UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Keith Brautigam has been named chief information security officer (CISO) for the University, effective May 1, 2022. He had been serving as interim CISO since the departure of previous interim CISO Richard Sparrow.
As CISO, Brautigam will oversee security operations, privacy, information security compliance, and identity and access management.
"Keith’s leadership and extensive experience will ensure the Office of Information Security continues to provide critical support to our students, faculty and staff," said Nick Jones, Penn State's executive vice president and provost.
Brautigam had previously served as director of identity and access management (IAM) at the University and was a member of the CISO leadership team. He came to Penn State after departing his IAM role at the University of Iowa, where he had worked since 2002.
Brautigam is a certified information systems security professional with two decades of experience in IT and cybersecurity. He has been in leadership positions within Penn State for the past eight years, during which he established the University’s IAM program.
"Keith’s exemplary work will play a critical role in driving the University’s continued success and operational excellence," said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business/treasurer.
In his role as director of Penn State’s IAM, Brautigam was responsible for the vision, strategy and operation of the University’s identity governance, authentication and directory services, which secure and provide access to more than 200,000 University community members across 24 campus locations.
Brautigam led several key initiatives, including enabling individuals to express their chosen identity across University systems, establishing advisory groups to author security standards, and creating a privileged account management service to protect high-risk systems. He also stewarded efforts to enhance security and maximize the value of Penn State's Microsoft contract by modernizing the University's web single sign-on platform using Microsoft Azure.
"I'm excited to continue leading the Office of Information Security and our University-wide security program," Brautigam said. "I look forward to collaborating with people across Penn State to securely enable our missions of teaching, research and service."
Brautigam is currently pursuing his MBA and master's certificate in strategic leadership through Penn State's World Campus and the Smeal College of Business, which he expects to complete later this year. Brautigam received his bachelor of arts degree in communications and media studies from the University of Iowa.