Ryan Bradbury Story of Building SEVN-X: The Human Side of Cybersecurity
- .yawA
- Nov 16
- 4 min read
Some entrepreneurs begin with a business plan. Others begin after decades of experience. But for Ryan Bradbury, the path to entrepreneurship began with something simple yet powerful: relationships. The kind built in classrooms, nurtured through mentorship, strengthened through shared expertise, and ultimately transformed into a company defined by trust, talent, and teamwork.
Today, Ryan is the co-founder of SEVN-X, a rapidly growing cybersecurity firm known not only for its technical excellence but also for the type of people-driven culture that is impossible to fake. But his journey here started long before SEVN-X was born.
This is the story behind the team, the mission, and the mindset reshaping how cybersecurity is delivered.
A Career Sparked by Mentorship
Ryan’s career began earlier than most. Straight out of college, he secured a role in cybersecurity consulting, a competitive and demanding path that often takes years to break into. But he credits one person with helping open the door: his college advisor. Her encouragement to build strong relationships led Ryan to an internship in offensive security, the kind of hands-on experience that changes the trajectory of a young professional’s career.
That internship didn’t just teach him technical skills. It introduced him to a group of colleagues who were extraordinarily knowledgeable, passionate about their craft, and generous with their time.
Many of those early mentors and teammates would later become part of the core of SEVN-X.
“If it wasn’t for her help getting that internship, I don’t know if SEVN-X or entrepreneurship would have been in the cards.”
Over time, people in Ryan’s circle began taking their own leap into entrepreneurship. Watching them sparked something in him: the idea that maybe he could build something of his own too.
The Evolution of a Founder: “If Not Now, When?”
The world was shutting down. COVID was changing life overnight. Ryan and his wife were expecting their first child. For many, it was a moment of uncertainty.
For Ryan, it was clarity.
“When the world was shutting down due to Covid in 2020, I remember thinking, ‘If not now, when?’”
Together with partner Matt Barnett, he decided to take the leap. SEVN-X began as many great companies do: two guys, two laptops, and a vision.
Today, just five years later:
The team has grown to 15 full-time employees
The client base includes over 250 organizations
The firm has completed 400+ cybersecurity projects
And these aren’t small tasks. SEVN-X handles some of the most intense, high-stakes work in the industry including:
Ransomware recovery
Dark web negotiations
Ethical hacking
Network and physical penetration testing
Building end-to-end cybersecurity programs
Yet the technical work, impressive as it is, is only half the story.
A Culture Rooted in People First
If you ask Ryan about his proudest moment as an entrepreneur, he won’t point to revenue, milestones, or high-profile clients. He’ll point to his team.
“I’m proud of the fact that we’ve built such a talented team… but more so that everyone trusted us enough to come aboard and stick around.”
In an industry often associated with high pressure and burnout, culture is everything and Ryan made one value central from the beginning: Work with people you genuinely like being around.
That philosophy shows up everywhere, in how the team collaborates, in the clients they choose, and in the way SEVN-X approaches every project. Customers aren’t treated like ticket numbers. They’re partners. Trusted relationships matter. This “human-first cybersecurity” mindset is part of what sets SEVN-X apart.
The Influencers Who Paved the Way
Ryan’s entrepreneurial spark wasn’t born in isolation. Two local entrepreneurs played a major role in lighting the path: Brett Hodges (CyberBlack) and Zac Davis (DomainGuard). Learning from their experiences, their wins, failures, and day-to-day reality, helped Ryan and Matt imagine what building SEVN-X could become. Their encouragement was invaluable.
Where Human Skill Meets Rapidly Advancing AI
Cybersecurity is evolving fast and AI is both accelerating progress and increasing risk. On the defense side, AI is now embedded into countless tools to detect threats faster and automate responses.
On the offense side, attackers are using AI to:
write advanced malware
automate exploits
create deepfakes
refine social engineering scams
The landscape is changing daily. Yet despite industry-wide automation, Ryan believes strongly that one thing will never change:
“Cybersecurity, just like most industries, ultimately boils down to the people at the controls.”
AI can enhance. AI can accelerate. But AI can’t replace human judgment, intuition, or expertise.
SEVN-X is proof of that.
How to Work With SEVN-X
For businesses seeking expert cybersecurity support, whether proactive or in crisis, SEVN-X makes it easy to get in touch:
Website: www.sevnx.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sevnx/
Email: info@sevnx.com
Phone: 484-989-0911
And for those who love the intersection of tech culture and caffeine, SEVN-X even launched Cyber Coffee, created in partnership with Happy Cat Coffee: www.sevnx.com/shop
A Founder Who Leads With Purpose
Ryan’s story is one of timing, talent, and trust but more than anything, it’s a story rooted in people.
A professor who opened a door. Colleagues who shaped his foundation. Entrepreneurs who inspired him forward. A partner who took the leap with him. A team who believed in the vision. And today, a company built not just on cybersecurity expertise but on genuine connection.What began with two laptops has become a trusted, growing force in the industry thanks to a founder who never forgets where the journey started.
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