André Elder furthers ZS’s commitment to data security

As part of our evolving business responsibility and impact (BRI) strategy, ZS continues to make information security and privacy a top priority. We are committed to safeguarding the people, products, policies, processes and systems that power our business—and to protecting the data that fuels them. To bring this commitment to life, ZS appointed André Elder as our global chief information security officer (CISO).

Where passion changes lives

“Data is the core of all information technology. At ZS, we can’t do our jobs or serve our clients successfully without protecting that data,” André says. “It’s the foundation of everything we do.”

André Elder, Global Chief Information Security Officer

André brings a deep background in cybersecurity and military intelligence. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he began his career in national defense before being recruited to the National Security Agency (NSA). After moving into the private sector, André sought out an opportunity that aligned with his values, leadership style and long-term vision—a search that ultimately led him to ZS.

“In security, autonomy is rare,” André says. “But ZS empowers me to make a case for specific risk categories and build capabilities to mitigate them. That support enables the business to meet its strategic goals.”

Since joining, André has expanded ZS’s data security programs, delivering proof of value to business leaders and championing critical practices like secure code development and risk assessment.

“One of our top responsibilities in cybersecurity is to protect the integrity of the data that sustains and enables human life,” André explains. “When data is lost or misused—even common information—it puts real people at risk. It jeopardizes clients and companies alike.”

Under his leadership, ZS has made significant progress, including:

• Renewing our HITRUST CSF certification, affirming compliance with one of the most rigorous data protection standards in healthcare
• Embedding an application security governance framework (ASGF) into our digital and tech operations
• Expanding data protection programs across teams and geographies

As ZS looks ahead, André is focused on scaling data security across people, processes and technology.

“Data security is a challenge for every organization. We’re producing billions of bytes of data each day—it’s hard to manage, and even harder to find the right experts to interpret it,” he says. “ZS is lucky to have the talent in place. Now, we’re building the tech and refining the processes that make end-to-end risk reduction more repeatable, efficient and scalable.”

This strengthened focus on security enables ZS to build deeper client relationships based on trust—a critical foundation for long-term success.

To stay up to date on how ZS is advancing cybersecurity and information privacy, follow us on social media.

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