security measures such as intrusion detection systems and backup data solutions can provide additional layers of protection to keep data safe.
Use Encryptions Where Needed
Encryption is one of the most essential data protection measures. Encryption scrambles data so that it is unreadable to anyone without the encryption key. This ensures that even if the data is accessed by an unauthorized party, they won’t be able to interpret and use the data.
Start by encrypting any confidential trial or patient data that you store or process. You should also consider encrypting your company’s internal communications, such as emails and instant messages.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication For Trial Stakeholders
Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your systems. By requiring multiple pieces of information to access data, you can keep critical data safe in the event of a stolen password.
Several multi-factor authentication options are available, including mobile security codes, authenticator codes, or even biometric data points (such as fingerprints). The best choice for your trial is one that offers security without being too much of a nuisance for your team.
Perform Regular Security Audits
Regular security is an essential part of data protection. Regular security audits will allow your team to identify and address any potential security vulnerabilities before they become a problem.
On top of your systems, you should also audit your data protection policies and procedures to identify gaps and determine efficiencies. Remember, the policies are there to serve the clinical trial and the DSMB. If they aren’t working, don’t be afraid to make a change.
By implementing these data protection tips, data safety and monitoring boards can ensure that the data they are responsible for is secure and private. If your DSMB is searching for new methods to improve data protection, we can help. We built the Cloud Concinnity platform to help DSMBs protect their clinical trial data.
Pro Tip: With the Cloud Concinnity platform you can implement a workflow to automate the above - eliminating manual audits and ensuring security compliance. Learn more and schedule your demo of the Cloud Concinnity platform here.