How Much Does a SOC and MDR Service Cost per Month?

The cost of a SOC and MDR service is not a single fixed number but the result of what you are actually protecting, how fast you want incidents handled, and how much you hand over to an external team. That is why the question of SOC pricing is really a question of model: how the service is billed, which factors push the price up or down, and when it pays off to build your own SOC versus engaging an external partner. In this article we break down the billing model for SOC and MDR services and everything that shapes it, without quoting specific figures, because only an assessment of your environment can produce a realistic number.

A SOC (Security Operations Center) is the team and technology that monitor your IT environment 24/7, recognize suspicious behavior, and respond to threats. MDR (Managed Detection and Response) is a service that delivers this work externally: a partner takes over detection and incident response on your behalf. For the buyer, one thing matters: you pay for someone to watch your systems while you sleep and to react before an attack turns into damage. How much that costs depends on a few clear variables worth understanding before you compare offers.

How a SOC and MDR service is billed

There are three dominant billing models on the market. Most offers combine them, so it is worth understanding each one before you make a decision.

• Per endpoint (device): the most common model for MDR. Billing is based on each server, workstation, or mobile device being monitored. It is transparent and scales easily, because more devices simply mean proportionally more billing units. Servers are generally valued differently from ordinary workstations because they carry greater risk and more data.
• Per user: suitable when a single employee uses several devices (laptop, mobile phone, VPN access). Billing is based on the person, regardless of the number of devices, which is predictable for companies that grow in headcount rather than in the number of servers.
• Fixed monthly fee (flat rate): an agreed scope of service is billed as a single line item, regardless of minor changes in the number of devices. It is common among smaller companies that want a clear, predictable position in their budget, or in larger contracts where billing is tied to data volume and SLA rather than to the raw number of endpoints.

On top of the base model, there is almost always a component tied to data volume, especially if the solution includes a SIEM. The more logs you collect and retain, the higher the cost of processing and storage. This is why two companies with the same number of computers can have noticeably different SOC service prices, even though at first glance they look identical.

Factors that affect the cost of a SOC service

The chosen model is just the starting point. The actual price is shaped by several factors worth checking before you sign, because these are precisely what explain why offers differ.

Scope of monitoring

Are you monitoring only workstations and servers, or also the network, cloud environments (Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS), identities, and business applications? Every additional data source means more integrations, more logs, and more work for analysts. A broader scope provides better protection but is more demanding and therefore more expensive. The key is to cover what is genuinely critical, rather than everything at once.

Response time and SLA

The difference between business-hours monitoring and full 24/7 coverage is significant, because round-the-clock operation requires a shift-based team of analysts. Likewise, a guaranteed response time of a few minutes for a critical incident is valued differently from one measured in hours. Ask yourself realistically how fast a response you truly need, because a stricter SLA raises the price.

Level of service: detection only, or response as well

More modest variants only flag suspicious events and leave it to you to react. True MDR services respond actively: they isolate an infected device, block an attacker's account, and stop the spread. Active response is more valuable, and it is precisely what reduces the actual damage, so it is naturally more expensive than mere alerting.

Technology and compliance

Is the EDR/XDR tool one you already have, or does the partner bring it? Do you need longer log retention due to regulation (for example, requirements for the financial sector, ISO 27001, or NIS2, which is arriving in the region as well)? Longer data retention and reporting requirements add to the scope of work, and they are often unavoidable, dictated by regulations rather than by preference.

In-house SOC or external MDR: where the real cost lies

The most common misconception is that an in-house SOC is cheaper because there is no monthly invoice from a partner. Once everything is added up, the picture is different. An in-house SOC means more analysts for 24/7 coverage, licenses for SIEM and EDR, infrastructure for log storage, continuous training for the team, and the risk of losing key people to competitors. For most small and medium-sized companies, this is a large and ongoing cost, before they even catch a single attack. The table below compares the two approaches by the factors that most affect the total cost, rather than by specific figures.

Factor	In-house SOC	External MDR partner
Initial investment	High (tools, infrastructure, hiring)	Low, starts almost immediately
Cost structure	Team salaries, licenses, and storage	Predictable monthly fee per model
24/7 coverage	Requires more shifts, hard with a small team	Included in the service
Time to full operation	Months of setup and hiring	Days to a few weeks
Dependence on people	High (departure of key analysts)	On the partner's side
Best for	Large organizations with specific requirements	Small and medium-sized companies, fast results

An in-house SOC makes sense for large organizations, banks, and companies with very specific regulatory requirements that must have an internal team anyway. For everyone else, an external MDR delivers a comparable level of monitoring without the staffing headache and without a high upfront investment. The decision therefore rarely comes down to the price tag itself, but to what is sustainable for you in the long run.

How to estimate the price sensibly before requesting a quote

For a quote to be accurate and fair, the partner needs to know a few things about your environment. The more clearly you define these inputs, the fewer surprises later. Before you request a quote, it is a good idea to answer the following for yourself:

• How many devices and servers are included in the monitoring, and how many of them are critical to the business.
• Which data sources you want to cover (workstations, network, cloud, identities, applications).
• How fast a response you realistically need and within what time frame, in other words what SLA you expect.
• Whether you need detection only or also active incident response.
• Which regulatory requirements you must meet and how long you must retain logs.

What keeps the price reasonable is a focus on what you are actually protecting. A good partner will not charge for maximum monitoring of everything, but will tailor the scope to your real risk. That is why the first step is always an assessment, not a price list.

How NeoBit approaches the cost of SOC and MDR services

NeoBit, based in Mostar, delivers SOC and MDR services tailored to companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region. Instead of starting from a number, we start from your environment: how many devices and servers you have, what is critical to the business, which regulatory requirements you must meet, and how fast a response you truly need. Based on that, we propose a billing model (per endpoint, per user, or fixed) that is the most predictable for your budget, with a clear SLA and the EDR/SIEM technology behind the monitoring.

The advantage of a regional partner is that you are talking to a team that understands the local context, speaks your language, and can reach you quickly when needed. If you want a price tailored to your company, the fastest route is a free assessment: tell us the number of devices and a basic description of your environment, and we will return a transparent, personalized quote with no hidden items. Contact NeoBit and request a free assessment of the cost of SOC and MDR services for your environment.

Frequently asked questions

How is the price of a SOC and MDR service billed?

It is most often billed per endpoint (device), per user, or through a fixed monthly fee for an agreed scope. On top of this, there is almost always a component tied to data volume, especially if the solution includes a SIEM. The exact model and amount are determined only after an assessment of your environment.

What has the greatest impact on the cost of a SOC service?

The greatest impact comes from the number of devices being monitored, the scope of data sources (network, cloud, identities), the required response time and SLA, and the level of service, that is, whether it involves detection only or also active response. The volume and length of log retention required by regulation also have an effect.

Is it more cost-effective to have an in-house SOC or to use an external MDR?

For most small and medium-sized companies, an external MDR is more sustainable because you avoid the high initial investment, the cost of a team for 24/7 operation, licenses, and log storage. An in-house SOC usually pays off only for large organizations with specific regulatory requirements and a sufficient number of incidents to justify an internal team.

How can I get a price for my company?

The fastest route is a free assessment. Tell NeoBit the number of devices, the data sources you want to cover, and the kind of incident response you need, and we will return a personalized and transparent quote tailored to your environment and risk level.

Related guides: Cyber security in Bosnia and Herzegovina - the complete guide · Threat intelligence: how to predict cyber attacks · What is MDR (Managed Detection and Response) and who needs it?