The witness, who can only be identified as RH, asked the head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption to make an order on Tuesday preventing the media from revealing his identity because he was worried about his reputation.

He told the inquiry that when people "search [his] name" online, "ICAC investigation" appears.

The man is giving evidence in Operation Misto, an inquiry into allegations that former IT manager Brett Roberts defrauded three universities in NSW of more than $110,000.

RH told Commissioner Megan Latham he had "literally helped hundreds of people of my time" and his company was "involved with some charities."

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Anthony McGrath, SC, said he did not have a view on the appropriateness of RH's identity being suppressed.

Commissioner Latham said that the normal practice was to suppress a person's identity only where their security might be at risk.

"I know this is small comfort to people who appear before the commission as witnesses," Commissioner Latham said.

"We have made it clear that we don't have any reason to think you've engaged in any wrongdoing; however, I appreciate that that may not be the perception of others in the business community.

"In view of the fact that you do have connections with charitable organisations it is perhaps a reasonable request."

The suppression order is likely to viewed with interest by barristers who appear regularly at the commission.

Many witnesses who give evidence at the ICAC are not implicated in alleged corruption and would likely wish to have a similar order made to avoid embarrassment.