Passive Income Ideas For Penetration Testers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a penetration tester in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a penetration tester today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a penetration tester.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way for you as a penetration tester to share your expertise and stories, which could attract an audience interested in cybersecurity. You could discuss real-world scenarios, latest industry trends, or tips and tricks, thereby establishing yourself as an authority in the field. This venture doesn't require a lot of money to start; you basically need a good microphone, headphones, and a platform to host your episodes.
By creating engaging and informative content, you could build a loyal listener base. Over time, you might attract sponsors or advertisers who are interested in reaching your audience, providing you with a stream of passive income. Additionally, the podcast could open doors for other opportunities like speaking engagements or consulting gigs.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
2. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a penetration tester, you could supplement your income by creating and selling online courses that teach others about cybersecurity and ethical hacking. You already have specialized knowledge that many people are eager to learn, making it a valuable commodity. Plus, the e-learning market is expected to grow significantly, potentially reaching over $645 billion in the next few years.
You could create courses that cover everything from basic penetration testing techniques to advanced strategies, appealing to a wide range of learners. By choosing the right online learning platform and marketing your course effectively, you could turn your expertise into a steady stream of passive income. This allows you to continue doing what you love while also building a financial safety net.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
3. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a penetration tester, you could consider developing a mobile app to supplement your income and start earning passive revenue. Your expertise in security could be invaluable in creating apps focused on cybersecurity, secure communication, or even educational tools to teach others about safeguarding their digital presence.
You could design the app yourself if you have coding skills, or partner with a developer to bring your vision to life. Once your app is up and running, it requires minimal ongoing maintenance, and you could make money through in-app purchases, premium features, or ads. By leveraging your unique knowledge and skills, you have the potential to create an app that not only provides value to users but also generates a steady income stream for you.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
4. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a great way for a penetration tester to supplement income. You could create videos that explain complex security concepts in an easy-to-understand manner, demonstrate real-world penetration testing techniques, or provide reviews of cybersecurity tools. By sharing your expertise, you might attract a wide audience and earn money through ads, sponsorships, and even selling merchandise like branded ethical hacking gear.
While it takes consistent effort to create high-quality content and grow your subscriber base, the potential rewards are significant. You could turn your daily experiences and professional knowledge into engaging content that not only benefits others but also builds your personal brand. Besides, you get the chance to connect with like-minded individuals and could even use this platform for networking opportunities within the cybersecurity community.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
5. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a penetration tester, starting a niche website could be a great way to supplement your income and share your expertise. By focusing on a specialized topic within cybersecurity, you could build a loyal audience who values your unique insights. This could involve creating content like tutorials, guides, and reviews of security tools, which many in the field would find immensely useful.
Once your site gains traction, you could monetize it through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or even selling your own digital products like eBooks or online courses. With dedication to research, content creation, and SEO, your niche website could not only generate passive income but also establish you as a thought leader in the cybersecurity community. This venture could be both financially rewarding and professionally fulfilling.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
6. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a penetration tester, you could explore launching an AI-based business solution to complement your expertise in cybersecurity. Leveraging artificial intelligence, you could develop tools that automate vulnerability assessments or threat detection, providing companies with a more efficient way to secure their networks. This type of AI solution could save businesses time and resources while enhancing their security posture.
Moreover, integrating AI into your business operations could offer additional services like predictive analytics to anticipate security threats before they occur. Given the rapid growth in demand for AI solutions, you could find ample opportunities to market these tools to a wide range of businesses looking to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. With user-friendly AI platforms and support readily available, even those new to AI can get started with minimal hassle.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
7. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a penetration tester, you could leverage your technical skills to create a lead generation tool that helps businesses capture potential customer leads. This involves developing a software application or platform that automates the process of identifying and gathering valuable customer data, such as email addresses and phone numbers, from various digital touchpoints like websites and social media.
With the high demand for efficient lead generation solutions, your tool could simplify the customer acquisition process for businesses, allowing them to focus more on converting leads into sales. This side project not only has the potential to generate passive income but also lets you tap into your tech expertise in a new, entrepreneurial way.
By understanding the intricacies of data collection and automation, you could build a tool that stands out in the market, making it easier for businesses to grow their customer base. Thus, a lead generation tool could be a lucrative opportunity for you to supplement your income and expand your skill set.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
8. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a penetration tester, you could leverage your skills in identifying security issues to develop and sell WordPress plugins that address these vulnerabilities. Many websites rely on plugins to enhance functionality, but security is often overlooked, presenting an opportunity for you to create high-demand security solutions. By focusing on practical problems like improving login security or safeguarding user data, you could produce plugins that offer significant value.
You could sell your plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon, your own blog, or through a dedicated website, creating a steady stream of passive income. Each sale adds to your income while your plugins help make the web a safer place. This business not only allows you to supplement your income but also to set yourself apart by offering real-world solutions using your expertise in cybersecurity.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
9. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a penetration tester, starting an affiliate marketing business could be a smart way to earn passive income. With your knowledge of various cybersecurity tools and software, you could promote related products and services to your professional network, earning a commission for each sale made through your affiliate links. This side hustle could align seamlessly with your current expertise, as you already understand what products and services are valuable and trustworthy in the cybersecurity industry.
To begin, you could focus on identifying companies or brands offering products that you believe in and use yourself. For instance, you might choose to partner with an eCommerce store that sells security software or hardware, or a manufacturer producing innovative tools that you find beneficial for penetration testing. By sharing your honest opinions and recommendations, you not only supplement your income but also provide value to your audience by helping them make informed choices.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
10. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As a penetration tester, you could leverage your technical skills to create an email marketing tool that stands out in the rapidly growing market, expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028. Given your familiarity with cybersecurity, you could focus on developing a tool with enhanced security features, appealing to clients who prioritize data protection. This unique angle could help your tool gain traction by addressing a significant concern in digital marketing.
Additionally, your background allows you to understand and identify technical needs that other developers might overlook, giving you a competitive edge. By automating email campaigns and providing advanced security, you could attract startups and other businesses looking for reliable marketing solutions. This initial investment in domain and hosting could lead to a steady stream of passive income through subscription fees, making it a smart side hustle for anyone in your profession.
How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
11. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a penetration tester, starting a social media automation business could be a smart move to supplement your income. This business involves creating tools and services that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data, which means you'd be leveraging your technical skills to help clients manage their social media presence more effectively. Clients like small businesses and influencers would pay you to save them time and boost their online engagement.
There's a growing demand for social media automation as more businesses realize the importance of consistent social media interaction. Your background in penetration testing gives you a unique edge in developing or integrating secure software solutions, a crucial aspect given the rising concerns around data privacy and cybersecurity. By staying updated on social media trends and building solid relationships with your clients, you could tailor your services to meet their specific needs, making this both a profitable and personally rewarding endeavor.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
12. Make passive income with an online survey tool ($304K/month)
As a penetration tester, starting an online survey tool could be a smart way to supplement your income and make extra money. With your technical skills, you could easily develop a secure platform for businesses to gather customer feedback. Your expertise in identifying vulnerabilities means you would create a highly secure survey tool, which could be a major selling point to companies concerned about data privacy.
The demand for data collection is growing, and businesses are always looking for cost-effective ways to understand their customers better. By offering features like a survey builder, data collection tools, and reporting systems, you could tap into this need and generate a steady stream of passive income. Plus, as you develop and market the tool, you would have the flexibility to work on it alongside your main job as a penetration tester, making it a feasible side hustle.
Online survey tools like Typeform have shown significant success, with impressive revenue growth, indicating a strong market potential. By leveraging your background in cybersecurity, you could stand out in this growing industry, providing a reliable service that businesses can trust.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
13. Make passive income with a cold email service business ($170K/month)
Starting a cold email service business could be a great side hustle for a penetration tester. Your analytical skills and attention to detail would come in handy when researching target audiences and crafting compelling email campaigns. Plus, your familiarity with different software tools could make the technical side of things like tracking open rates and conversions more seamless.
You could begin by offering your services to small businesses that need help with lead generation, leveraging your ability to think strategically and engage through words. As you build a portfolio of success stories, you'll be in a good position to attract larger clients. By combining your technical know-how with marketing skills, a cold email service business could provide you with a steady stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
