Ardena harmonised the IT environment of production sites in several countries and locations
Ardena develops experimental drugs on behalf of biotech and pharma companies. The company harmonised its IT infrastructure and invested in its security.
Ardena develops experimental drugs on behalf of biotech and pharma companies. The company harmonised its IT infrastructure and invested in its security. The need for that became apparent following the acquisition of a Spanish sector peer in 2021.
The Ghent-based growth company is a contract development and manufacturing organisation, or CDMO for short, focusing on the pharma industry. Thanks to Ardena's specialised knowledge and facilities, companies do not need to invest in expensive infrastructure themselves. Ardena assists them with the research, development, production and regulation of new drugs for clinical trials. This speeds up the process and ensures that patients are helped more quickly.
The Ghent-based growth company is a contract development and manufacturing organisation, or CDMO for short, focusing on the pharma industry. Thanks to Ardena's specialised knowledge and facilities, companies do not need to invest in expensive infrastructure themselves. Ardena assists them with the research, development, production and regulation of new drugs for clinical trials. This speeds up the process and ensures that patients are helped more quickly.
Integration of Spanish division
Ardena is experiencing impressive growth, partly due to several strategic acquisitions. “Our company now has five sites,” says Sander Modderkolk, IT operations manager. “The need for harmonisation across all sites grew as a result of our international expansion. After acquiring a company in Pamplona in 2021, we were looking for a partner to assist us in integrating the Spanish IT organisation into the larger Ardena entity. Specifically, this involved migrating and linking the domain so that the Spanish team could email via the company account.”
“After the initial collaboration, Rank 1 won our confidence to also assist us in the integration and harmonisation of the other subdivisions. This allowed Ardena’s internal team to focus on day-to-day operations.”
Integration of Spanish division
Ardena is experiencing impressive growth, partly due to several strategic acquisitions. “Our company now has five sites,” says Sander Modderkolk, IT operations manager. “The need for harmonisation across all sites grew as a result of our international expansion. After acquiring a company in Pamplona in 2021, we were looking for a partner to assist us in integrating the Spanish IT organisation into the larger Ardena entity. Specifically, this involved migrating and linking the domain so that the Spanish team could email via the company account.”
“After the initial collaboration, Rank 1 won our confidence to also assist us in the integration and harmonisation of the other subdivisions. This allowed Ardena’s internal team to focus on day-to-day operations.”
Today, Rank 1, together with a second IT partner, takes care of security monitoring.
Efficiency through IT harmonisation
The network and infrastructure were unified step by step. All divisions now use the same technologies. This allows the IT team to support them more efficiently without investing heavily in expanding the team.
Microsoft 365 collaboration tools found their way into all sites. They reinforce Ardena’s brand identity, both internally and externally. The cloud architecture was expanded and improved. This simplifies the management of applications used across all sites.
Efficiency through IT harmonisation
The network and infrastructure were unified step by step. All divisions now use the same technologies. This allows the IT team to support them more efficiently without investing heavily in expanding the team.
Microsoft 365 collaboration tools found their way into all sites. They reinforce Ardena’s brand identity, both internally and externally. The cloud architecture was expanded and improved. This simplifies the management of applications used across all sites.
Security tightened up after cyberattack
It was when Ardena came under attack by hackers that Rank 1 proved its added value as a partner, emphasises Sander Modderkolk. “A site was crippled by an attack. The network was destroyed and had to be restored. At the time, Rank 1 showed tremendous flexibility. The team was immediately on hand to help and worked through weekends, even until three or four in the morning. It often takes companies six months to get back on their feet in such cases. Thanks to Rank 1, we were back to operating at full capacity in five weeks.”
Together, Ardena and Rank 1 investigated the company’s overall security and tightened it up. “Today, Rank 1, together with a second IT partner, takes care of security monitoring,” says Modderkolk. “Data is crucial for us. It's about our customers' data, which we protect at all costs. Our security is state of the art.”
Security tightened up after cyberattack
It was when Ardena came under attack by hackers that Rank 1 proved its added value as a partner, emphasises Sander Modderkolk. “A site was crippled by an attack. The network was destroyed and had to be restored. At the time, Rank 1 showed tremendous flexibility. The team was immediately on hand to help and worked through weekends, even until three or four in the morning. It often takes companies six months to get back on their feet in such cases. Thanks to Rank 1, we were back to operating at full capacity in five weeks.”
Together, Ardena and Rank 1 investigated the company’s overall security and tightened it up. “Today, Rank 1, together with a second IT partner, takes care of security monitoring,” says Modderkolk. “Data is crucial for us. It's about our customers' data, which we protect at all costs. Our security is state of the art.”
The expertise of the Rank 1 consultants dovetails nicely with that of our internal IT team.
Flexible, pragmatic and dependable
“You can sum it up as one big improvement project, courtesy of Rank 1,” summarises Sander Modderkolk. “Today, they support us on all fronts, from infrastructure to security.”
Raf De Backer of Rank 1: “The collaboration with Ardena covers the four pillars in which we operate: public cloud services, networks and their security, local infrastructure and digital collaboration between employees. Our network and security engineers, Microsoft 365 experts, system engineers and system administrators were involved in this collaboration. It’s a good illustration of our all-round competence.”
Sander Modderkolk adds: “The expertise of the Rank 1 consultants dovetails nicely with that of our internal IT team. Our people focus on day-to-day operations. Rank 1 complements with their expertise in specific areas for additional projects. That takes away a lot of stress and work for us. They’ve proved themselves to be a solid supplier that’s good with training, certification and the support of their consultants. Flexible, pragmatic and dependable, even during the most difficult times.”
Flexible, pragmatic and dependable
“You can sum it up as one big improvement project, courtesy of Rank 1,” summarises Sander Modderkolk. “Today, they support us on all fronts, from infrastructure to security.”
Raf De Backer of Rank 1: “The collaboration with Ardena covers the four pillars in which we operate: public cloud services, networks and their security, local infrastructure and digital collaboration between employees. Our network and security engineers, Microsoft 365 experts, system engineers and system administrators were involved in this collaboration. It’s a good illustration of our all-round competence.”
Sander Modderkolk adds: “The expertise of the Rank 1 consultants dovetails nicely with that of our internal IT team. Our people focus on day-to-day operations. Rank 1 complements with their expertise in specific areas for additional projects. That takes away a lot of stress and work for us. They’ve proved themselves to be a solid supplier that’s good with training, certification and the support of their consultants. Flexible, pragmatic and dependable, even during the most difficult times.”
ARDENA IN FIGURES
Ardena has 500 employees in five European production facilities. Based in Ghent, it also has sites in the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain. The Belgian company has customers worldwide, from start-ups to established names such as Galapagos. Ardena is a CDMO, a contract development & manufacturing organisation.
ARDENA IN FIGURES
Ardena has 500 employees in five European production facilities. Based in Ghent, it also has sites in the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain. The Belgian company has customers worldwide, from start-ups to established names such as Galapagos. Ardena is a CDMO, a contract development & manufacturing organisation.