Former Merck Executive Al Lowenstein Named CTO at ‘Secure Now!’

On Apr 17, 2018

Information technology veteran Al Lowenstein has been named chief technology officer for Secure Now! (SN), a leader in the protection of sensitive data providing comprehensive security and compliance solutions for healthcare professionals as well as small and medium-sized businesses. 

In his new position, Lowenstein will lead technology development for the suite of security products and services offered by SN’s HIPAA Secure Now! (HSN), to thwart cyberattacks against medical practices, and Breach Secure Now! (BSN), a white label security service for Managed Services Providers (MSPs).  

Because human errors lead to the majority of data breaches, Lowenstein will initially focus on the company’s Employee Vulnerability Assessment (EVA) program to expand its technical capabilities for identifying workers who are most susceptible to cybercriminal activity and for training staffers to defend against those assaults. In addition, he will enhance automation to improve efficiencies in SN products. 

“It’s exciting to join a company where we can develop technology to help businesses become more secure,” said Lowenstein, who spent 29 years at pharmaceutical giant Merck, where he worked across numerous information technology functions in the U.S. as well as in Asia.  In his last position he served as the company’s Director in the Digital Innovation and Outreach organization.

After leaving Merck, Lowenstein shifted his attention to join a startup organization, leveraging two U.S. Patents he was awarded while at Merck for inventing a device to identify and report on vaccine vials distributed to physicians’ offices. He has also held a board seat on the World Economic Forum’s International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery.

“Al combines a broad depth of experience in information technology and health care with the creativity of an inventor and the enterprising mindset of an entrepreneur,” said Art Gross, Secure Now! President and CEO. “That’s a winning combination as we continue to grow the Secure Now! brands.” 

Breaking new ground in finding solutions to workplace cybersecurity issues, Lowenstein plans to develop SN products to consume additional data gaining even greater insight into staff members that could pose the greatest risk for their employers. For instance, if a staff member at a medical practice has been identified as vulnerable or high risk, it could potentially create a data breach hazard because of the rich trove of personal information handled by healthcare workers.  

“Medical practices might want to know that the employee sitting at the reception desk has external challenges,” Lowenstein said. “That person might be better suited to a position elsewhere in the organization with less access to a patient’s private data.”

Lowenstein also noted the benefits of joining a company led by his former Merck colleague, Gross.

“Art’s vision for the company is compelling,” Lowenstein said. “He has a substantial plan for growing the business. He’s an idea man, but his ideas are not pie-in-the-sky. Art believes when you bring the right people together one plus one is much greater than two.  That’s why everyone at Secure Now! wants to work with him and be part of his vision for building an enterprise that makes a real difference in protecting our clients from the dangers of cybercrime.”

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