The average outsourced SOC costs between $10 and $20 per monitored asset monthly with small to mid-sized businesses paying $120,000 to $360,000 annually for comprehensive 24/7 security operations. In stark contrast, building an in-house SOC requires $1 to $4 million in annual investments depending on the organization's size. Organizations implementing outsourced SOC services reported saving an average of $2.22 million compared to maintaining internal security teams without automation capabilities.
Our research examined the current managed SOC pricing structures of leading cybersecurity providers, analyzing cost breakdowns across various organization sizes. We evaluated real-world implementation expenses to establish accurate baselines for our analysis. Data came from established security operations centers operating across multiple industries. Provider pricing models underwent a detailed review alongside service tier comparisons. This research methodology delivers accurate cost projections for 2025.
What You Will Learn
- Outsourced SOC Pricing by Service Level: Pricing breakdown for basic monitoring through advanced managed detection with response capabilities
- Cost Analysis by Organization Size: Specific pricing ranges for small businesses, medium enterprises, and large organizations
- Monitoring Scope and Asset-Based Pricing: Per-device, per-user, and tiered pricing models with service inclusions
- In-House vs Outsourced SOC Cost Comparison: Complete financial analysis including staffing, technology, and operational expenses
- Hidden Costs and Total Ownership Expenses: Setup fees, scalability costs, and compliance support that impact your security budget
Outsourced SOC Pricing by Service Level
Service level determines the depth of protection your organization receives. Basic monitoring provides essential alerting while advanced tiers include proactive threat hunting and immediate incident response. The data reveals significant pricing variation based on capabilities included in each service package.
Our analysis below breaks down current market pricing across standard service tiers with specific feature inclusions per level.
| Service Level | Monthly Cost Range | Annual Cost Range | Core Features Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Monitoring | $10,000 - $15,000 | $120,000 - $180,000 | 24/7 monitoring, basic alerting, security event logging |
| Standard Detection | $15,000 - $25,000 | $180,000 - $300,000 | Endpoint detection, threat intelligence, incident triage |
| Enhanced Response | $25,000 - $40,000 | $300,000 - $480,000 | Cloud monitoring, email security, automated response actions |
| Advanced MDR | $40,000 - $100,000 | $480,000 - $1,200,000 | Proactive threat hunting, SIEM management, dedicated analyst support |
Key Insights:
- Organizations with fewer than 100 employees typically require standard to enhanced service levels for adequate protection.
- Advanced MDR services include dedicated security managers, as opposed to shared analyst pools found in lower-tier services.
- Service level upgrades become necessary as attack surfaces expand through cloud adoption or regulatory requirements.
Cost Analysis by Organization Size
Organization size directly influences SOC pricing through the number of monitored assets and the complexity of security requirements. Smaller businesses benefit from more affordable entry points, while enterprises require substantial investments for comprehensive coverage. Security providers structure their pricing to scale with an organization's growth patterns.
The table below presents typical outsourced SOC costs segmented by company size along with corresponding employee counts.
| Organization Size | Employee Count | Monthley SOC Cost | Annual SOC Cost | Average Cost Per Employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business | 1 - 100 | $10,000 - $15,000 | $120,000 - $180,000 | $1,200 - $1,800 |
| Mid-Size Company | 101 - 500 | $15,000 - $30,000 | $180,000 - $360,000 | $360 - $3,600 |
| Large Enterprise | 501 - 1000 | $30,000 - $60,000 | $360,000 - $720,000 | $360 - $1,400 |
| Major Enterprise | 1000+ | $60,000 - $100,000+ | $720,000 - $1,200,000+ | $720+ |
Key Insights:
- The cost per employee decreases substantially as the organization's size increases due to economies of scale in monitoring operations.
- Mid-size companies face the steepest increase in security costs as they outgrow basic protection tiers.
- Regulated industries typically add 15% to 30% to base costs regardless of company size, due to compliance reporting requirements.
Monitoring Scope and Asset-Based Pricing
Asset-based pricing models charge per monitored endpoint rather than flat organizational rates. This approach offers predictable scaling as businesses add devices, users or cloud resources. Providers calculate costs using various metrics, including endpoints, user accounts or data volume processed through security systems.
In our analysis below, we outline current per-asset pricing structures across different monitoring scopes.
| Pricing Model | Cost Per Asset/Month | Cost Per Asset/Year | Typical Asset Range | Total Annual Cost Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Endpoint Basic | $10 - $12 | $119 - $144 | 50 - 200 devices | $5,950 - $28,800 |
| Per Endpoint Standard | $13 - $15 | $156 - $180 | 50 - 200 devices | $7,800 - $36,000 |
| Per User Account | $15 - $20 | $180 - $240 | 100 - 500 users | $18,000 - $120,000 |
| Per Device Premium | $25 - $50 | $300 - $600 | 100 - 300 devices | $30,000 - $180,000 |
Key Insights:
- Per-endpoint pricing is most effective for organizations with stable device counts but fluctuating user populations.
- Premium per-device rates include enhanced monitoring capabilities, such as application-level visibility beyond basic endpoint detection.
- Organizations with extensive mobile workforces often find per-user pricing to be more cost-effective than per-device models.
In-House vs. Outsourced SOC Cost Comparison
Building an internal SOC requires substantial capital investment in technology infrastructure alongside continuous operational expenses for staffing and maintenance. In-house operations provide direct control over security processes but demand resources that most mid-sized organizations cannot sustain. Our data indicate that the financial gap between internal and outsourced approaches continues to widen in 2025.
The data below compares total ownership costs for in-house SOC operations against outsourced service pricing.
| Cost Component | In-House SOC (Small/Mid) | In-House SOC (Enterprise) | Outsourced SOC (Enterprise) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Staffing Costs | $450,000 - $600,000 | $900,000 - $1,200,000 | Included |
| Security Manager | $150,000 | $180,000 - $220,000 | Included |
| SIEM & Tools | $80,000 - $120,000 | $150,000 - $250,000 | Included |
| Infrastructure | $50,000 - $80,000 | $100,000 - $200,000 | Included |
| Traing & Certs | $20,000 - $40,000 | $50,000 - $80,000 | Included |
| Total Annual Cost | $1,000,000 - $1,600,000 | $2,000,000 - $4,000,000 | $360,000 - $1,200,000 |
Key Insights:
- In-house SOC operations cost 3 to 5 times more than outsourced services when accounting for complete ownership expenses.
- The global cybersecurity workforce shortage of 4.8 million professionals makes internal SOC staffing increasingly difficult.
- Organizations save $1 million or more annually by outsourcing SOC operations rather than building internal capabilities.
Total Cost of Ownership: Hidden Expenses and Long-Term Investments
Beyond subscription fees, organizations encounter additional expenses throughout SOC implementation and operation. Setup costs for environmental integration can range from $20,000 to $50,000 depending on the complexity of the infrastructure. Incident response fees apply when security events require hands-on remediation beyond standard monitoring. Compliance support for frameworks such as HIPAA, SOC 2, or CMMC includes specialized services at an additional cost.
Our data indicates these supplementary costs significantly impact total security budgets over multi-year engagements.
| Additional Cost Category | One-Time Expense | Ongoing Annual Cost | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Setup & Integration | $15,000 - $50,000 | - | All new implementations |
| Compliance Support (HIPAA, SOC 2) | $10,000 - $25,000 | $15,000 - $40,000 | Regulated industries only |
| Major Incident Response | - | $10,000 - $100,000 per incident | When breaches occur |
| Scalability Expansion | $5,000 - $20,000 | Variable | During growth periods |
| Advanced Threat Hunting Add-On | - | $24,000 - $60,000 | Optional premium service |
Key Insights:
- Organizations that detect and contain breaches within 30 days save an average of $1 million in damages compared to longer response times.
- Regulatory compliance requirements can increase total SOC costs by 20% to 35% annually for healthcare and financial services organizations.
- Scalability costs remain predictable with an outsourced SOC compared to in-house teams requiring complete hiring cycles for expansion.
Making the Investment Decision That Protects Your Business
The financial case for outsourced SOC becomes clear when examining total ownership costs against internal security team expenses. Organizations implementing managed SOC services access enterprise-grade protection including 24/7 monitoring without the need for million-dollar infrastructure investments. Rapid threat response capabilities come standard alongside specialized expertise from dedicated security teams. These services eliminate the need for substantial capital expenditures while delivering advanced security operations. Small to mid-sized businesses particularly benefit from outsourced models as they gain capabilities that match those of Fortune 500 security operations at accessible price points.
Total Assure delivers federal-grade security expertise tailored for small to mid-sized businesses at price points that align with your budget. Our 24/7 in-house SOC provides continuous monitoring with managed detection capabilities. When threats emerge, our team delivers hands-on remediation to neutralize risks immediately. We respond to incidents promptly ensuring your business continues to operate while we neutralize threats.
To request a PDF copy of this report, contact Total Assure today.
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