West Orange, New Jersey, September 10, 2024 – Hussein Syed, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for RWJBarnabas Health, has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the 54 CISOs To Know in healthcare. This prestigious recognition highlights his ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare cybersecurity.
As the healthcare sector faces increasing cyber threats and data breaches, cybersecurity leaders like Mr. Syed are at the forefront of developing and implementing robust security strategies. With the evolving cyber landscape, these leaders ensure that sensitive healthcare information remains protected. This is the second consecutive year Mr. Syed has been honored on this list.
Leading RWJ Barnabas Health’s Cybersecurity Strategy
At RWJBarnabas Health, the largest academic healthcare system in New Jersey, Mr. Syed is responsible for cybersecurity strategy and the protection of the organization’s technology and data assets. His team’s mission is to implement secure solutions while facilitating the organization’s dynamic and growing business objectives.
With over 20 years of experience in information technology, Mr. Syed has been instrumental in RWJBarnabas Health’s EHR platform overhaul, ensuring that the system is secure and robust. Under his leadership, the department has expanded to cover various divisions, including risk management, architecture, operations, vulnerability management, and identity and access management.
A Longstanding Career in Cybersecurity
Mr. Syed’s journey at RWJBarnabas Health began in 2002 when he joined as a Security Architect under the Chief Information Officer. He standardized security processes and set the foundation for the organization’s first Security Program. Over time, as cybersecurity threats became more complex, the security department was formalized with Mr. Syed as Director.
Following multiple mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Syed successfully integrated new facilities into the existing systems without introducing vulnerabilities. His growing expertise in healthcare security led to his promotion to CISO of RWJBarnabas Health.
