IT Infrastructure for an Early-Stage R&D Company

Background

 This anonymous early-stage Life Sciences R&D company focuses on developing antiviral therapies. In 2024, the organization transitioned from stealth mode to a fully operational lab in Maryland, rapidly expanding both its staff and technical footprint.

The Challenge

• The company did not have a local, on-site IT presence, limiting hands-on technical support.
• Network infrastructure needed to be deployed immediately to ensure operational readiness for lab move-in.
• The new facility had little to no cell service, making reliable and consistent Wi-Fi uptime critical for daily operations.
• Dependable monitoring was required for environmental systems to protect sensitive lab equipment.
• As the organization began to scale, it lacked standardized IT onboarding processes and operational structures, creating potential inefficiencies.

The Solution

Infrastructure Setup & Lab Integration

As the company expanded its lab operations, InfoPathways partnered with leadership to design a technology environment capable of supporting both immediate operational needs and long-term growth. Our team evaluated the new lab space and planned a network infrastructure to support specialized lab instruments, security systems, and future scalability.

This included coordinating the installation of fiber internet to deliver high-speed connectivity for research operations and deploying wireless access points to ensure full coverage in a facility with limited cell service.

For critical systems such as environmental (temperature) monitoring, InfoPathways configured a dedicated Azure instance secured with a VPN. This allowed the monitoring system to operate in the cloud while maintaining secure access to on-site equipment data. Throughout the process, we worked closely with company leadership and facilities teams to ensure the technology design aligned with the lab layout, operational workflows, and anticipated expansion.

In addition, InfoPathways designed and implemented conference room systems to support hybrid collaboration, enabling seamless internal communication and external engagement with research partners and funders.

Process Development

As the company transitioned out of stealth mode and expanded to approximately 20 employees, InfoPathways helped standardize employee onboarding and implemented secure, reliable systems to support daily operations. Microsoft Intune was deployed to manage and secure employee devices, providing centralized control over access, updates, and data protection as the team grew.

Security

To address both physical and digital security needs, InfoPathways coordinated with trusted partners to upgrade the facility’s access control systems, ensuring physical security and cybersecurity worked together. Our team also assisted in bringing new lab instruments online and securing legacy equipment by isolating it from the broader network through air-gapping, reducing risk while maintaining operational continuity.

The Results

• InfoPathways supported the company’s transition from stealth mode to fully operational lab stabilizing its IT environment during a period of rapid growth.
• A scalable and reliable IT foundation was established to support rapid growth, expanding from 5 employees to over 20.
• Downtime risk was significantly reduced through cloud-based environmental monitoring and built-in network redundancy.
• Operational efficiency improved through standardized onboarding procedures and centralized device management.
• The organization gained a responsive, local IT partner with deep expertise in the unique needs of biotech R&D environments.

What's Next?

As the company prepares for its next phase of growth, including IND filing and progression toward clinical trials, InfoPathways continues to ensure its IT infrastructure scales securely alongside its mission. Upcoming initiatives include enhanced vendor security vetting and continued modernization of lab systems.