Help Net Security
Help Net Security is an independent, Croatia-based cybersecurity news and analysis publication founded in 1998, serving security professionals and enterprise decision-makers worldwide through its website, multiple email newsletters, video content, and event coverage, monetized via curated advertising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersKastav, Croatia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Help Net Security does
Help Net Security is an independent cybersecurity news and analysis publication, founded in 1998 and operated by the Croatian limited liability company Astus d.o.o. from Kastav, Croatia. The company produces and distributes editorial content targeting security professionals, CISOs, and other enterprise decision-makers, with a portfolio that includes a flagship website (helpnetsecurity.com), multiple email newsletters (HNS Daily, HNS Weekly, InSecure, breaking-news alerts, a jobs newsletter, and a monthly open-source newsletter), video content hosted via Vimeo, expert-authored articles, whitepaper resources, and on-site coverage of major industry events such as Black Hat, RSAC, and Gartner Security Summit. The underlying technology stack is intentionally lean and privacy-preserving: Matomo Cloud for cookie-free analytics, MailerLite for email newsletter management with double opt-in, and Vimeo for video delivery — consistent with the publication's positioning as an independent, tracker-free media outlet.
The business model is freemium for readers: all news, features, analysis, videos, and newsletter subscriptions are provided free of charge, and revenue is generated solely through carefully curated advertising and sponsored content placed on the website and within newsletters. Help Net Security states it works with 600+ clients over its 25+ year history, ranging from small startups to major information security companies, and explicitly vets promotional content for relevance and credibility. Geographic reach is global, with active coverage of events and contributor networks spanning North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company is privately held, with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or parent-company relationships, and operates with a small team of 1–10 employees led by an Editor-in-Chief, Director of Content, Managing Editor, Senior Staff Writer, and Director of Sales.
Help Net Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Help Net Security
- Legal name
- Astus d.o.o.
- Website
- https://helpnetsecurity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Help Net Security is an independent, Croatia-based cybersecurity news and analysis publication founded in 1998, serving security professionals and enterprise decision-makers worldwide through its website, multiple email newsletters, video content, and event coverage, monetized via curated advertising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Help Net Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kastav
- HQ country
- Croatia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Help Net Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising: Help Net Security generates revenue primarily through advertising on their website and in their newsletters. They work with 600+ clients ranging from small innovative startups to major information security companies. The advertising is carefully curated to only accept promotional messages that would be of interest to subscribers, with content needing to be information security related and provided by a credible company.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free access to all content with optional newsletter subscriptions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Help Net Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Help Net Security is an independent cybersecurity media publication that delivers information security news, expert analysis, threat intelligence, product showcases, event coverage, and downloadable resources to enterprise security professionals and decision-makers. Its content is distributed free of charge via its website (helpnetsecurity.com) and a portfolio of email newsletters, supported by curated advertising and sponsored content from information security vendors.
Product overview
Help Net Security is an independent cybersecurity publication (established 1998) offering a portfolio of content products: daily and weekly newsletters (HNS Daily, Weekly, and InSecure), breaking news alerts, a cybersecurity jobs newsletter, and an open source tools newsletter. The company also produces video content, expert-authored articles, and whitepaper resources. Content is distributed via its website and email newsletters managed through MailerLite, with video hosting via Vimeo. The publication covers cybersecurity news, features, CISO perspectives, product showcases, industry news, reviews, and events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HNS Daily Newsletter
- HNS Weekly Newsletter
- InSecure Newsletter
- Cybersecurity News Alerts
- Cybersecurity Jobs Newsletter
- Open Source Newsletter
- Video Content
- Events Coverage
Companies that use Help Net Security
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Help Net Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Help Net Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Help Net Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dark Reading: Dark Reading is a leading cybersecurity news and analysis publication serving the same CISO and security professional audience as Help Net Security. Both compete for the same advertising dollars and reader attention in the English-language cybersecurity media market.
- SecurityWeek: SecurityWeek is an independent cybersecurity media outlet covering news, analysis, and events aimed at enterprise security professionals. It directly competes with Help Net Security for both readership and cybersecurity vendor advertising budgets.
- Bleeping Computer: Bleeping Computer is a cybersecurity news and technical support site covering vulnerabilities, breaches, and analysis. It overlaps heavily with Help Net Security's daily news and feature coverage targeting security professionals.
- The Hacker News: The Hacker News is a widely read cybersecurity news portal covering breaches, vulnerabilities, and industry developments. It competes with Help Net Security for both security practitioner readership and vendor sponsored content placements.
- CyberScoop: CyberScoop is a cybersecurity news outlet focused on government, policy, and enterprise security stories. It targets a comparable audience of security and risk decision-makers and competes for vendor sponsored content.
- Infosecurity Magazine: Infosecurity Magazine is a cybersecurity publication associated with the Infosecurity event series, covering news, features, and analysis for security professionals. It directly competes with Help Net Security for industry readership and advertising.
- Security Boulevard: Security Boulevard is a cybersecurity community and news site featuring contributed blogs, analysis, and industry coverage. It targets a similar practitioner audience and competes for cybersecurity vendor sponsorship dollars.
Broad incumbents
- CSO Online: CSO Online, published by Foundry (formerly IDG), is a broad security leadership publication covering strategy, risk, and technology for CISOs. As a larger, established incumbent it overlaps with HNS's enterprise decision-maker audience while offering a wider editorial portfolio.
- SC Media / SC Magazine: SC Media is a long-running cybersecurity media brand covering news, product reviews, and analysis for security practitioners. As an established incumbent with broader resources, it overlaps with HNS's editorial coverage and audience.
Emerging players
- KrebsOnSecurity: KrebsOnSecurity is an independent investigative cybersecurity blog focused on cybercrime, breaches, and consumer security. It is a smaller, single-author outlet but addresses the same practitioner/insider audience and competes for security industry mindshare.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Help Net Security social profiles
Digital presenceHelp Net Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Help Net Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Help Net Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Help Net Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Help Net Security
What does Help Net Security do?
Help Net Security is an independent cybersecurity media publication that delivers information security news, expert analysis, threat intelligence, product showcases, event coverage, and downloadable resources to enterprise security professionals and decision-makers. Its content is distributed free of charge via its website (helpnetsecurity.com) and a portfolio of email newsletters, supported by curated advertising and sponsored content from information security vendors.
Is Help Net Security a public or private company?
Help Net Security is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Help Net Security founded?
Help Net Security was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Help Net Security based?
Help Net Security is headquartered in Kastav, Croatia, in the Europe region.
How does Help Net Security make money?
One revenue line is on record: advertising.
Who are Help Net Security's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dark Reading, SecurityWeek, Bleeping Computer, The Hacker News, CyberScoop, Infosecurity Magazine and Security Boulevard. Broad incumbents are CSO Online and SC Media / SC Magazine. KrebsOnSecurity is listed as an emerging player.
Does Help Net Security have an API?
No public API is recorded for Help Net Security.