Keith Brautigam (keithbrautigam)

Keith Brautigam is an IT and cybersecurity professional with years of experience in identity and access management. His career has evolved from systems administration to senior technology leadership, including roles as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Deputy CIO, and Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO). His work has involved information security, compliance, access management, and IT modernization.

Keith was born in San Diego, California, and moved to the East Bay Area of San Francisco at age two. His interest in computers began through friends whose families owned early Amiga and Atari systems. Although gaming first caught his attention, he soon became interested in improving computer performance. His family later relocated to Iowa City, Iowa. He earned a degree in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Iowa and studied abroad in Mérida, Venezuela.

Following graduation, Keith Brautigam, CIO, entered a difficult IT job market in the wake of the 1990s eCommerce bubble and moved to the Research Triangle in North Carolina. He worked as a supervisor at a Borders bookstore, gaining useful customer service and supervisory experience. He later returned to Iowa City and became an IT Systems Administrator at a medical research center where he had previously worked as a student. There, he managed secure clinical and research systems involving lung imaging, HIPAA regulations, data security, and IT compliance. His work supported research focused on diseases such as emphysema.

Keith later joined higher education research administration, helping modernize internal processes and move systems online. This role introduced him to Agile SCRUM software development and newer web technologies before he joined an Identity and Access Management (IAM) team.

In 2014, Keith joined Penn State University in management and advanced from Manager to Director, CISO, Deputy CIO, and, in 2023, Interim CIO. He earned his CISSP certification, an MBA, and a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership. His responsibilities included security support for over 200,000 students, faculty, and staff, as well as over $1 billion in annual research expenditures. He also reorganized a 600-person central IT department, implemented MFA that saved $500,000 annually, transitioned over 500 applications to Microsoft Entra ID in 12 months, and implemented Identity Governance for 1.2 million user accounts.

After relocating to the Denver Metro Area at the end of 2023, he joined Hunter Douglas in March 2024. He led IAM strategy, staffing, software, compliance, and access management across North America and EMEA. In 2025, Keith Brautigam of Penn State transitioned to Radiology Partners, maintaining his focus on IAM Strategy.