The cost of hiring an outsourced cyber security company can start from as little as £500 per month, or £10,000 or higher for large companies. For global multi nationals, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to spend millions on cyber security and to protect yourself against an attack of data breach.
Companies have the option to use ongoing monthly services to detect potential threats, or the opportunity to do one-off tests to check for vulnerabilities such as penetration testing or red teaming.
The cost of hiring a cyber security company in the UK can vary widely depending on your business size, the services you need, and how complex your IT environment is. Recent surveys show that cyber crime costs UK businesses over £27 billion a year, and 60% of small businesses that suffer a major breach go out of business within six months. These numbers make it clear that investing in cyber security is not optional.
Outsourcing is often more cost-effective than hiring an in-house team, especially for small and medium businesses that cannot afford full-time security experts or advanced tools. The following sections break down typical services and their costs.
Average Cost of Cyber Security Companies UK
| Service | Small Company (£) | Medium Company (£) | Large Company (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC (24/7 monitoring) | 1,000–3,000/month | 3,000–8,000/month | 10,000+/month |
| Threat Detection & Response | 500–1,500/month | 2,000–5,000/month | 7,000+/month |
| Penetration Testing | 1,000–3,000/test | 5,000–10,000/test | 15,000+/test |
| Attack Surface Management | 500–1,500/month | 2,000–5,000/month | 6,000–12,000/month |
| Vulnerability Scanning | 200–500/month | 1,000–2,000/month | 3,000–5,000/month |
| Incident Response Support | 300–1,000/month | 1,500–3,000/month | 5,000+/month |
| Cloud Security Management | 500–1,500/month | 2,000–5,000/month | 7,000+/month |
| Security Awareness Training | 300–800/year | 1,000–3,000/year | 5,000+/year |
| Compliance Support (GDPR, ISO27001) | 500–1,500/year | 2,000–5,000/year | 6,000+/year |
| Cyber Strategy & Consultancy | 1,000–3,000/project | 5,000–10,000/project | 15,000+/project |
The Average Cost of SOC as a Service – £3,000–£8,000 per month
A Security Operations Centre (SOC) provides 24/7 monitoring and defence against cyber threats. For a small UK company, outsourced SOC services typically cost between £1,000–£3,000 per month. Medium businesses may pay £3,000–£8,000 per month, while large organisations can spend £10,000 or more per month depending on their systems and scale.
SOC services include real-time alerting, incident analysis, and threat containment. Building a SOC in-house requires hiring multiple specialists and investing in expensive software and hardware, making outsourcing much more affordable for most businesses.
The Average Cost of Threat Detection and Response – £500-£7,000 per month
Threat detection and response focuses on spotting attacks quickly and responding before they cause serious damage. Outsourced packages often start at £500 per month for small companies, £2,000–£5,000 for medium companies, and £7,000+ for large companies.
These services use advanced analytics and automated tools to detect unusual activity. Outsourcing allows smaller companies to access these sophisticated capabilities without having to buy the tools or employ experts full-time.
The Average Cost of Penetration Testing – £1,000–£3,000 per test
Pen testing companies offer a controlled way to test your defences by simulating real-world attacks. Costs are usually per test rather than monthly. A small business might pay £1,000–£3,000 per test, a medium company £5,000–£10,000, and a large business £15,000+ for a full-scale assessment.
Regular pen testing is crucial for compliance and to identify weaknesses before attackers do. Doing this in-house would require hiring ethical hackers, which is rarely feasible for small or medium businesses.
The Average Cost of Attack Surface Management – £2,000–£5,000 per month
Attack surface management identifies all digital entry points that could be exploited by hackers, including websites, cloud services, and forgotten devices. Small companies can expect to pay £500–£1,500 per month, medium businesses £2,000–£5,000 per month, and large organisations £6,000–£12,000 per month.
Continuous monitoring of your attack surface helps prevent breaches and reduces overall risk. Outsourced services make this affordable without needing a dedicated team in-house.
The Cost of Outsourcing Cyber Security Services vs In-House Costs
Hiring an in-house cyber security team is usually far more expensive. For example, a single UK-based SOC analyst earns between £35,000–£60,000 per year, and multiple staff are needed for 24/7 coverage.
On top of salaries, businesses must invest in security tools, software licenses, and ongoing training. For small and medium companies, total costs often exceed what outsourcing would cost.
Outsourcing gives access to a full team of specialists, advanced monitoring tools, and constant support at a predictable monthly fee. This approach is more flexible, scalable, and allows businesses to focus on core operations rather than building and maintaining a cyber security function in-house.
Read more: The pros and cons of external cyber security companies vs in-house
Final Thoughts
The cost of cyber security services in the UK varies depending on business size, service type, and complexity. Small businesses can expect to pay a few hundred to a few thousand pounds per month for essential services, while large organisations may spend tens of thousands. Despite the costs, outsourcing cyber security is generally more affordable and effective than hiring a full internal team, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. With cyber threats growing every year, investing in expert protection is a necessary step to safeguard your business, reputation, and finances.