UIT Leadership Spotlight: Jake Johansen, chief information security officer

Earlier this month, UIT announced that Jake Johansen has been named chief information security officer (CISO) for the University of Utah (login required), officially effective on September 15, 2024. In this month’s UIT Leadership Spotlight, Johansen shares some details about his professional and personal life. Read below to learn more. And please join us in congratulating him on his new role.

Where are you from originally?

I am a native Utahn. I was born, raised, and still live in rural central Utah, though I have traveled enough to feel at home throughout the state.

What post-secondary degrees or certifications do you have, in what subjects, and from which schools?

I attended Snow College in the mid-1990s and left school to work in the early internet boom and dot-com era. I have continued to pursue technology and industry-specific training and education throughout my career. I obtained ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification in 2008 and have maintained the certification with ongoing education. I recently obtained CHIME/AEHIS Certified Healthcare Information Security Leader (CHISL) certification.

What led you to the University of Utah?

 The challenge of helping implement the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) IT security rule at University Health Sciences Center (part of University of Utah Health) attracted my attention. To work for a large health care system and educational institution at a transformative time was an opportunity that I could not pass up.

Can you describe the path you took to IT leadership?

The technical aspects of cybersecurity have always been a personal fixation. Over the years of working in IT and information security, I have become fascinated by the challenge of addressing the inherent risks of business while maintaining business needs. This new focus has led me down a leadership career path rather than the technical path I started on.

How would you describe your leadership style and/or philosophy?

My hope is to be collaborative in management with an emphasis on data-driven decision-making and to create space that allows for intentional and careful decisions.

What do you enjoy most about your role at the U?

I find it rewarding to assist people in making informed decisions regarding risk, particularly cybersecurity risks that they were unaware of. The Information Security Office has highly trained and dedicated staff, and it is a good day when we can help others avoid unintended consequences.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

It is a challenge to find and embrace new ways of adapting to problems, both personally and within the culture of a large organization like the University of Utah. New problems often require new approaches, but we tend to use the tools we are most familiar with and those are not always the right fit.

What are some of your hobbies?

Reading has been a lifelong adventure for me; beyond just enjoyable, it has opened doors and opportunities. My favorite hobby is supporting my wife in her painting career, though we often get sidetracked with road trips, travel, and hiking.

Is there a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share?

My first computer was a Kaypro “rugged” and “luggable” CP/M-based computer with two floppy discs and foldout keyboard. It was a fantastic introduction to information technology.

 

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