Cracking the Code: Cyber Defender Tony Wittock Speaks on Securing Black Community, Others
Photo courtesy of Tony Wittock
BY MADISON JOLLEY | For AC JosepH Media
MOUNT LAUREL — In an era where digital threats loom larger than ever, cybersecurity is no longer a niche field — it’s a necessity.
For Tony Wittock, the founder of Mount Laurel-based Cyber Security Consulting Ops and one of the few Black cybersecurity professionals in South Jersey, the field is not just about firewalls and passwords but about protection, empowerment, and awareness.
Wittock’s journey into cybersecurity didn’t begin in a lab or tech conference, but in the quiet curiosity of a young boy in St. Catherine, Jamaica.
“I’ve always had a curiosity,” Wittock told Front Runner New Jersey.com.. “When I was about 10, I was just fascinated with how radios worked, how sound traveled through wires.”
That early interest in electronics laid the foundation for a career driven by a deep desire to understand and protect.
After immigrating to the United States, Wittock worked for telecommunications giants like Comcast and Cisco. Those roles exposed him to the behind-the-scenes mechanics of data transmission and gave him firsthand experience with the vulnerabilities that exist in digital systems.
It was there where he saw a gap, not just in technology, but in education and preparedness, particularly for small businesses and minority-owned enterprises. In 2018, he founded his firm to address those needs.
“I want to protect businesses and individuals from being stolen from, plain and simple,” he said.
Wittock added that he also finds joy in the work and just figuring things out.
“Cybersecurity is like a puzzle,” he explained. “There’s always more going on than what the eye can see. You have to find the entry point, understand the attack. It’s like solving a mystery every time.”
For him, every breach is a challenge: Where did the bad actor come in? What did they want? How can it be prevented in the future?
Wittock is quick to point out that the biggest threat in cybersecurity isn’t always a hacker but human behavior.
“Cybersecurity is more important now than ever before,” he said. “Big companies and small businesses alike get breached, not because they don’t have protections but because they don’t understand what to do. You can have the best antivirus in the world, but if someone sends you a malicious link and you click it, you’ve just opened the door.”
This psychological component, often called “social engineering,” is what makes awareness so critical.
“Hackers study you,” Wittock said. “They do recon. They learn what you like, where you go, what you click on — and they use that to trick you.”
For Black communities and other people of color, Wittock sees a deeper challenge: the myth of the “one-size-fits-all” solution.
“Too often, we latch onto one product and think we’re safe, like antivirus software from our Internet provider. But no single solution can protect you from everything,” Wittock said. “Because of that mindset, our communities can be more vulnerable.”
Wittock urges individuals and small business owners to take a more layered, educated approach to cybersecurity. He offers a few simple yet powerful tips:
1. Cybersecurity awareness is key. “Education is your strongest defense. There’s no single product that will make you safe — staying informed is the real protection.”
2. Segment your networks. “Smart devices — like TVs, doorbells, baby monitors — should not be on the same network as your work devices. Those gadgets often don’t get updated regularly, making them a weak spot for attackers.”
3. Get involved in technology early. Wittock stressed that youth, especially from minority backgrounds, should be learning about tech trends now.
“We’re often late to the game,” Wittock said. “The next big thing is AI [artificial intelligence], and it’s already changing everything.”
“Cybersecurity is more important now than ever before. Big companies and small businesses alike get breached, not because they don’t have protections but because they don’t understand what to do. You can have the best antivirus in the world, but if someone sends you a malicious link and you click it, you’ve just opened the door.”
— Tony Wittock
Indeed, AI is transforming cybersecurity at breakneck speed. Wittock notes that AI tools are being used to automate threat detection, identify intrusion patterns, and even predict attacks.
“AI can make decisions in seconds that would take us hours,” Wittock said. “But it also means the threats are more sophisticated. We need to be working with AI, not getting left behind by it.”
As AI and digital systems continue to evolve, Wittock hopes more people of color will consider cybersecurity as a career, not just because the industry needs diverse voices, but because communities deserve advocates who understand their unique needs.
“There have been times when we were trying to find people from our community to fill cybersecurity roles, and it was difficult,” he said. “We need more representation in this Field, not just to fill seats, but to bring real, culturally relevant solutions.”
Through Cyber Security Consulting Ops, Wittock continues to consult with businesses, nonprofits, and schools, aiming to build a safer digital environment one network at a time.
“It’s not just about security,” he said. “It’s about education. It’s about empowering people to take control of their digital lives.”
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