Trevor Hardy

Trevor Hardy – The Cyber Cowboy
Founder & Head Nerd at NEXTGen IT | Founder and CEO of NEXTGen Tech LLC | Cybersecurity Strategist | Veteran | Speaker

Trevor Hardy is an entrepreneur, author, and nationally recognized cybersecurity expert—better known in the tech world as The Cyber Cowboy. With over two decades of hands-on experience in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, compliance, and business continuity, Trevor blends deep technical expertise with real-world grit to help businesses prepare for, withstand, and recover from today’s most aggressive cyber threats.

As the founder and Head Nerd of NEXTGen IT, Trevor leads a high-impact Managed Services Provider (MSP) based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, serving clients nationwide. NEXTGen specializes in cybersecurity-first IT solutions, offering everything from proactive threat detection and disaster recovery to co-managed services, compliance consulting, cloud migrations, and network architecture. Trevor’s leadership has positioned NEXTGen as the trusted go-to for organizations that need more than just “tech support”—they need resilience.

But Trevor’s approach isn’t just about prevention—it’s about preparation. He’s a strong advocate for Right of Boom planning: ensuring businesses not only survive cyberattacks, but recover with speed and confidence. A powerful example? When the City of Florence, AL fell victim to a ransomware attack and was forced to pay the ransom, one of NEXTGen’s clients—Alliance Packaging—was hit by the same threat group. Thanks to a comprehensive BCDR plan Trevor had implemented, Alliance was fully operational the same day, without paying a cent.

Trevor speaks on stages across the Southeast to demystify cybersecurity and bring practical, actionable solutions to business owners, IT leaders, and community organizations. With a style that’s both engaging and relatable, he draws from his experience as a combat veteran, business owner, and faith-driven leader to deliver high-impact talks that resonate long after the session ends.

In addition to running NEXTGen, Trevor leads multiple tech-focused ventures under the NEXTGen Tech LLC umbrella and is deeply involved in community outreach—mentoring youth, supporting veteran recovery, and providing free IT services to nonprofit organizations.

Trevor believes in treating everyone the same—from the janitor to the CEO—and lives by the motto:
“If you believe in yourself, never quit, and always give 100%, the reward will be worth the ride.”