Managed IT Support Costs in the UK in 2026

Managed IT support turns your IT into a predictable monthly cost. Instead of paying for help only when something breaks, you pay a managed service provider (MSP) a fixed fee to support your team, look after your devices and keep your systems secure. But prices are presented in very different ways, and many providers do not publish them at all, so comparing quotes can be difficult.

How managed IT support is priced

Most providers charge a fixed monthly fee based on one of these models:

• Per user: one price for each member of staff, covering every device they use. Simple to understand, especially when people use a laptop, a desktop and a phone.
• Per device: a price for each workstation or laptop, with servers and network equipment priced separately. Often better value when devices are shared, or when you want to pay only for the equipment that is actually supported.
• Tiered packages: several levels of service — for example, support only, or support with added security — each priced per user or per device.
• Co-managed IT: for businesses with their own IT person or team. The provider supplies monitoring, patching, tools and escalation support, while your team handles day-to-day requests.
• Pay-as-you-go or block hours: you pay for the time you use. It can be cheaper if you rarely need help, but costs are unpredictable and there is little incentive to prevent problems before they happen.

Whichever model you are offered, the important question is what the monthly figure actually covers.

What affects the cost

• Users and devices. The main driver of almost every quote.
• Servers and infrastructure. On-premises servers, firewalls, switches and Wi-Fi all need monitoring, updates and, for servers, backup checks.
• Number of sites. More offices usually means more network equipment and more travel for onsite work.
• Level of security. Endpoint protection, vulnerability management, email filtering and security monitoring add cost, but they also reduce the risk and impact of an incident.
• Compliance needs. For example, preparing for Cyber Essentials or answering customers' security questionnaires.
• Service levels. Guaranteed response times, longer support hours and regular onsite visits increase the price.
• Your starting point. Unsupported equipment, undocumented systems or outstanding security issues can mean extra work when you join.

What is usually included, and what is not

A typical managed IT plan includes:

• remote helpdesk support for your staff
• monitoring and alerting for devices and servers
• operating system and application updates (patching)
• setting up new starters and removing leavers
• Microsoft 365 administration
• IT advice and planning

These are often charged separately:

• Microsoft 365 and other software licences
• new hardware and its installation
• projects such as office moves, migrations or new networks
• onsite visits beyond any that are included
• third-party services such as broadband, phone lines and backup storage
• out-of-hours work

A low monthly price can look attractive until you add the extras you actually need. Ask for a written list of inclusions and exclusions with every quote.

An example: how Pulsar IT prices managed IT

We publish our prices to make comparison easier. They are per month, exclude VAT, and are confirmed after a short scoping review of your setup.

• Co-Managed IT: £15 per device, for businesses with in-house IT.
• Essential IT Support: £25 per device, with helpdesk support for all staff, proactive monitoring and a device security baseline.
• Advanced IT & Security: £35 per device, adding endpoint protection and basic vulnerability scanning on every device.
• Microsoft 365 management and security baseline: £125 per organisation, added once with any plan. Microsoft 365 licences are not included.
• Managed servers at £100 per server, and managed firewalls at £95 per firewall, including automated security monitoring of firewall logs.

To estimate a monthly cost, multiply the plan price by your number of workstations and laptops, add the Microsoft 365 baseline once, then add any servers, firewalls and security services you need. Some services, such as Microsoft 365 backup, email filtering and security awareness training, are priced on application because they depend on your setup. Our quote builder does the calculation for you and shows VAT separately, and our pricing page sets out what each plan includes.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. Is pricing per user or per device, and how are servers, firewalls and extra sites charged?
2. What exactly is included, and what is treated as a project or an extra?
3. Are there onboarding or setup fees?
4. What are the response times and support hours, and what does out-of-hours work cost?
5. Which security services are included: endpoint protection, patching, backup, monitoring?
6. Is security monitoring automated, staffed, or both — and during which hours? (Our guide to SIEM, SOAR and managed security monitoring explains the difference.)
7. What is the minimum contract term and notice period?
8. If you leave, will documentation, passwords and administrative access be handed over?

The cheapest option is not always the lowest cost

The real cost of IT includes downtime, lost productivity and the disruption of a security incident. A plan that keeps devices updated, monitored and protected can cost more each month but save time and money over a year. Equally, you should not pay for services you do not need: a good provider should be able to explain why every item is in your quote.

What to do next

Use our quote builder to see what managed IT would cost for your business in a few minutes, or book a free security review if you would like to understand where your business stands first. You can also read more about our managed IT support.