Secure the instruments, data and grant obligations behind every experiment

Research Laboratories IT Services

A research lab's output is data, and most of it comes from instruments that run old, vendor-controlled computers nobody is allowed to touch.

Talk to Us About Research Laboratories IT 888.792.8080

SOC 2 Aligned

Responsive Support

20+ Years Experience

At a glance

Add terabytes of raw files, shared accounts at the bench, rotating students or contractors, and grant or contract terms that spell out security requirements, and you've got a hard environment to protect.

We run managed IT and cybersecurity for independent and contract research labs, analytical and testing labs, and research groups that need more than a central IT ticket queue.

That covers instrument networks, LIMS, ELN and chromatography data systems, high-volume storage and backup, data integrity controls and the security requirements tied to federal funding and sponsor contracts.

IT that keeps instruments capturing, raw data intact, sponsors satisfied.

Managed IT for research and testing labs where the data has to be trustworthy long after the run ends.

Research laboratory IT

If you can't trust the data, the run didn't happen

Research labs live on instrument output: chromatograms, spectra, images and sequences that feed reports, papers and submissions. The data has to be captured, kept unaltered and found again years later. Here's what that depends on, the specific ways labs get hurt and what we put in place.

01 · The pressure

Instruments running, data piling up, reports due

HPLC and mass spec systems run overnight sequences. Microscopes and sequencers write huge files to local disks that fill by Friday. Analysts process results in a chromatography data system, record work in an ELN and log samples in LIMS. Study directors and sponsors expect reports on schedule. When an instrument PC dies with unbacked data, or a share fills and runs fail, you lose more than time; you may lose samples that can't be rerun.

Overnight sequences on analytical instruments
Large raw files filling local disks
LIMS, ELN and CDS tied to every report

02 · How it breaks

Unpatched instrument PCs and shared bench logins

Instrument controllers often run Windows versions years past support because upgrading breaks validated software. Everyone at the bench logs in as the same user. Raw data sits only on the instrument's local disk. Contractors and visiting researchers plug personal laptops into the lab network. Federal research data and export-controlled technical data sit on the same file share as everything else. Ransomware that lands on an office PC finds a flat network with nothing in its way.

Instrument PCs on unsupported Windows
Shared bench logins with no attribution
Raw data living only on local disks

03 · What we change

Segmented instruments, automatic capture, named access

We move instrument controllers onto isolated network segments and coordinate any updates with the instrument vendor. Raw data gets copied automatically to protected central storage as runs finish, with immutable backups behind it. Bench users get individual logins, with fast switching where software allows. Controlled research data gets its own enclave with access control and logging. Endpoints across offices and labs get managed detection with 24/7 SOC monitoring.

Isolated instrument network segments
Automatic raw data capture to central storage
Separate enclave for controlled data

04 · The after

Data you can defend to any reviewer

When a sponsor auditor, QA unit or program officer asks how raw data is protected, you show the capture process, access logs and restore tests. An instrument PC failure means replacing hardware, not recreating a month of results. Visiting researchers get network access that can't reach instruments. And the lab can bid on federally funded or sponsor work with security requirements because the controls already exist and are documented.

Capture, access and restore evidence on hand
Instrument failures without data loss
Ready to bid on work with security clauses

Systems we keep running

LabWare LIMS
STARLIMS
Thermo Fisher SampleManager LIMS
LabArchives
Shimadzu LabSolutions
Thermo Fisher Chromeleon
Agilent OpenLab

Rules we help you meet

21 CFR Part 58 (Good Laboratory Practice)
21 CFR Part 11
NIST SP 800-171
Export Administration Regulations (EAR)
ITAR

What We Offer

Comprehensive solutions tailored for Houston-area businesses

Instrument Network Isolation

Analytical instruments, imaging systems and sequencers connect through vendor-supplied PCs that often can't be patched without breaking validated software. We put them on isolated segments that can only reach the storage and services they need, document each one's support status and coordinate updates with the instrument vendor, so legacy controllers stop being a risk to the whole lab.

Automated Raw Data Capture

Raw files should never live only on an instrument's local disk. We set up automatic transfer from instrument PCs to protected central storage as runs complete, verify transfers and alert on failures. Your analysts work from the central copy, and a dead controller no longer takes original data with it.

LIMS, ELN & CDS Infrastructure

We manage the servers, databases, storage and access controls under your LIMS, electronic lab notebook and chromatography data systems, and work with each vendor on application issues. Configuration and validation of those systems stay with your lab and QA team; we keep the platforms performant, backed up and controlled.

Data Integrity Controls

Reviewers expect data that is attributable, legible, contemporaneous, original and accurate. We replace shared bench logins with individual accounts, protect audit trails and logs, synchronize time across instruments and servers, and document account management, supporting GLP study requirements and 21 CFR Part 11 where electronic records are submitted to FDA.

Large-Scale Storage & Backup

Imaging and sequencing labs can generate more data in a month than an office does in years. We design tiered storage that keeps active projects fast and archives older ones affordably, with immutable backups, retention matched to sponsor and funding requirements and restore tests that pull real datasets from the archive.

Controlled Data Enclaves

Federally funded work may involve controlled unclassified information, and some technical data falls under export controls. We build a separate enclave for that data with restricted access, MFA, logging and documented controls mapped to NIST SP 800-171, so the requirements apply where they're needed instead of across the entire lab.

Why Choose LayerLogix?

Serving businesses throughout the Greater Houston area including Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Nationwide.

No More Lost Runs to Dead PCs

Automatic capture to protected storage means an instrument controller failure is a hardware problem, not a data loss event. Samples that can't be rerun, and the weeks of work behind them, stay safe no matter what happens at the bench.

Cleaner QA and Sponsor Audits

Individual logins, protected audit trails and documented storage controls address the data integrity questions auditors ask most. Your QA unit and study directors answer with evidence instead of pulling analysts off instruments to explain workarounds.

Legacy Instruments, Contained Risk

You don't have to choose between keeping a validated instrument and keeping the network safe. Segmentation lets older controllers keep working while limiting what an attacker could do with them if they were ever compromised.

Eligible for More Funded Work

Federal agencies and commercial sponsors increasingly write security requirements into awards and contracts. With an enclave and documented controls already in place, the lab can say yes to that work without a rushed buildout during the proposal window.

Our Process

Walk the lab with your director and QA lead to list instruments, controllers, data flows, storage locations and who works at each bench.

Inventory instrument PCs, operating systems, vendor remote access, LIMS, ELN, CDS, storage and any data covered by grant or contract terms.

Segment instruments, separate guest and visitor access and set up automatic raw data capture to protected central storage.

Replace shared logins, protect audit trails, sync time across systems and deploy endpoint detection on offices, servers and supported lab PCs.

Build tiered storage with immutable backups and, where needed, a controlled data enclave documented against NIST SP 800-171.

Review capture failures, access, backups and instrument support status monthly and update documentation ahead of audits and proposals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our instrument PCs run old Windows and the vendor says not to update them. What do we do?▼

Follow the vendor's guidance on the software inside the instrument, and contain the risk around it. We put those controllers on an isolated network segment that can only reach the storage and license servers they need, block internet access, disable unneeded services and control USB use. Raw data is copied off automatically so nothing important lives only on that PC. We document the compensating controls and press the vendor for supported upgrade paths during your next service cycle.

Does 21 CFR Part 11 or GLP apply to our lab?▼

It depends on the work. Labs conducting nonclinical studies that support FDA applications fall under GLP at 21 CFR Part 58, and electronic records in those studies generally carry Part 11 expectations. Purely academic or discovery research usually doesn't, though sponsors may impose similar requirements by contract. Your QA unit or regulatory lead makes that call. We supply the infrastructure controls: individual accounts, protected audit trails, time synchronization, backup and documentation those programs rely on.

We have federal research funding. Do we need NIST 800-171?▼

Only if your award or contract involves controlled unclassified information or specifically requires those controls, and many basic research grants don't. Defense-related contracts often include DFARS clauses that do, and some agency data policies point to NIST SP 800-171 for sensitive datasets. Your sponsored programs office and contracting officer define the obligation. We help scope which systems and data are covered, build an enclave for them and document the controls so the rest of the lab isn't burdened.

How do you handle export-controlled research data?▼

Export control determinations belong to your export compliance officer or counsel, including whether sharing technical data with foreign nationals in your lab counts as a deemed export under EAR or ITAR. Once they've identified controlled projects, we enforce the decisions technically: a separate storage area and access group, MFA, logging, restrictions on external sharing and controls on where the data can be accessed from. That gives your compliance officer evidence the boundaries are actually working.

How is research lab IT different from clinical lab IT?▼

Clinical labs test patient specimens and deliver results into medical records, so their priorities are turnaround, interfaces to physician EHRs, billing and CLIA record keeping. Research labs focus on capturing instrument data, keeping it trustworthy and meeting sponsor, grant or GLP requirements. There are no patient results flowing out to physicians. The overlap is in instrument PCs and data integrity, and if your organization does both, we keep the clinical environment separated.

Can you work alongside our university or parent organization's central IT?▼

Yes, and that's common. Central IT often owns the campus network, identity system and some security tools, while the lab needs hands-on help with instruments, storage and specialized software. We agree on a clear split of responsibilities, work within central IT's policies and tools and handle the lab-specific work they don't have time for. Most of it is remote, with local hands-on support near our offices or through a vetted technician directed by our engineer. We support labs in Texas and nationwide.

Do you provide Research Laboratories IT Services in Houston and nearby areas?▼

Yes. LayerLogix is based in the Greater Houston area and delivers research laboratories IT services to businesses across Houston and the surrounding communities, including The Woodlands, Spring, Katy, Sugar Land, Conroe, Cypress, and Pearland. For most Houston-area clients we can be on-site the same day when something needs hands-on attention, and our help desk is available during business hours, with after-hours emergency support. Call 713-571-2390 to check coverage for your specific address.

What does Research Laboratories IT Services cost for a Houston business?▼

Pricing depends on your size and what you need, so we do not publish a one-size-fits-all number — but Houston businesses generally pay a flat, predictable monthly fee rather than surprise hourly bills. We start with a free, no-obligation assessment of your current setup, then give you a clear quote in plain English with no hidden costs. That way you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs before you commit.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact LayerLogix today for a free consultation. We serve businesses throughout Houston, Dallas, Austin, and the surrounding Greater Houston area.

Schedule Free Consultation Call 888.792.8080