How Much Does Cybersecurity Cost for a UK Business?
Cybersecurity costs for UK SMEs typically range from £30 to £100 per user per month for a managed service, depending on the scope of controls. Standalone tools cost less but require in-house expertise to configure and monitor — a resource most SMEs don't have.
Direct Answer
Managed cybersecurity for UK SMEs typically costs £15–£35 per user per month, covering endpoint detection, email security, 24/7 monitoring, and incident response. A 50-person business can expect to pay £750–£1,750 per month — compared to £40,000–£65,000 per year for a single in-house security analyst.
Key Cost Factors for Business Cybersecurity
These are the main variables that determine what cybersecurity will cost your organisation.
Number of Users
Most managed security services are priced per user per month. The more users you have, the greater the total cost — though per-user rates often decrease at scale.
Device Scope
Endpoint protection for laptops and desktops is priced per device. Mobile device management adds cost if smartphones and tablets are included in scope.
Number of Sites
Multi-site organisations need security controls at each location. Managed firewalls, monitoring, and connectivity security costs scale with site count.
Managed vs DIY
Buying licences and managing tools in-house is cheaper per month but requires skilled staff. A managed service includes configuration, monitoring, and response.
Cybersecurity Cost Tiers for UK SMEs
An approximate breakdown of what different levels of cybersecurity provision cost per user per month.
| Feature | BaselineEssential controls only | ManagedFull managed serviceRecommended |
|---|---|---|
| Endpoint protection (AV/EDR) | £3–£8 /user | Included |
| Email security (ATP, DMARC) | £4–£10 /user | Included |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | £18.10 /user | Included |
| 24/7 monitoring and alerting | Included | |
| Incident response support | Included | |
| Patch management | Included | |
| Typical total per user/month | £25–£40 + staff time | £30–£100 |
Microsoft 365 Business Premium pricing correct as of early 2025. Managed service pricing varies by provider, scope, and contract length.
Frequently Asked Questions
43% of UK businesses experienced a cybersecurity breach or attack in the past 12 months, according to the DSIT Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025. For medium-sized businesses, this figure rises to 67%. Phishing remains the most common attack type, affecting 85% of businesses that reported a breach.
MFA requires two or more verification methods to access an account. Microsoft reports that over 99.9% of compromised accounts did not have MFA enabled. Only 40% of UK businesses have two-factor authentication enabled (DSIT 2025). MFA can prevent more than 99.9% of account compromise attempts.
The first hour after detection is considered the golden hour that determines outcome severity. Organisations that detect breaches internally save an average of $900,000 in costs. Only 22% of UK businesses have a formal cybersecurity incident management plan in place.
Only 14% of UK businesses formally review cyber risks from their immediate suppliers. 35.5% of all global data breaches in 2024 originated from third-party compromises. Supply chain attacks add an average of £241,620 to the total cost of a breach and take 267 days to detect and contain.
Organisations with Cyber Essentials certification are 92% less likely to make a claim on their cyber insurance. Certification is mandatory for UK government contracts involving sensitive data. Only 3% of UK businesses are currently certified, giving certified businesses a competitive advantage.
Find Out What Cybersecurity Costs for Your Business
AMVIA provides fixed-price managed cybersecurity for UK SMEs. Tell us about your business and we'll provide a clear, itemised quote.
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