Meet Justin Riddiough, founder of VisionInit, bringing 20+ years of hands-on software engineering, security expertise, and a pragmatic approach to your technical challenges.

Photo of Justin Riddiough
Justin Riddiough, Founder of VisionInit.

Justin’s journey in technology wasn’t forged in lecture halls; it began with the hands-on curiosity of exploring a Commodore 64, fostering a lifelong drive to understand how systems work – and how to make them better and more secure. This practical, self-taught foundation complements his extensive professional experience.

His career started in the demanding environment of e-commerce operations at DST Systems’ Winchester Datacenter. As an Operations Analyst (2000-2003), he was pivotal in bringing together diverse technical groups to resolve critical production issues. Opting for weekend ‘maintenance’ shifts provided invaluable experience in high-pressure situations, orchestrating complex changes documented in changelogs that would fill a small truck. This early exposure instilled a deep understanding of operational realities, collaboration under pressure, and the importance of robust systems.

Over the subsequent years, Justin honed his expertise across the full software development lifecycle, specializing in:

  • Custom Web Application Development: Building complex solutions with frameworks like Drupal and modern static site generators like Hugo.
  • Cloud Infrastructure & DevOps: Managing and optimizing deployments on platforms like GCP and AWS.
  • Web Security & Ethical Hacking: Proactively identifying and mitigating security risks, validated by bug bounty awards (e.g., Stanford, HackerOne).
  • Data Integration & Management: Architecting systems to handle complex data flows.

His commitment to structured service delivery was recognized through ITIL certification (held in 2023), reflecting an understanding of best practices in IT service management.

Beyond the technical, Justin holds a strong belief in a secure and open internet. This commitment was honored in 2013 when he received the “Order of the Defender of the Internet” medal from Fight for the Future, an accolade recognizing significant contributions to online freedom and security.
Order of the Defender of the Internet Medal
Order of the Defender of the Internet (2013)