Vaxcyte, Inc. - (PCVX)

10-K Filing Date: February 27, 2024
Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy

We have implemented and maintain various information security processes designed to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats to our critical computer networks, third party hosted services, communications systems, hardware and software, and our critical data, including intellectual property, confidential information that is proprietary, strategic or competitive in nature, and data related to our clinical trials(“Information Systems and Data”).

Our information security function, overseen by our Vice President of IT and Facilities (“VP of IT and Facilities”) and supported by members of our IT, Legal and Finance departments, and our third-party IT service providers, helps identify, assess and manage the Company’s cybersecurity threats and risks. This group identifies and assesses risks from cybersecurity threats by monitoring and evaluating our threat environment using various methods including, for example: using manual and automated monitoring tools; subscribing to reports and services that identify cybersecurity threats; conducting scans of our threat environment; evaluating threats reported to us; conducting internal and external audits for certain data and systems; conducting threat assessments for internal and external threats; conducting vulnerability assessments to identify vulnerabilities; penetration testing; and having third parties conduct threat assessments.

Depending on the environment, we implement and maintain various technical, physical, and organizational measures, processes, standards and policies designed to manage and mitigate material risks from cybersecurity threats to our Information Systems and Data, including, for example: maintaining an incident response process; conducting risk assessments; encrypting certain of our data; segregating certain of our data; implementing network security controls; maintaining access and physical security controls; asset management processes for managing, tracking, and disposing of assets; monitoring our corporate systems; providing security awareness training to employees; and maintaining cybersecurity insurance.

Our assessment and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats are integrated into the Company’s overall risk management processes. For example, our senior management evaluates material risks from cybersecurity threats against our overall business objectives and reports to the audit committee of the board of directors, which evaluates our cybersecurity risks.

We use third-party service providers to assist us from time to time to identify, assess, and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats, including, for example, cybersecurity consultants, cybersecurity software and hardware providers, outside legal counsel, penetration testing firms, dark web monitoring services, and forensic investigators.

We use third-party service providers to perform a variety of functions throughout our business, such as application providers, hosting companies, contract research organizations, and contract manufacturing organizations. We use certain vendor management processes to help manage cybersecurity risks associated with our use of certain of these providers. Depending on the nature of the services provided, the sensitivity of the Information Systems and Data at issue, and the identity of the provider, our vendor management process may involve different levels of assessment designed to help identify cybersecurity risks associated with a provider and impose contractual obligations related to cybersecurity on the provider, including, for example, requiring our vendors to complete security questionnaires and conducting vulnerability scans related to our vendors’ services.

For a description of the risks from cybersecurity threats that may materially affect the Company and how they may do so, see our risk factors under Part 1. Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “If our information technology systems or those of the third parties upon which we rely, are or were compromised, we could experience adverse consequences resulting from such compromise, including but not

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limited to significant fines or other liability; regulatory investigations or actions; disruptions of our development programs or business operations; harms to our reputation, and other adverse consequences.”

Cybersecurity Governance

Our board of directors addresses the Company’s cybersecurity risk management as part of its general oversight function. The board of directors’ audit committee is responsible for overseeing Company’s cybersecurity risk management processes, including oversight and mitigation of risks from cybersecurity threats.

Our cybersecurity risk assessment and management processes are implemented and maintained by certain individuals in Company management, including our VP of IT and Facilities, who has over 25 years of IT experience, including 10 years of information security experience, in various IT leadership roles in life sciences companies.

Our VP of IT and Facilities is responsible for hiring appropriate personnel, helping to integrate cybersecurity risk considerations into the Company’s overall risk management strategy, and communicating key priorities to relevant personnel.

Our VP of IT and Facilities is responsible for preparing budgets, helping prepare for cybersecurity incidents, approving cybersecurity processes, and reviewing security assessments and other security-related reports.

Our cybersecurity incident response processes are designed to escalate certain cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to members of management depending on the circumstances, including our President and CFO. Our President and CFO works with the Company’s incident response team to help the Company mitigate and remediate cybersecurity incidents of which they are notified. In addition, the Company’s incident response processes include reporting to the audit committee of the board of directors for certain cybersecurity incidents.

The audit committee receives quarterly reports from our VP of IT and Facilities concerning the Company’s significant cybersecurity threats and risk and the processes the Company has implemented to address them. The audit committee also has access to various reports, summaries or presentations related to cybersecurity threats, risk and mitigation.