At Huntress, we often say we’re a team of "ethical badasses." But what does that actually mean? It means we don’t just build software; we take the fight to the hackers because we know exactly what’s at stake.
In this edition of our Employee Spotlight series, I sat down with Cody Browning, Huntress Reseller Sales Manager for the East. Cody’s journey into cybersecurity is a unique blend of high-stakes protection, partnerships, and, interestingly enough, commercial beekeeping.
What’s your role here at Huntress?
Cody: I’m the Reseller Sales Manager for the East. I focus on empowering our partners to protect their clients by providing enterprise-grade security that actually fits their budgets and technical needs.
Everyone has a "why." Who do you know that’s been targeted by hackers, and how did that impact your path?
Cody: If you’ve ever seen the movie The Beekeeper, my life and career trajectory actually mirror that story quite a bit. Well, minus the non-stop fighting. Back in 2015, I was moonlighting as a commercial beekeeper. I was literally at the apiary pouring honey when I got a call from my father that changed everything.
My 90-year-old grandmother had fallen victim to a vishing [voice phishing] scam. A hacker called her, claiming to be her “oldest grandson.” When she said my name—"Cody?"—the attacker jumped on it. They told her I was in a New York jail after a wedding and needed $10,000 wired for bail.
She actually drove to Western Union to send the money. But we were incredibly lucky. The desk clerk realized it was a scam and called my father before the transfer went through.
That moment was a turning point for me. It’s the reason I joined this industry and why I’m so passionate about protecting our partners and their clients from the "bad guys" every single day.
What have you learned since joining Huntress? How do you view that incident—and the digital world—differently now?
Cody: I’ve been in cybersecurity for a decade, but joining Huntress has really shifted my perspective on what "protection" looks like. I’ve learned that unmanaged security simply isn't enough anymore.
At Huntress, I’ve seen the power of a human-led, AI-Centric SOC. It’s not just about a dashboard. It’s about the real outcomes we provide, like empowering a company's security footprint while mitigating the "blast radius" if threat actors attempt a breach.
I often tell my clients that we’re the "Robin Hood of cybersecurity." We give everyone, what we call “the 99%”, affordable access to real expertise. We give under-resourced IT teams the peace of mind they deserve, and that’s what keeps me going.
Breaking down the terms
Blast radius: In cybersecurity, this refers to the potential damage a single breach can cause. If one computer is hacked, the "blast radius" refers to the extent to which the attacker can spread through the rest of the network. Our goal is to shrink that radius to zero.
SOC (Security Operations Center): Think of this as the "mission control" for security. While many companies rely solely on automated software, Huntress has a 24/7, AI-Centric SOC staffed by human experts who "hunt" for the subtle signs of a hacker that software might miss.
Vishing: Short for "voice phishing," vishing is a form of social engineering where attackers use phone calls to trick victims into giving up money or sensitive information. In Cody's grandmother's case, the attackers used impersonation to create a sense of urgency and emotional distress.
The Huntress takeaway
Cody’s story reminds us that cybersecurity isn't about code—it's about real people. Whether it’s protecting a grandmother from a scam or a small business from ransomware, we "Send It" every day to ensure that the 99% have a fighting chance.
You can also check out Cody’s story live on a previously recorded podcast with N2KCyberwire.
Are you ready to join a team of mission-driven experts like Cody? Check out our Careers page to learn more.
