SOC-as-a-Service Pricing for Companies Under $10M Revenue

Cybersecurity is no longer just an enterprise problem.

Even companies generating less than $10 million in annual revenue are increasingly becoming targets for ransomware, phishing campaigns, credential theft, and cloud account compromises. Unfortunately, many small and midsize businesses don’t have the budget to build a full in-house Security Operations Center (SOC).

That’s exactly why SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS) has become so popular.

Instead of hiring multiple security analysts, purchasing expensive monitoring platforms, and running a 24/7 security operation, companies can outsource those responsibilities to a managed security provider for a predictable monthly fee.

But how much should a growing business actually expect to pay?

Let’s break down the real-world pricing, what affects the cost, and how to avoid paying for services you don’t actually need.

What Is SOC-as-a-Service?

SOC-as-a-Service is a managed cybersecurity service where an external provider monitors your IT environment around the clock.

Instead of receiving software alone, you’re also getting a team of security professionals who continuously watch for suspicious activity and respond to threats.

A typical SOCaaS provider can help with:

• 24/7 security monitoring
• Threat detection
• Security alert investigation
• Incident response
• Log monitoring
• Endpoint monitoring
• Cloud security monitoring
• Compliance reporting
• Vulnerability monitoring

Think of it as having an experienced security team without hiring one internally.

Why Companies Under $10M Revenue Choose SOCaaS

Most businesses in this size range face similar challenges.

They may have:

• One IT administrator
• A small IT team
• No dedicated security engineer
• Limited cybersecurity budget
• Growing cloud infrastructure
• Increasing compliance requirements

Hiring a full security operations team can easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

SOC-as-a-Service provides enterprise-level monitoring at a fraction of that cost.

Average SOC-as-a-Service Pricing

Pricing varies depending on your environment, but most providers use one of several pricing models.

Small Business Tier

Best for companies with:

• 10–50 employees
• Basic Microsoft 365 environment
• Limited cloud infrastructure

Typical monthly pricing:

$500–$2,000 per month

Annual cost:

$6,000–$24,000

This usually includes:

• Security monitoring
• Alert triage
• Monthly reporting
• Basic incident response

Mid-Market Tier

Best for businesses with:

• 50–200 employees
• Multiple offices
• Hybrid cloud environments
• Compliance requirements

Typical monthly pricing:

$2,000–$7,500 per month

Annual cost:

$24,000–$90,000

These plans generally add:

• Advanced threat hunting
• Cloud monitoring
• SIEM management
• Endpoint detection
• Compliance reporting

Enterprise-Level SOCaaS

Larger organizations with complex environments often spend:

$8,000–$30,000+ per month

Most companies under $10 million in annual revenue don’t require this level of service.

What Determines the Price?

Not every company pays the same amount.

Several factors directly influence your monthly bill.

Number of Endpoints

Every monitored device adds work for the SOC team.

This includes:

• Laptops
• Desktops
• Servers
• Mobile devices
• Virtual machines

More devices generally mean higher pricing.

Number of Employees

Many providers calculate pricing on a per-user basis.

Typical pricing ranges between:

$10–$40 per user each month

For a 40-person company, that translates to roughly:

• Low end: $400/month
• High end: $1,600/month

This pricing often covers identity monitoring and endpoint protection.

Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud environments introduce additional complexity.

Monitoring services may include:

• Microsoft Azure
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Microsoft 365
• Google Workspace

Companies using multiple cloud platforms usually pay more.

Compliance Requirements

Businesses operating in regulated industries often need additional reporting and monitoring.

Examples include:

• HIPAA
• PCI DSS
• SOC 2
• ISO 27001
• CMMC

Compliance support increases both monitoring requirements and reporting responsibilities.

Security Tools Already in Place

Many businesses already own security products such as:

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
• Firewall appliances
• Email security platforms
• Identity management solutions

Some SOC providers can integrate with your existing tools, reducing implementation costs.

Others may require replacing your current technology stack.

Typical SOC-as-a-Service Cost Breakdown

Here’s an example for a company generating approximately $5 million annually with 35 employees.

That equals roughly $31,000 per year.

Compared to hiring a full-time security analyst, this is often significantly more affordable.

What’s Usually Included?

Most reputable providers include several core services.

Continuous Monitoring

Your systems are monitored 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

This helps identify suspicious behavior before it escalates into a major incident.

Threat Detection

Modern SOC platforms analyze:

• User activity
• Login attempts
• Network traffic
• Malware behavior
• Cloud events

Advanced analytics help reduce false alarms.

Security Alert Investigation

Not every alert is an actual attack.

Security analysts investigate suspicious events before escalating them to your IT team.

This saves valuable time and reduces alert fatigue.

Incident Response Guidance

If an attack occurs, the SOC team helps determine:

• What happened
• Which systems are affected
• Recommended containment steps
• Recovery priorities

Some premium providers also assist with remediation.

Monthly Security Reports

Reports typically summarize:

• Security incidents
• High-risk alerts
• Vulnerabilities
• User activity
• Recommendations for improvement

These reports are especially useful for executives and compliance audits.

Additional Services That May Cost Extra

Some providers advertise low monthly prices but charge separately for advanced services.

Common add-ons include:

• Digital forensics
• Threat hunting
• Penetration testing
• Compliance consulting
• Security awareness training
• Vulnerability assessments
• Dark web monitoring
• Incident response retainers

Always ask which services are included before signing a contract.

Is SOC-as-a-Service Worth It?

For many businesses under $10 million in revenue, the answer is yes.

Hiring internally can become expensive very quickly.

For example:

• Security Analyst: $80,000–$130,000 annually
• Senior Security Engineer: $120,000–$180,000
• SIEM licensing: $15,000–$100,000+
• Monitoring infrastructure
• Employee benefits
• Ongoing training

SOC-as-a-Service spreads those costs across many customers, making enterprise-grade security far more accessible.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Provider

Don’t focus only on the monthly price.

Also ask:

• Is monitoring truly available 24/7?
• Are security analysts located in-house?
• What is the average response time?
• Which compliance frameworks are supported?
• Are incident response services included?
• Which SIEM platform is used?
• Can existing security tools be integrated?
• Are there long-term contracts?
• How often are reports delivered?
• Is onboarding included?

These questions often reveal differences between providers that aren’t obvious from pricing alone.

Tips for Reducing SOC Costs

If you’re working with a limited cybersecurity budget, there are several ways to keep costs under control.

Consider these strategies:

• Remove unused user accounts before onboarding.
• Consolidate overlapping security tools.
• Standardize employee devices.
• Enable multi-factor authentication across all critical systems.
• Keep operating systems and applications up to date.
• Choose a provider that integrates with your existing security software.

A cleaner IT environment generally requires less monitoring effort, which can translate into lower monthly fees.

Common Pricing Mistakes

Many companies make the same mistakes when shopping for SOC services.

Avoid these pitfalls:

• Choosing the cheapest provider without evaluating service quality.
• Paying for enterprise features that your business won’t use.
• Ignoring incident response costs hidden in the contract.
• Failing to verify service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Underestimating future growth and scalability.

A slightly higher monthly fee can be worthwhile if it includes faster response times, broader coverage, and better support.

Final Thoughts

For companies generating less than $10 million in annual revenue, SOC-as-a-Service offers an affordable way to strengthen cybersecurity without building an expensive in-house security operations center.

Most small and midsize businesses can expect to spend anywhere from $500 to $3,000 per month, depending on the number of users, devices, cloud services, compliance needs, and the level of monitoring required. While premium services cost more, they can still be far less expensive than hiring a dedicated security team.

The best approach is to choose a provider that fits your current business size while leaving room to grow. By focusing on continuous monitoring, rapid threat detection, and responsive incident support, you can significantly reduce cyber risk while keeping your security budget predictable and manageable.