Synergent’s mission is to “help credit unions succeed and improve the financial lives of their members.” In our monthly Employee Spotlight series, we feature one of our dedicated staff members to help you get to know the people who are working as an extension of your credit union team.
Few people understand the importance of safeguarding information better than Doug Beaulieu, Senior Information Security Analyst at Synergent. His spotlight is especially fitting, as October is recognized as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). The annual campaign underscores the critical need to protect data and promote safe online practices, something Beaulieu focuses on daily in his role. Now in his third year at Synergent, Beaulieu brings more than two decades of IT experience to his work, with a strong focus on keeping systems and data secure.
“Prior to joining Synergent, I worked in IT for almost 25 years,” Beaulieu explained, reflecting on the path that led him to his current role. “I’ve worked as a systems admin, systems analyst, and network administrator. Systems security was a major area of focus in each of those roles—especially while working in both healthcare and financial services.”
That background prepared Beaulieu to step into a role where every day brings evolving challenges and responsibilities. His work requires both vigilance and flexibility, balancing proactive measures with responding to emerging needs. It’s a rhythm that keeps him engaged and constantly focused on protecting information.
“As an information security analyst, a typical day may include maintaining our security compliance, such as scanning and reviewing vulnerabilities and completing access reviews,” Beaulieu said, “as well as keeping up to date on the latest security standards and threats and assisting in any ongoing security audits and assessments.”
Driving Information Security Strategy
Beaulieu’s position has evolved alongside shifts within the organization. What began as a clear set of responsibilities has expanded into a role that requires even greater collaboration and adaptability. Each change has opened the door for him to strengthen security practices and contribute to the team’s success.
“Since starting at Synergent, there has been some organizational change within my team and department,” Beaulieu noted. “This brought both challenges and opportunities. With strong support from senior leadership, our team has overcome those challenges and focused on keeping our organization and information secure. The role has not changed—it has expanded.”
Beaulieu’s interest in information security grew out of his earlier work securing systems and infrastructure, where he became fascinated by the underlying practices behind keeping data safe. That curiosity continues to motivate him today, and he finds fulfillment in the aspects the role offers, from compliance and training to infrastructure upkeep and audits.
“While working to secure systems and infrastructure, I developed an interest in the deeper processes driving our information security,” Beaulieu reflected. “One of my favorite things about this role is the variety of tasks within it, including vulnerability and patch management, audits and assessments, maintaining and updating policies, and information security training, just to name a few. While the end goal of each is to keep our organization and data secure, having that variety and change of pace keeps things interesting.”
Protecting Member Data and Credit Union Trust
Beaulieu’s day-to-day responsibilities connect directly to a larger purpose: protecting sensitive information and ensuring confidence in secure systems. His focus on security translates into stability, which directly supports the work credit unions do for their members. By maintaining high standards and anticipating potential risks, he helps create an environment where credit unions can operate with confidence.
“The biggest impact of my role to our credit unions is in the form of protecting member data,” Beaulieu emphasized. “This creates operational stability and trust for our credit union partners. Due diligence and maintaining security compliance standards and practices play a big part in protecting this information.”
The constant evolution of security standards means there is always more to learn. Beaulieu has embraced that challenge, gaining skills and perspectives that have deepened both his technical expertise and his understanding of working alongside other teams.
“A big area of focus and growth has been understanding the company’s specific threat landscape and how our security policies and technologies are tailored to mitigate those risks,” Beaulieu shared. “I’ve become more proficient with tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platforms and vulnerability scanners, and I’ve learned how to interpret and respond to alerts in a way that balances security with business continuity. Partnering with other teams has helped me appreciate the importance of communication and coordination in maintaining a strong security posture. Additionally, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of our incident response procedures.”
That learning has already been put into practice through several key initiatives that have advanced security across the organization. Even early in his tenure, Beaulieu was trusted to take part in projects with a direct impact on how risks are identified and addressed. These efforts strengthened awareness of potential risks and led to more effective ways of managing and resolving vulnerabilities.
“While still relatively new in my role, I had the opportunity to contribute to several projects,” Beaulieu recalled. “One of the most notable was helping to implement a vulnerability scanning solution. This has already improved our visibility into potential threats, and we are working to improve our remediation process. I’m excited about some projects our team has planned for 2026, including access management improvements, streamlining our audit processes with an audit management platform, and log collection and log management, among others.”
Teamwork, Security, and Personal Passions
Of all his responsibilities, Beaulieu values most the chance to work alongside colleagues from across the organization—an experience both rewarding and meaningful.
“The highlight of my career here has been working with a talented team to deliver impactful security initiatives,” Beaulieu reflected, emphasizing the fulfillment he finds in teamwork. “Collaborating across departments to solve complex challenges and strengthen our overall security posture has been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally.”
After reflecting on his career, Beaulieu also shared how he spends his time outside the office.
While his career is driven by protecting data, his personal time is focused on family, fitness, and fresh air. Those passions keep him grounded, whether he’s at home or on the trails.
“I’m an avid runner. I love trail running and running in long-distance events. I also really enjoy alpine touring and backcountry skiing in the winter,” Beaulieu shared. “But above all, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our two sons, who are twins.”
