Cybersecurity is one of the most pressing concerns for every business in our increasingly digital age. With each passing year, digital and online technologies are revolutionizing elements of business across every sector of the market. And while this technology creates efficiencies and streamlines processes, it also ushers in complex risks. Yet, when it comes to your cybersecurity, managed firewall pricing costs vary.
When it comes to managed security services, this variation is even greater.
Let’s discuss.
Exactly How Much Do Managed Security Services Cost?
It depends on a number of factors. When looking for a managed security service provider (MSSP) to handle your company’s cyberdefense and broader IT concerns, there are many considerations that impact how much you’ll pay. According to one study, the average costs you can expect to pay range from $99 dollars per month to $250 dollars per user per month.
Depending on the number of users protected, that’s potentially a huge spread. Some of the factors that influence the price of managed security services include:
- Kind or scope of service – The depth and complexity of the security services you purchase have a dynamic impact on their cost. According to the same study mentioned above, the least intensive services can cost as little as $75 dollars per month, whereas more robust services can cost up to $250 dollars per user per month.
- Size of company – The size of your workforce and number of physical and digital assets you need to secure also impact pricing dynamically. Companies with more computers, users, and digital assets can expect to pay much more per month.
- MSSP pricing model – There are certain models most commonly used to determine MSSP rates, depending on the number of users, devices, or other factors.
Overall, the pricing models used by the MSSP are the biggest determinant of what your business will pay for managed security. In the sections below, we’ll break down what these models are and how to choose the best fit for your company.
But first, let’s define what exactly you’re paying for:
What is Managed Security?
Managed security services are exactly what they sound like: comprehensive security solutions, managed by an external company instead of your own staff. An MSSP is contracted by your company to handle any number of IT services, including and especially cybersecurity.
Managed security services often include some combination of:
- Security architecture design
- Deployment of security software
- Compliance with regulatory bodies
- Ongoing monitoring and analysis
- Incident response management
- On demand support for all staff
- Client facing cybersecurity support
By outsourcing these tasks to an external company rather than your own internal IT personnel, you optimize efficiency through cost saving and streamlined workflows. It allows your own workforce to concentrate on the tasks most essential to your business.
Now, let’s take a look at what the most common pricing models entail.
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Managed Security Services Pricing Models
Cybersecurity architecture and topography vary widely across different industries and companies. From smaller, analog-heavy businesses to larger, digital-first firms, each company has unique software, hardware, assets, and stakeholders impacted by their digital landscape.
Likewise, the various threats and compliance regulations facing companies vary.
Running parallel to that variety, there are diverse options available for the kinds of managed security companies can purchase. Managed firewall pricing differs from pricing for more in-depth and robust security services. And everything from scope to specific focus of managed services can be customized to a company’s specific needs and means.
Nevertheless, there are four main models for pricing of managed security services adhered to by the vast majority of MSSPs:
- Per user pricing
- Per unit pricing
- Cloud service pricing
- Tiered or bundled pricing
Let’s take a closer look at each.
Per User Pricing
This pricing model centers on the number of people a company reasonably expects to use its digital infrastructure, rather than hinging on the number of end-points or devices.
This pricing model is ideal for a modern business environment wherein personnel often shift between multiple devices each day to accommodate various workflows. Flattening out the cost per device and paying by user can improve efficiency with respect to service level agreements.
It works best for companies with a relatively stable workforce and little turnaround.
However, per user pricing can prove challenging on the MSSP end. Scaling up with a company’s growing workforce is challenging in its own right. This is especially true when the focus is on monitoring users across various devices.
Per Device Pricing
This model puts the focus on individual devices rather than users. Per device pricing is arguably the simplest and most straightforward model, as well as the most common: a whopping 42% of MSSPs report using it. And for good reason.
Per device monitoring entails an MSSP blanketing security coverage over every single device in a company’s network, tracking things like:
- All user activity
- Security architecture
- Potential weaknesses
- Interaction with cloud servers
- Connectivity to other systems
For a company with a developing workforce but a stable set of hardware, this pricing model is ideal. The flat fee creates uniformity in an otherwise turbulent landscape.
This pricing model can become expensive as companies grow and add more hardware to their networks. However, per device pricing offers maximum flexibility and efficiency, as companies know exactly how adding a given number of devices will impact their budget.
Cloud Based Pricing
Less straightforward and flat than per user or unit pricing, cloud-based managed services are an outgrowth of the broader shift toward cloud-based computing in general IT management.
As many companies have migrated an increasing amount of their digital architecture into the cloud, they’ve also sought out external providers for software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) support. This often includes specific security attention paid to fully or mostly cloud-based systems. As a result, MSSPs are now creating schemes focused on the cloud.
A cloud-based managed security service may include managed security for non-cloud infrastructure, or it may not. Companies considering this option should also look to…
Tiered or Bundled Pricing
This is less a distinct model than a way of combining the others. The final option entails MSSPs putting together packages that stack specific services tailored to a company’s needs.
Often, MSSPs will create tiers of managed security services that offer different levels of support at a flat monthly fee, irrespective of the number of users and devices or digital landscape of the company. Or, companies may offer rates based on certain minimums, as in:
- A first tier monthly price for companies with 15 or fewer employees
- A second tier monthly price for companies with 15 to 50 employees
- A third tier monthly price for companies with 50 to 100 employees
And so on. A similar scheme may entail the total number of devices, or total amount of cloud storage, instead. Or, MSSPs may choose to bundle certain services together, combining cloud-based managed security at a per user per device price per month.
Protect Your Business with RSI Security
RSI Security is your first and best option when it comes to managed security services. We offer a wide variety of services, at competitive prices scaled to meet your company’s unique needs and means. Some of the managed security services we provide are:
- Firewall and UTM, and network security
- SIEM Services with 24/7 Security Monitoring
- Penetration testing and incident response
- Comprehensive compliance assistance
- Forensic analysis for IT breaches
…and more. We’re industry leaders with over a decade of experience providing cybersecurity solutions to companies of all scopes and sizes. Our team of experts is dedicated to top quality customer service, optimizing your cyberdefense while saving your company money.
Contact RSI Security today to see what a difference professional cybersecurity can make!
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