The Business of Security


Chapter 1: Introduction

An introduction to the business of security.

Introducing the Business of Security

The first article out of the gate, framing the Business of Security.

25 January 2023 · 4 min read · Read now


Chapter 2: Personal Preparations

Actions you can take to prepare yourself for setting up your own company as an independent security professional.

Developing the Mindset

How to develop the mindset necessary to be a successful independent security professional.

01 February 2023 · 2 min read · Read now

Personal Qualities

What personal qualities are essential for you to be a successful independent security professional, and how can you develop these qualities.

08 February 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Benefits of Going Independent

What are the professional and personal benefits of setting up your own company as an independent security professional?

15 February 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Reasons for Not Going Independent

Seven reasons why you shouldn't go independent, along with a few other factors that should influence your decision-making process.

22 February 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Size Matters (just not how you think it does)

How to avoid some of the problems that come with over inflating the grandeur of your business and how you can leverage the many strengths of being ‘small’.

01 March 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Establishing a Professional Presence

How to establish a minimum viable business at the start that provides a professional presence but doesn't distract you from more important work.

09 March 2023 · 3 min read · Read now

Getting From There to Here

How do you get from where you are now to being a successful independent security professional? What are the prerequisites, and what can you do right now to set yourself up for eventual success?

15 March 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Engineering Experience

How you can build your experience while in a security consulting company to set yourself up for success as an independent security professional.

22 March 2023 · 8 min read · Read now

Establishing Your Reputation

How you can establish a positive reputation while in a security consulting company to set yourself up for success as an independent security professional.

29 March 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Building a Professional Network

Defining the characteristics of a good professional network, and how to design your network to ensure it's usable and easy to maintain.

05 April 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Becoming an Intrapreneur

Learn how to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset within your current organisation to develop the skills and experience necessary to succeed as an independent security professional.

12 April 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Seeing (and Feeling) the Tipping Point

How to know when you're ready to leave your current company and establish your own independent consulting practice.

19 April 2023 · 3 min read · Read now

Don’t Burn Bridges

How to avoid some of the ethical dilemmas inherent with leaving your current organisation and setting up your own operation as an independent security professional.

26 April 2023 · 5 min read · Read now


Chapter 3: Designing Your Business

How to design your business as an independent security professional.

Designing Your Business

The key factors to consider as you start the process of designing your business as an independent security professional.

03 May 2023 · 3 min read · Read now

Defining Your Niche

The importance of specialising rather than generalising, how to effectively identify your niche, and ways to navigate potential pitfalls.

10 May 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Three Key Principles of Business Design

Applying the principles of scalability, diversification and cost management to build a thriving and resilient business.

17 May 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

How to Build Leverage

Techniques you can apply as an independent security professional to build leverage in your business and maximise the potential for growth.

24 May 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Building a Strong Value Proposition

An exploration of some of the challenges you'll come across as you work to define your value proposition as an independent security professional.

31 May 2023 · 8 min read · Read now

What problems do you want to solve?

Your capacity to solve meaningful problems for your clients will be key to your success as an independent security professional. How can you identify these problems?

07 June 2023 · 3 min read · Read now

Defining Success On Your Terms

What does success mean to you as an independent security professional?

14 June 2023 · 3 min read · Read now

Addressing the Issue of Availability

How to approach the issue of availability as you design your business as an independent security professional.

21 June 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Designing for Simplicity

Reducing complexity to increase your effectiveness.

28 June 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Designing for Differentiation

How to differentiate yourself as an independent security professional by focusing on style and substance.

05 July 2023 · 3 min read · Read now


Chapter 4: Designing Services

Services strategies for your business as an independent security professional.

An Introduction to Services

A short definition of services, why clients might need services, and a quick introduction to some of the limitations of services.

12 July 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Differentiating Services

Approaches you can apply to differentiate your services as you develop your business as an independent security professional.

19 July 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Crafting the 'Ideal' Service

Different factors to consider as you go about designing services as an independent security professional.

26 July 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

An Introduction to Consulting as a Service

What is security consulting, and do clients actually require security consulting services?

02 August 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Advantages and Disadvantages of Consulting as a Service

This article explores a broad range advantages and disadvantages of consulting as a service, and considers whether you should include consulting as part of your portfolio of services.

09 August 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Integrating Consulting Services

How to integrate consulting into your portfolio of services and products as an independent security professional.

16 August 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

An Introduction to Retained Services

Why clients would use retained services, and the pros and cons of retainers for independent security professionals.

23 August 2023 · 7 min read · Read now

Structuring Retainer Agreements

Different approaches to structuring retainer agreements, and how you can adapt these approach to your own business as an independent security professional.

30 August 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

An Introduction to Training Services

Exposing the advantages and disadvantages of offering training, and determining whether you should offer training as part of your portfolio of services.

06 September 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Structuring Your Training Services

Different approaches you can take when structuring your training services, focusing on selling services to organisations.

13 September 2023 · 7 min read · Read now

Offering Training to Individuals

Different approaches to designing and delivering training for individuals.

20 September 2023 · 8 min read · Read now

Integrating Training Services

Different approaches to integrating your training services to maximise potential for growth. .

27 September 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

An Introduction to Response Services

The advantages and disadvantages of offering response services as part of your blend of products and services.

04 October 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Different Approaches to Response Services

The benefits of pre-emptive deployment, how to determine when to deploy, and how to price response services.

11 October 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Security Analysis Services

Different approaches to delivering security analysis services, and the advantages and disadvantages of delivering analysis as a service or as a product.

18 October 2023 · 4 min read · Read now

Subcontracting Services

Exploring some of the benefits and risks associated with using subcontractors as an independent security professional.

25 October 2023 · 4 min read · Read now


Chapter 5: Designing Products

Product strategies for your business as an independent security professional.

An Introduction to Products

The advantages of products in relation to services.

01 November 2023 · 5 min read · Read now

Books as a Product (Part 1)

Different aspects to consider if you're considering writing and publishing books as an independent security professional.

08 November 2023 · 7 min read · Read now

Books as a Product (Part 2)

Additional aspects to consider if you're considering writing and publishing books as an independent security professional.

15 November 2023 · 10 min read · Read now

Templates as a Product

Different aspects to consider if you're thinking about selling templates as an independent security professional.

23 November 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

An Introduction to Subscription Products

Exploring the benefits of subscription products, and some high-level considerations for pricing and promotion.

29 November 2023 · 6 min read · Read now

Subscription Articles a Product

Exploring the benefits of articles as a subscription product, including revenue potential and possible challenges.

06 December 2023 · 8 min read · Read now

Software as a Product

Factors to consider if you're thinking of developing a software application as part of your portfolio of products and services as an independent security professional.

13 December 2023 · 8 min read · Read now

Packaged Services

The benefits of developing packaged services as an independent security professional, and how you can price and distribute your products.

20 December 2023 · 9 min read · Read now

Online Training Products

Developing training as a product for corporate and individual market segments.

27 December 2023 · 7 min read · Read now

Product Strategies

Several product strategies that you might find useful as you go about integrating products into your own business.

10 January 2024 · 3 min read · Read now


Chapter 6: Setting Up Your Business

Product strategies for your business as an independent security professional.

Deciding on a Company Name

How to choose a company name you can live with.

27 December 2024 · 2 min read · Read now

Purchasing a Domain Name

How to select and buy a domain name for your new company.

03 January 2025 · 1 min read · Read now

Setting Up Email

How to set up an email service for your new company.

10 January 2025 · 1 min read · Read now

Setting Up Social Media Accounts

How to set up social media accounts for your new company.

17 January 2025 · 1 min read · Read now