Security is the Right Medicine

A few years ago, Adam Runsdorf had this idea of starting a third-party pharmaceuticals logistics company, specializing in healthcare. He started the company, Woodfield Distribution LLC (WDSrx), after obtaining multiple licenses to comply with federal, state and other government and regulatory authorities, which included facility security.

Located in Boca Raton, Fla., the facility looks just like any other warehouse, on warehouse row. If you’ve never been inside, you would never know what’s there. If you have never been invited inside, you probably shouldn’t be there anyway.

It is a tightly regulated facility, and knock on wood, there has never been a break in or theft. Loss prevention has stood the test of time, and employees at WDSrx are “part of the family.”

“The entire facility is under video surveillance,” Runsdorf said. “We have dual access control solutions to sign in at the vault and at our cages. The employees are cognizant that we handle valuable medications that must move efficiently to reach their destination.”

As far as security is concerned, WDSrx  invests significant resources when it comes to security to meet regulatory requirements. There are 14 truck bays for shipping and receiving, and as soon as a truck arrives, it becomes part of the security solution via monitoring. WDSrx has employed a chain of custody as part of the physical security, deploying everything that Tyco IS provides, plus upgrades.

WDSrx handles a wide range of controlled substances (schedules III-V), and while they are under constant surveillance, it is the Schedule 2 drugs (CII) that require multiple access control points and storage in a vault.

Security is so critical to WDSrx because they must file multiple reports electronically on a regular basis with governmental and authorized business partners, including the Federal Drug enforcement Agency (DEA) about the movement of certain controlled substances.

“Security is what helps us bring these products to the market,” Runsdorf said. “When, or if, we must destroy a product, it is done with witnesses and under surveillance. We are constantly checking our inventory until the day it ships to the final destination. We work with only known-name carriers because of what we’re shipping.”

The company has deployed cameras at the shipping docks and throughout the facility; every door has an access control solution for enhanced security. WDSrx has three facilities in Florida and one facility in Sugar Land, Texas.

This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Only 35 Percent of Companies Include Cybersecurity Teams When Implementing AI

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3