SOC Cost in 2026: What It Costs to Build vs Outsource a 24/7 Security Operations Center

If you're researching the cost of a Security Operations Center (SOC) today, it's crucial to start with one important clarification: A SOC is a security operations center; SOC 2 is an audit report. They're very different, yet because of their names, they often get confused.

The next question is the SOC cost. The price for building a SOC usually goes far beyond a single analyst or tool.

A successful security operations center needs people, processes, coverage, logging, investigation workflows, and steady improvement over time.

That's why Small and Midsize Businesses (SMBs) compare building a security operations center to outsourced options, such as a virtual SOC.

The right path depends on your size, your internal team, and how fast you need outcomes.

Key Takeaways

• A true 24/7 in-house SOC usually costs far more than most SMBs expect.

• The biggest drivers are staffing, tooling, and log infrastructure.

• Co-managed SOC models can reduce some burden, but they still require internal time and budget.

• SOC as a service (SOCaaS) or managed Virtual SOC (vSOC) options often deliver faster time to value and more predictable costs.

Typical SOC Cost Ranges

For most SMBs, security operations center pricing falls into three broad buckets. Exact pricing will vary by endpoint count, log volume, coverage scope, and response Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

When SMBs build a SOC in-house, they often start with 2 or 3 analysts to handle alert review and investigations. That can be enough to review alerts and investigate issues during working hours, though it rarely delivers real 24/7 coverage.

As your environment grows, so does the workload. Endpoint, identity, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and network telemetry add up fast.

Larger organizations often run teams of 8-10 analysts to support greater specialization across monitoring, investigations, engineering, and threat hunting.

When we look at SOC cost, we usually break it into three parts: staffing, security tooling, and log infrastructure. Here are a few examples:

• For an organization with about 100 endpoints, a minimal internal team of two or three analysts often lands between $500,000 and $750,000 per year. That estimate usually includes salaries, SIEM licensing, and log storage and analysis.

• A co-managed approach still carries internal costs. You still need people, tools, and partner fees. For many SMBs, that lands around $250,000 to $500,000 per year.

• SOCaaS pricing is often more accessible for this segment. Organizations with about 100 endpoints can often access managed monitoring and response for roughly $30,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on telemetry volume and response scope.

That last range is wide for a reason. Security operations center pricing depends on how much data you collect, what actions your provider takes, and how much of the stack you include. You can also compare packaging on RADICL Pricing.

What’s Included in SOC Cost?

Many teams start with headcount. But that's only one part of the entire picture. Here's what typically goes into the total SOC cost:

The tooling piece is where many SMBs get stuck.

You may hear a long list of categories and acronyms:

• EDR
• XDR
• SIEM
• Network detection and response 
• Identity monitoring 
• File integrity tools 
• Vulnerability scanners

The hard part isn't finding tools. It’s knowing which mix actually fits your environment.

That's where many teams overspend, duplicate coverage, or miss key visibility. One platform catches endpoints well. Another sees identity issues. Another store's logs. Another handles cases. Soon, you're paying for several tools and still doing manual handoffs. 

Then, there's the data tax. Every new log source adds storage, retention, and search costs. A low starting quote can increase once you add more data, longer retention periods, or deeper investigative needs. 

Time-to-value matters too. Building a SOC from scratch can take six to 18 months to hire, deploy, tune, document, and stabilize operations. That delay has a cost. 

It's also hard to find analysts with deep experience across many tools and threat patterns. That's one reason outsourced models appeal to SMBs. You immediately get access to people who do this work every day across many environments, allowing you to spot patterns faster. 

If you want broader support than alert review alone, RADICL’s approach combines 24/7 monitoring, investigation, response, platform visibility, threat hunting, and direct access to consultants. That coverage gives you operational depth without hiring a full in-house team. 

SOCaaS or Managed SOC pricing models

Managed SOC pricing comes in a few common models.

Most providers price in one of these ways: 

• Per endpoint for workstations and servers
• Per user, when identity monitoring and SaaS activity are in scope
• Per GB per day for SIEM-heavy logging and analytics
• Tiered packages such as Essentials, Advanced, or Complete

Less common models include:

• Per site or location
• Per firewall
• Per incident handled

One of the benefits of SOCaaS or managed SOC pricing is simplicity.

A managed service can often roll pricing into a small set of variables. But each vendor prices it differently. You may end up managing separate contracts and separate bills across the stack.

Here's what usually changes price the most:

• Coverage Scope: 8x5 coverage costs less than full 24/7 operations.

• Response Actions: Notify-only services are cheaper, but outcomes are limited. Active containment can include actions like isolating an endpoint, disabling an account, or blocking an indicator of compromise. Full incident handling may also include deeper investigation, forensics support, and recovery coordination.

• Tooling Model: Costs shift depending on whether the provider includes the stack, supports Bring Your Own (BYO) tools, or works in a hybrid model.

• Compliance Evidence Requirements: Teams with audit requirements often need stronger documentation, clearer workflows, and better reporting. 

• Log Retention and Searchability: Fourteen-day, 90-day, and one-year archives all price differently. Hot storage (high-speed, frequently-accessed data) costs more than cold storage.

If you're comparing managed SOC pricing, ask one simple question early: What outcomes are actually included at this price?

That helps distinguish a low-cost alert-forwarding service from a provider that can investigate, respond, document, and help you improve over time.

Should You Build, Co-Manage, or Outsource Your SOC?

The right answer depends on your operating model.

If You're a Founder-Led Company…

Outsourcing is usually the best fit.

You need outcomes fast. Hiring, tooling, and process design can pull focus from the core business.

A managed vSOC gives you more predictable cost, expert-led operations, and faster time-to-value.

You don't need to become a SOC operator to get protected. Explore more on cybersecurity for SMBs. 

If You Work With an MSP…

Co-managed or outsourced can work well.

Your MSP usually owns IT operations. Your security partner should own security operations in a way that supports that relationship.

The best model is clear about shared responsibility. Your provider handles monitoring, investigation, and security guidance. Your MSP or internal team handles the hands-on changes inside your environment. That reduces vendor friction and keeps remediation moving.

For teams in this model, the biggest wins are reduced alert noise, higher-quality escalations, and clearer follow-through.

If You Have Internal IT Staff…

Co-managed or outsourced is often the best fit.

Your team may already run key tools. The gap is usually the operational muscle for 24/7 detection, investigation, response, and documentation.

That's where outside coverage helps. You compress time, add expertise, and give your IT team space to focus on the business.

You also gain operational transparency. Your team can see what's happening, what was investigated, and what still needs action.

If You Have a Dedicated Security Team…

Co-managing often makes the most sense.

You may want to keep governance and strategic control in-house. You may still struggle with after-hours coverage, retention, specialist depth, or data correlation across tools.

A strong partner can cover nights and weekends, add specialist investigation support, improve reporting, and help consolidate vendor sprawl.

For that kind of model, the value often comes from scalable coverage and stronger operational evidence. RADICL’s platform is built to support that visibility.

Stay Protected, 24/7

If you're weighing the cost of building a SOC against outsourcing, the biggest question isn't just price. It's how quickly you can get reliable coverage, clear visibility, and a confident response.

For most SMBs, building an in-house security operations center takes more time, money, and operational lift than expected. A managed detection and response model can shorten that path and make costs easier to plan.

Want to talk through your environment, your goals, and the right cost model? Talk to a RADICL expert today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 24/7 SOC cost?

A 24/7 SOC can range widely based on staffing, tooling, and data volume. For many SMBs, an internal SOC starts around $500,000 to $750,000 per year. Co-managed models often land around $250,000 to $500,000. Managed services can range from about $30,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on scope.

What is SOCaaS pricing?

SOCaaS pricing is the subscription cost for outsourced security operations. It usually depends on endpoints, users, log volume, coverage hours, response scope, and retention needs. SOC-as-a-Service pricing is often easier to forecast than building a security operations center internally.

What is included in managed SOC pricing?

Managed SOC pricing often includes monitoring, alert triage, investigation, response support, reporting, case management, and ongoing tuning. Some providers also include platform visibility, threat hunting, and compliance-ready documentation.

How much does a SOC 2 audit cost?

The SOC 2 audit cost is separate from security operations center pricing. It depends on audit scope, readiness, control maturity, and whether you need outside advisory support. If you're budgeting both, treat them as different line items.

Does a SIEM replace a SOC?

No. A SIEM helps collect, search, and analyze logs. A SOC is the people, processes, and operational functions that use that data to detect, investigate, and respond. Better alert handling also improves cost control over time, especially when your team has a clear triage process.

How do I reduce SOC costs without increasing risk?

Start by reducing tool overlap, focusing on the right telemetry, and clarifying who handles what. Many teams lower costs by moving from scattered tools to a managed model with clearer coverage and stronger support for investigation. You can also cut waste by improving how you triage SOC alerts, tightening response workflows, and making smarter retention choices.