I Left My $100K Job to Hack Independently (Here's What Happened)

<p>Unlock your dream job in IT with our proven community:<br><a href="https://itcareerjob.com/">https://itcareerjob.com/</a></p><p>Learn how a solo penetration tester builds a successful security firm without a massive corporate team behind him. See the reality of independent cybersecurity consulting.</p><p>Tyler Ramsbey left the safety of a major penetration testing company to launch his own firm, Kairosec. This conversation breaks down the logistics of operating as a one-person business in an industry dominated by giant agencies. You will see how he manages to compete with multi-million dollar infrastructure companies while working entirely on his own.</p><p>Whether you are an aspiring ethical hacking career seeker or an established security professional, this breakdown offers a clear look at the path to independence. We cover the specific challenges of solo security auditing and what it actually takes to run a solo operation in the high-stakes world of corporate cybersecurity.</p><p>Subscribe for weekly cybersecurity breakdowns, and let me know in the comments if you want to see more interviews with independent security experts.</p><p><b>🖥️ Sites Mentioned in this episode:</b><br>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-ramsbey-86221643/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-ramsbey-86221643/</a><br>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UC_82czjFMgsYMjodhG_4mIw">https://www.youtube.com/@UC_82czjFMgsYMjodhG_4mIw</a><br>Hack Smarter: <a href="https://www.hacksmarter.org/catalog">https://www.hacksmarter.org/catalog</a><br>Kairo Sec: <a href="https://kairos-sec.com/">https://kairos-sec.com/</a></p><p>🔗 Don’t wait—click here to start your tech career journey: <a href="https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/">https://thebeardeditdad.com/itcareeraccelerator/</a></p><p><b>Exclusive Career Resources</b><br>✅ Weekly Insider Tips: <a href="https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b">https://thebeardeditdad.ck.page/55f710292b</a><br>🎧 Listen to The I.T. Career Podcast HERE:<br>➡︎ YT: <a href="https://itdad.info/ytpodcast">https://itdad.info/ytpodcast</a><br>➡︎ Apple: <a href="https://itdad.info/apple">https://itdad.info/apple</a><br>➡︎ Spotify: <a href="https://itdad.info/spotify">https://itdad.info/spotify</a></p><p><b>Timestamps:</b><br>00:00 - Solo Ethical Hacker vs Giant Cybersecurity Agency<br>01:05 - How Tyler Ramsbey Built Cyrosc & Hacksmarter<br>03:13 - Boutique Pentesting Firm vs Cheap Penetration Testing<br>06:32 - Why I Left My W2 Pentesting Job to Go Solo<br>11:22 - Balancing Full-Time Job, Family, and YouTube Content Creation<br>15:01 - How Much Money You Need Saved Before Quitting Your Job<br>19:24 - How to Build Personal Brand Authority in Cybersecurity<br>25:11 - First 24 Hours of a Web App Pentest (Step-by-Step)<br>30:20 - Finding Broken Access Control & Username Enumeration Vulnerabilities<br>33:55 - Network Fundamentals First: CCNA vs Network+ for Hackers<br>39:31 - How I Landed My First $10,000 Pentesting Client<br>43:08 - How to Transition From Help Desk to Penetration Tester<br>46:10 - Hacksmarter Training Platform & Hands-On Cyber Labs<br>51:02 - Solo Business Model: Work Less & Make More in Cyber</p><p><i>Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.</i><br>#pentesting #hacking #cybersecurity</p>