Artie Wilkowsky is the director of information assurance strategy for First Data. In his current role, Mr. Wilkowsky is responsible for formulating and executing strategy on behalf of First Data’s information security organization. He develops strategic roadmaps, which illustrate the value of First Data’s new  information security capabilities.  He leads global organizational change efforts designed to mature First Data’s information security organization, including First Data’s ISO 27001 certification initiative. He also facilitates First Data’s information security strategy forum, which fosters the exchange of ideas and formulates security strategies to address trends and opportunities in the financial services industry.

Mr. Wilkowsky was previously responsible for the security of all of First Data’s federal, state, and local government systems, including the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), which is part of the nation’s criticial infrastructure and processes over $2 trillion in tax payments annually. He has extensive experience in security governance, security operations and risk management.

Mr. Wilkowsky has been an information security professional for more than 15 years. Before joining First Data, he held numerous leadership, project management, and consulting roles within the IT and information security fields. He was the director of delivery for CIBER’s Global Security Practice, where he directed operations and oversaw the delivery of all security consulting engagements. Prior to that, Mr. Wilkowsky served as manager of CIBER’s assessment services, where he developed CIBER’s security assessment offering, serving as the lead assessment engineer and overseeing manager for all internal and external project efforts. Mr. Wilkowsky also served as manager, information assurance technology for Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems.

Mr. Wilkowsky holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — IT from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Regis University. His certifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC). He also recently earned his ISO 27001 Lead Implementer certification. He was formerly a member of the Electronic Transaction Association’s Data Security Task Force.