Maria Suarez

Biography

Maria is currently Hackensack University Medical Center’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Her primary focus is strategic planning, oversight and accountability for the information security program, which includes leading information security governance processes, overseeing IT security operations and detect/response capabilities, assessing new technologies, continuously monitoring the threat landscape and compliance. She is Chairperson of the HackensackUMC’s Information Security Governance, Risk and Compliance Council (IS-GRC Council).

She comes to HackensackUMC with previous CISO experience while at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California which has 8 international campuses across 4 continents; and, before that at the City of Hope National Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute in Duarte, California.

Maria is recognized as an effective thought leader and practitioner and is characterized as a leader bridging business and information technology specializing in information security, risk management, data privacy and regulatory compliance. She was one of 3 finalists in the “Women of Influence” award in the government/higher education sector. She was recognized as one of Computer World’s Premier 100 IT Professionals in January 2005 for her thought-leadership in laptop encryption, audit trails, and, managing vendor security risk.

Her technical training stemmed from her years as programmer analyst with PWC where she gained experience in multiple technical platforms and more importantly the need for attention to the people and processes supporting technologies. She has held leadership positions as Director of Information Security Strategy, and Policy, Security Assurance Officer, Privacy Officer and Director of Internet/Intranet Technologies.

She has an MBA in Computer Information Systems from St. John’s University in NYC, with an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the City University of New York. She is a certified information security professional (CISSP), a certified information security manager (CISM), a certified information systems auditor (CISA), and, certified in the governance of enterprise IT (CGEIT).

 

Education

No information available.

Admissions/Licenses

No information available.