The design at Boston University Medical Centers biolab includes elements that cover security, safety and both SecuritySecurity and SafetySafetyDouble HEPA filtersAirtight seams on all doors, BSL4 uses airlocked double doorsNegative air pressure pulls all particles toward labAirlock precedes lab and given five minute chemical disinfectant bath each time its used.Biocontainment suits have own air supply, washed and inflated (to check for leaks) prior to each useLiquid and solid wastes cooked for 30 minutes in high heat and pressure prior to disposalBuilding controls include biometrics, electronically logged attendance, video surveillanceSite control includes security guards, fencing and bollards, one-way access gates, video surveillanceExtensive background checks on all employeesAccess systems integrated with storage containers to log access to biologics150-foot building setbackBuilding-within-building design using blast rated external concrete wallsBuilding can be sealed off and allowed to burn to destroy release of deadly biologicsTwo-person rule (No one is allowed into BSL4 labs alone)All BSL4 labs above ground to prevent water/ground contaminationScientists only in BSL4 labs, they change lightbulbs and dispose of trash and so onPath audit forces scientists to leave BSL4 labs the same way they came in; deviation means alarm soundsGPS tracked vehicles for transportation of deadly toxins to/from the labVehicle drivers undergo background checks, given duress alarmsRandom audits and emergency drills Related content news analysis Companies are already feeling the pressure from upcoming US SEC cyber rules New Securities and Exchange Commission cyber incident reporting rules don't kick in until December, but experts say they highlight the need for greater collaboration between CISOs and the C-suite By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 28, 2023 6 mins Regulation Data Breach Financial Services Industry news UK data regulator warns that data breaches put abuse victims’ lives at risk The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has reprimanded seven organizations in the past 14 months for data breaches affecting victims of domestic abuse. By Michael Hill Sep 28, 2023 3 mins Electronic Health Records Data Breach Government news EchoMark releases watermarking solution to secure private communications, detect insider threats Enterprise-grade software embeds AI-driven, forensic watermarking in emails and documents to pinpoint potential insider risks By Michael Hill Sep 28, 2023 4 mins Communications Security Threat and Vulnerability Management Security Software news SpecterOps to use in-house approximation to test for global attack variations The new offering uses atomic tests and in-house approximation in purple team assessment to test all known techniques of an attack. By Shweta Sharma Sep 28, 2023 3 mins Penetration Testing Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe