What began as a teenage curiosity triggered by a hacked email account has grown into one of India’s most compelling cybersecurity success stories. Sunny Vaghela, founder of Tech Defence Lab Solutions, today heads a publicly listed cybersecurity firm valued at nearly ₹600 crore, protecting more than 600 large organisations, including the Adani Group.
Vaghela’s journey from an inquisitive schoolboy in Ahmedabad to a nationally recognised cybersecurity entrepreneur spans ethical hacking experiments, high-profile police investigations, counter-terrorism assistance, and a relentless belief in hands-on learning.
A Curiosity That Changed Everything
Sunny Vaghela’s fascination with hacking began in 1999, when he was studying in Class 9. After falling victim to a phishing attack that locked him out of his email account, he chose curiosity over fear. Instead of filing a complaint, he spent hours researching online to understand how the breach occurred.
“I couldn’t even open my email,” he recalls. “So I started learning how it happened.”
For months, he spent nearly 14 hours a day exploring hacking techniques largely in secret. Though he later pursued Electronics and Communication Engineering at Nirma University due to family expectations, his true passion remained cybersecurity.
A College Seminar That Sparked a Reputation
While at university, Vaghela volunteered to conduct a seminar and boldly chose “Hacking” as his topic despite being mocked for selecting a subject unrelated to his degree. To prove his point, he demonstrated phishing techniques live on stage, collecting login credentials from dozens of students beforehand.
During the seminar, he logged into a volunteer’s email account in real time. The demonstration stunned the audience and earned him a lasting nickname: “Sunny Hacker.”
National Attention Through SMS Spoofing
Seeking new challenges, Vaghela later uncovered a vulnerability that allowed SMS messages to be sent from any phone number without access to the device. What started as experimentation quickly gained national attention when he spoofed a message from a journalist’s number. Rather than reacting angrily, the journalist invited him onto a national television programme the same evening.
The appearance catapulted Vaghela into the public spotlight.
Working With Police and Counter-Terrorism Units
In 2006, Vaghela identified security gaps on Orkut, then India’s most popular social networking platform. Soon after, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch reached out for help. With limited cyber expertise at the time, police relied heavily on Vaghela’s skills.
Over the next two years, he assisted in solving more than 100 cybercrime cases and played a key role in establishing Ahmedabad’s Cyber Cell now regarded as one of the country’s most effective.
His most intense work followed the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Vaghela helped trace digital footprints left by terrorists using unsecured Wi-Fi networks and VOIP communication channels, providing intelligence that supported ongoing investigations.
Proving Himself at Home
Despite national recognition, Vaghela faced skepticism at home. His father wanted him to either manage the family cable TV business, take up a job, or move abroad. Instead, Vaghela proposed a challenge: give him three months to earn money through cybersecurity.
He began conducting paid “Live Hacking” workshops, charging ₹1,000 per participant. His first session drew 600 attendees, earning ₹6 lakh. Within weeks, he purchased a Tata Indigo and handed the keys to his father earning his support at last.
From Workshops to a Scalable Business
Initially, Vaghela demonstrated vulnerabilities by hacking company websites and then offering security solutions. Awareness was low, and many organisations were reluctant to pay.
Between 2010 and 2017, he conducted nearly 1,700 workshops, both personally and through his company. In 2017, he formally relaunched Tech Defence Lab Solutions, shifting focus toward large enterprises.
A major breakthrough came when the Adani Group signed on as a client. Growth followed rapidly from 100 clients in the first year to more than 600 today.
Public Listing and Global Ambitions
Tech Defence doubled its revenue year on year for seven consecutive years. In September 2025, the company was listed on the NSE, becoming one of only two publicly listed cybersecurity firms in India.
The IPO saw nearly 90% subscription and raised ₹18,632 crore. Within a month, the stock surged over 150%. The company now plans to build India’s largest cybersecurity campus in Ahmedabad, operating 24/7 across one lakh square metres.
Vaghela’s ambition is clear: to position Ahmedabad as India’s cybersecurity hub and build a global cyber defence powerhouse from India.
What Tech Defence Does
Tech Defence operates across four core verticals:
- Vulnerability Assessment: Identifying security gaps in digital infrastructure
- Security Operations Centre (SOC): 24/7 monitoring for enterprises, banks, and critical facilities
- Compliance & Cyber Law: Regulatory support and policy frameworks
- Training: Developing ethical hackers, many of whom join the company
The firm employs over 250 professionals, with offices in Ahmedabad, Pune, and Bengaluru, and annual revenues of around ₹56 crore.
Views on Privacy, AI, and the Future
Vaghela believes digital privacy in India remains fragile. “If something online is free, don’t trust it,” he warns, urging users to enable two-factor authentication and review app permissions regularly.
He notes that while hackers increasingly use AI to automate attacks, defenders are deploying AI just as aggressively to counter them.
His ultimate goal is global leadership. “Why can’t the world’s largest cybersecurity company come from India?” Vaghela asks. “Tech Defence will become the world’s biggest.”
From a hacked email ID to a ₹600-crore enterprise, Sunny Vaghela’s story underscores the power of curiosity, resilience, and conviction in shaping India’s digital future.