How Managed IT Is Typically Priced

There are three pricing models you’ll encounter in the Phoenix market:

Per-user, per-month (most common)

The dominant model. You pay a flat monthly fee per employee covered. This aligns the provider’s incentive with yours: they want your technology to work well so they don’t spend excessive time on it. It also makes budgeting predictable.

Typical range in the Phoenix market: $80–$200 per user per month depending on service tier and inclusions. What separates $80 from $200 is almost always the depth of the security stack, the monitoring coverage, and the SLA response times.

Per-device, per-month (less common, still used)

Fee is charged per managed device (workstations, servers, network equipment). Works reasonably well for businesses with a low user-to-device ratio. Becomes more expensive than per-user pricing as devices multiply.

Typical range: $25–$75 per device per month. A business with 20 users and 25 devices is usually better served by per-user pricing.

Flat monthly retainer (less common for SMBs)

A negotiated fixed monthly fee for a defined scope. More common for mid-market and larger organizations with well-defined environments. Requires more upfront scoping work to price fairly.

What Drives the Price Up or Down

When a Phoenix MSP gives you a quote, these are the factors that are actually moving the number:

What You Should Expect at Each Price Point

$80–$110 per user per month

This range typically covers the fundamentals: remote monitoring and management (RMM), basic patch management, helpdesk support with defined response times, and antivirus. You’re getting proactive IT management but a thinner security stack.

Appropriate for: businesses with lower risk profiles, limited compliance requirements, and internal tolerance for some security risk in exchange for lower cost.

At this price point, verify what’s NOT included. Many providers at this range do not include EDR (real endpoint security), email security, or security awareness training. These are not optional — they’re the controls your cyber insurance carrier is requiring.

$120–$160 per user per month

The mid-tier is where most Phoenix SMBs with real security requirements should land. At this range you should expect: RMM and patch management, EDR on all endpoints, email security filtering, security awareness training, backup monitoring, defined SLAs with after-hours coverage, and regular security reporting.

This is the range where the managed IT investment genuinely protects you, not just manages your devices.

For a 20-person Phoenix business, this range translates to $2,400–$3,200 per month. Compare that to the average cost of a single ransomware incident ($500K+) or a BEC wire fraud loss ($120K+). The math is not close.

$160–$200+ per user per month

Premium tier. At this range you’re getting a full security operations posture: 24/7 SOC monitoring, SIEM and log management, advanced threat hunting, compliance documentation, vCISO advisory, and guaranteed SLAs with financial remedies. Some providers at this tier include ransomware guarantees.

Appropriate for: healthcare practices, legal firms, financial services, government contractors, or any business where a breach would have regulatory, legal, or reputational consequences beyond just the direct costs.

What’s Typically NOT Included (Watch for These)

Almost every managed IT agreement has exclusions. Know them before you sign.

•       Project work: New server deployments, migrations, major upgrades, and office moves are typically billed separately from the flat monthly fee. Ask how projects are scoped and priced.

•       Hardware: Most MSPs manage your hardware but don’t own it. Replacement hardware is your cost. Some providers offer hardware-as-a-service; most don’t.

•       Software licensing: Microsoft 365, security tools, and other software licenses are often billed separately. Clarify whether licensing is included or pass-through.

•       After-hours on-site labor: Some agreements cover remote support 24/7 but charge a premium for after-hours on-site visits. Know the rate before you need it.

•       Third-party vendor management: Managing your internet provider, phone system, or line-of-business software vendors may or may not be included. Confirm.

The Real Cost Comparison: Managed IT vs. In-House vs. Break-Fix

The break-fix and part-time IT models look cheaper on paper. They aren’t, once you account for the cost of incidents that proper monitoring and security would have prevented.

AEGITz Pricing

AEGITz offers three service tiers for Phoenix-area businesses — GUARDIAN, SENTINEL, and FORTRESS — designed around the level of security posture your business actually requires. Our SENTINEL tier includes our $50,000 cash-backed ransomware guarantee.

We publish transparent pricing during the discovery process. We don’t require a discovery call to give you a ballpark — if you want a rough estimate before we speak, tell us your user count and industry and we’ll give you a range in writing.

Ready to get a real number? Contact AEGITz for a no-obligation quote. We’ll give you a transparent proposal within 48 hours — no vague ranges, no bait-and-switch tiers. aegitz.com