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A Complete Guide to MSSP Pricing

MSSP Pricing

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]MSSP Pricing

Out of the $71.1 million cyber attacks that occur each year, over 50% are perpetrated against small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

And with the average cost of a data breach for a small business lying anywhere between $120,000 and $1.24 million, the need for a robust and well-maintained cyber security solution is more essential than ever.

With most businesses preferring to focus their executive and team-based efforts on running and growing their business, many turn to managed security service providers (MSSPs) to handle the entirety of their cyber security infrastructure.

While MSSPs are certainly becoming something of an essential service to businesses these days, it’s best to do your own research before signing any contracts for cyber security services.

One of the most important considerations to think about when choosing an MSSP is what your monthly fee will be.

In this blog, we’re going to break down what MSSPs typically offer their clients, what factors influence an MSSP’s monthly price, and the different types of MSSP pricing models you should know about.

 

What is an MSSP in Cyber Security?

Before we get started, it’s important to first understand what an MSSP is and what they can do for your business.

A managed security service provider (MSSP) is a type of third-party managed services vendor that offers its clients comprehensive IT security solutions.

MSSPs will typically offer their clients a wide range of services that can cover all aspects of information security, from managed firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to managed antivirus (AV) solutions and email security.

In many cases, MSSPs will also offer their clients added value cybersecurity services including incident response planning and training, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing.

Want to Strengthen Your Business’ Cyber Security Effectiveness?

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What Factors Influence Managed Security Services Pricing?

Now that we’ve answered the question, “what is an MSSP in regards to cyber security?” It’s time to take a look at what factors influence an MSSP’s monthly price.

Generally speaking, there are three main factors that will affect how much you pay for managed security services:

  1. The size of your business/network
    1. Naturally, the larger your network and collection of digital assets, the more resources will be required to manage, monitor and maintain it so that it’s effectively protected from cyber threats. This is usually an issue that large enterprises contend with.
  2. The complexity of your network infrastructure
    1. The more complex your network infrastructure, the more you can expect to pay for managed security services. This is because businesses with larger networks will require more comprehensive IT security solutions to protect their data and systems if their network size and complexity are above average.
  3. The number and severity of potential threats faced by your business
    1. Simply put, businesses that face a higher risk of cyber attacks will pay more for managed security services. This is because MSSPs will need to invest more resources in protecting these businesses from potential threats.

To get an accurate idea of how much you can expect to pay for managed security services, it’s best to speak with a few different providers and get quotes based on your specific needs.

MSSP Pricing Guide

 

What are the MSSP Pricing Models?

Let’s look at the different pricing models MSSPs most often use.

Generally speaking, there are five main types of MSSP pricing models:

  • Per Data Usage Pricing
  • Per Device Pricing
  • Per User Pricing
  • Cloud Based Pricing
  • Tiered Pricing

 

Before we take an in-depth look at what each pricing model offers, here is a rough breakdown of the average costs associated with the forthcoming MSSP pricing models.

Average Costs for MSSP Pricing Models
Pricing Model TypeCost Per User/Device/MonthAverage Monthly Expense (Estimated for 100 Employees)
Per-Data Usage Pricing$10 to $500$1,000 to $50,000
Per-Device Pricing$75 to $250$7,500 to $25,000
Per-User Pricing$75 to $250$7,500 to $25,000
Cloud-Based Pricing$125 to $300$12,500 to $30,000
Tiered Pricing$30 to $150$3,000 to $15,000

 

Per-Data Usage Pricing

An example of this pricing model would be an onsite appliance collecting packets or logs and the customer pays for the amount of data that the appliance analyzes. This pricing model is used by the most common off-the-shelf security event log monitoring platforms, therefore it’s one of the most popular MSSP pricing models. As the name suggests, with this model, you only pay for the volume of data analyzed. This can be a great option for businesses that don’t have a large budget for IT security or those that only require monitoring a few systems. This option directly correlates a lower budget to lower security, but can be great for testing new monitoring platforms.

Benefits:

  • It’s very flexible
  • Usually the lowest amount of data is free
  • You can add and remove services as needed
  • Can help you save money, depending on the usage

Disadvantages:

  • It can be difficult to predict your exact monthly costs
  • Sometimes hard to budget for your IT security needs
  • Data usage is usually higher than expected
  • Data collection considerations must now include budgeting concerns

 

Per-Device Pricing

With per-device pricing, you pay a flat monthly fee for each device monitored. This includes computers, laptops, servers, and any other devices.

Benefits: 

  • A good option for businesses with employees that don’t require a computer for their daily tasks or for companies with a small number of devices
  • Usually agents are installed on devices, so this model is used commonly for customers with a large number of employees that work from home or work remotely
  • Typically provides predictable monthly costs for your IT security needs

Disadvantages: 

  • Can be costly for businesses with a large number of devices
  • Can cost more than per-user pricing if there are more than one device per user

 

Per-User Pricing

With per-user pricing, you pay a flat monthly fee per user, per month. This can include employees, contractors, and any other users that have access to your network.

Benefits: 

  • A worthy choice for organizations with a small number of users or if users have more than one device.
  • Good for ensuring predictable monthly fees.

Disadvantages: 

  • Like per-device pricing it can be expensive for businesses with a large number of users or if employees don’t require computers for their daily tasks.

 

Interested in Learning More About How MSSPs Keep Your Data Safe from Online Threats? Check out These Other Articles:

 

Cloud-Based Pricing

This is common with unique cloud-based  integrations or SOCs built on Amazon AWS and Google Workspaces. The MSSP will commonly pass the cloud infrastructure costs to the customer with this pricing model. With this model, you pay a monthly fee for the services you use, and your service provider delivers these services via the cloud.

Many organizations continue to migrate their digital architecture to the cloud and seek outside suppliers for software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) assistance. This results in a security focus on fully or mostly cloud-based systems. As a consequence, MSSPs are devising strategies targeted towards the cloud.

Benefits: 

  • Can help businesses save money on their IT security budget
  • More consistent monthly costs

Disadvantages: 

  • Difficult to configure and requires expertise in common, yet complex cloud infrastructure
  • Complexity in overall billing
  • Risk of not using the services that are being paid for

 

Tiered Pricing

With tiered pricing, you pay a specific monthly flat fee for the chosen level of service you need. This type of pricing is often used by MSSPs that offer a variety of advanced security services.

Benefits: 

  • Tiered pricing is that it’s flexible
  • Choose the level of service you need
  • Pay for the services you use
  • Predictable monthly costs

Disadvantages: 

  • Costs can be on the high-side for small businesses, depending on the level of service they require

MSSP Pricing Models

 

Learn More About our own MSSP Pricing

To better combat the dangers lurking in the online threat landscape, having a qualified managed security services provider with access to cutting-edge cyber security technology and experience is essential.

Our MSSP cybersecurity experts have decades of industry experience and backgrounds fighting real-world cyber crime on behalf of the US military and government agencies.

We coordinate our client’s cyber defense from our Security Operations Center (SOC), an MSSP winning strategy.

If you have concerns over the state of your own business’ cyber security effectiveness, give us a call or contact us today to request a free consultation.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

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