that only a fully owned platform can provide. At this stage, the telco chooses to bring the entire platform in-house. Running in this context means much more than having a few analysts on staff. It involves standing up a full security operations center, building or licensing advanced detection engines, enriching telemetry with global threat intelligence, and deploying automation tooling that allows analysts to respond at scale. The telco may develop or customize its own AI models, combining machine learning and generative layers to provide both detection accuracy and explanatory power for customers. Most importantly, it now controls its own roadmap, deciding when and how to add new features without depending on a third-party MSSP.

The costs are significant. A regional SOC can require three to six million dollars annually in staffing, infrastructure, and compliance. But by this point, the telco knows the investment is justified. It has the data to forecast demand, the operational maturity to deliver, and the credibility to attract larger enterprise and government clients who require a provider with full ownership of the platform. Margins rise dramatically, sometimes exceeding fifty percent, because the telco is no longer paying MSSP leasing fees.

An illustrative case is a European telco that began by leasing tenants for industrial manufacturing customers. In the early years, it leaned heavily on its MSSP partner. By year three, it was managing dozens of tenants and had built a 10-person SOC. By year five, it constructed its own in-house platform and SOC facility, retaining the MSSP only for specialized overflow services. Today, its cybersecurity business generates over $100 million annually, anchored by long-term contracts with industrial clients that now dwarf its connectivity revenues.

Balancing Risk with Reward

The crawl-walk-run approach is compelling because it carefully balances risk and opportunity. At the crawl stage, risk is minimized because the telco is essentially testing the waters with little capital outlay. At the walk stage, the telco accepts more responsibility but does so in proportion to demonstrated demand and proven customer loyalty. By the time it chooses to run, the risk of miscalculation is sharply reduced, because decisions are grounded in years of operational experience and customer data.

This staged approach also preserves strategic flexibility. Contracts with MSSPs should be written to allow smooth exit paths, ensuring the telco can migrate tenants or take over operations without disruption. At every step, automation and AI should be emphasized to reduce noise, protect margins, and maintain customer trust. In this way, each phase builds naturally on the one before it, creating a coherent and sustainable trajectory toward cybersecurity leadership.

The Imperative to Try Before You Buy

Perhaps the most important lesson is that telcos cannot afford to commit too early. The allure of building a world-class SOC and platform from the outset may be tempting, but it is also risky. Without proven demand, such investments can quickly turn into stranded assets. The crawl-walk-run model provides telcos with the opportunity to experiment, adapt, and grow into cybersecurity with confidence.

Cybersecurity has become one of the fastest-growing service opportunities in the world, and customers are actively seeking trusted partners who can help them navigate it. For telcos, the question is not whether to enter this space, but how to do so wisely. By starting small, learning deliberately, and scaling responsibly, they can transform cybersecurity from a daunting challenge into a powerful new growth engine.

Final Thoughts

The world of telecommunications is changing. Customers expect more than just connectivity—they expect protection, guidance, and assurance in a digital landscape filled with threats. Telcos are uniquely positioned to deliver on those expectations, but only if they approach the market with a strategy that strikes a balance between ambition and caution.

The crawl-walk-run model offers exactly that path. It begins with small, low-risk steps, progresses through measured expansion, and culminates in full ownership and profitability. Along the way, it allows telcos to build credibility, refine offerings, and align investments with real-world demand.

The journey is neither quick nor simple. But for telcos willing to embrace it, the reward is not only new revenue streams but also long-term differentiation in an increasingly competitive market. Cybersecurity is no longer an optional add-on. Done right, it becomes the defining feature of a modern telecommunications provider.