A hardened/stiffened steel component includes a steel substrate having a bulk region and a steel substrate surface. Plurality of localized martensite-enriched regions is located at the steel substrate surface. Characteristically, the plurality of localized martensite-enriched regions has higher martensite content than the bulk region. Centers of adjacent localized martensite-enriched regions in the plurality of martensite-enriched localized regions are separated by a separation distance that is from about 0.5 to 5 mm. A method for forming the steel component by laser spot hardening is also provided.