Harry Hoffman, an exceptional IT leader, has been named associate vice president and chief information security officer (CISO) in the Office of the CIO and Vice President for Information Technology at Northeastern University. Hoffman will report to the CIO and Vice President for Information Technology Cole W. Camplese, effective January 19, 2021.
CISO at Northeastern, Hoffman will join the ITS Senior Leadership Team and have responsibility for Northeastern’s total information security needs—domestically and internationally—to ensure university information assets are adequately protected. He will oversee the creation of a Privacy Program office, with the goal of providing a centralized approach for setting privacy policy and standards, advising the university about compliance and regulatory issues relating to privacy, and educating the university community about privacy issues and requirements.
My goal is to ensure security is an enabling factor for the Northeastern community and that it provides the services and tools necessary to protect against the evolving set of digital threats.
Harry Hoffman
Hoffman will engage stakeholders across the university in this work and in identifying, evaluating, and reporting on information security risks that support the position of the university. He will also work closely with the Office of the General Counsel to ensure open and trusted communication and collaboration in sensitive and legal matters.
Camplese said, “Harry has a real depth of leadership in IT and specifically in information security. He brings extensive experience cultivating relationships with key stakeholders and partners. I look forward to working with him to enhance security policy and services at Northeastern, and helping to ensure a safe and secure information environment.”
Hoffman has spent over 20 years in higher education working to deliver world-class information security programs at institutions, including at Harvard University, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel University. Most recently at Harvard, where he served as director of information security architecture and engineering, Hoffman oversaw university-wide initiatives to increase security, reduce risk, and modernize IT systems.
“Northeastern is leading the way in global learning, research, and technology. I’m excited to join such an amazing team and a vibrant community,” said Hoffman. “My goal is to ensure security is an enabling factor for the Northeastern community and that it provides the services and tools necessary to protect against the evolving set of digital threats.”