🔒 How He Built a Six-Figure Cybersecurity Business from Scratch

My name is Alex, and I’m the founder of a cybersecurity consultancy specializing in helping small and mid-sized businesses protect their digital assets. With over a decade of experience in the cybersecurity field, I started this company to bridge the gap between enterprise-level security solutions and the needs of smaller businesses that often struggle with cyber threats. We provide services such as risk assessments, penetration testing, compliance support, and cybersecurity training.

Our mission is to make cybersecurity accessible and understandable for businesses that may not have dedicated security teams. Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and many businesses don’t realize how vulnerable they are until it’s too late. By working closely with our clients, we ensure they have strong security measures in place without breaking the bank.

My inspiration came from seeing how often small businesses were targeted by cybercriminals and how unprepared they were. Early in my career, I worked for a large financial institution where cybersecurity was a top priority, but I noticed that smaller organizations didn’t have the same level of protection. Many assumed that hackers only went after big companies, which simply isn’t true—smaller businesses are often easier targets.

I wanted to create a service that demystifies cybersecurity and makes it manageable for businesses of all sizes. I also love the challenge of outsmarting cybercriminals and finding vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Cybersecurity is not just about defense—it’s about staying one step ahead, and that’s what keeps me passionate about this field.

Success is keeping our clients safe. If a client tells me that they feel more confident about their security after working with us, that’s a win. I measure success by the number of breaches we help prevent, the level of security awareness we instill in organizations, and the trust we build with our clients.

In cybersecurity, credibility and trust matter more than anything. If clients trust us to handle their security, they will refer others, and that’s how we’ve grown. Seeing businesses become more resilient against cyber threats because of our work is the most rewarding part of this job.

If I were to start again, I would focus more on automation and scalable solutions from the beginning. When I first launched SecureNet Consulting, much of our work was manual, which limited how many clients we could take on. Over time, I realized the importance of leveraging automation tools for tasks like vulnerability scanning and incident response to make our services more efficient.

I’d also invest more in content marketing early on. Educating potential clients about cybersecurity risks through blog posts, webinars, and social media has been a game-changer for attracting business. If I had started that earlier, we might have grown even faster.

Start by building your reputation before worrying about scaling up. In cybersecurity, trust is everything, so focus on delivering top-notch service and building strong relationships with your first clients. Word-of-mouth referrals are incredibly powerful in this field.

Also, don’t try to do everything yourself. Cybersecurity is broad, and you can’t be an expert in everything. Find your niche—whether it’s compliance, penetration testing, or security awareness training—and become the go-to expert in that area. Networking with other professionals is also key because partnerships can open a lot of doors.

Like most consulting businesses, income can vary based on the number of clients and contracts. In the first year, I was making around $80,000, but as the business grew, we started landing larger contracts, and now we’re bringing in multiple six figures annually. Some months are better than others, especially if we land government or enterprise contracts, which can be quite lucrative.

If you’re good at what you do and build strong client relationships, the financial rewards will follow.