What security is included in managed IT pricing?

For an 80–120 employee company, a modern managed IT security stack typically includes endpoint protection, identity security, backup, and continuous monitoring, with costs ranging from $149–$229 per user per month when bundled into managed services.

In today’s digital landscape, it is critical for companies to understand the components of their IT infrastructure. An 80–120 employee company may face unique challenges in its security needs. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can assist in navigating these complexities by offering comprehensive managed security solutions tailored to the company’s specific requirements.

At Smarter IT, security is not an add-on. Core protections are deployed across 100% of users and devices, with 24/7 monitoring, Microsoft 365 security standards enforced, and incident response built into support — reducing both breach risk and surprise costs.

When implementing these security measures, it’s important to consider the type of data your company handles. For instance, companies in finance or healthcare sectors inherently have stricter security requirements due to the sensitivity of the data they manage. Therefore, the security solutions provided by MSPs must be robust enough to meet these regulatory standards.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of these security measures is directly linked to employee training and awareness. Regular training sessions can help staff recognize potential threats such as phishing attacks, which are increasingly sophisticated. This investment in human capital can significantly reduce the risk of a security breach.

The 5-Layer Security Stack Smarter IT Includes

As we delve into the five-layer security stack, it’s crucial to understand the importance of a holistic approach. Each layer builds upon the previous one, creating a comprehensive defense strategy. This layered security ensures that if one layer fails, others remain in place to protect the organization.

Layer 1 – Identity & Access Protection

Layer 1 emphasizes the need for identity and access protection. With the increase in remote work, the risk of unauthorized access has grown exponentially. Therefore, adopting advanced tools like Single Sign-On (SSO) alongside MFA can significantly tighten access controls.

Included controls:

  • Mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Admin privilege separation
  • Microsoft Conditional Access baseline policies
  • Phishing Resistant Admin Protection

Risk reduced:

  • Credential theft
  • Unauthorized access
  • Lateral movement attacks

Layer 2 - Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

With Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), organizations can quickly identify and remediate threats. This rapid response capability minimizes potential damage and ensures business continuity. Companies should regularly review their EDR configurations to adapt to the evolving threat landscape.

Included controls:

  • Enterprise-grade EDR on all endpoints
  • Continuous threat monitoring
  • Automated isolation of infected devices

Key metric:

  • Threats detected and contained within minutes, not days

Layer 3 - Microsoft 365 Security Standards

Implementing Microsoft 365 security standards not only enhances protection but also improves user confidence. Employees are more likely to work effectively when they know their personal and professional data is secure.

Included controls:

  • Secure tenant configuration
  • Email security and phishing protection
  • Baseline data loss prevention (DLP) policies

Why this matters:
Most breaches start in email — this layer addresses the #1 attack vector.

Layer 4 - Backup, Recovery & Business Continuity

Backup, recovery, and business continuity planning are essential pillars of an organization’s IT strategy. Regular simulations of disaster recovery plans can ensure preparedness and reduce downtime in the event of a security incident.

Included controls:

  • Verified backups for servers and critical data
  • Microsoft 365 data protection
  • Regular backup testing
  • Immutable, Encrypted, Offsite Backups

Outcome:

  • Ransomware resilience
  • Faster recovery times

Layer 5 – Monitoring, SOC & Managed Detection (SIEM / MXDR)

Layer 5 brings all security signals together to ensure threats are not only detected, but correlated, prioritized, and responded to across the environment. This layer focuses on centralized visibility and coordinated response beyond individual systems.

Security alerts from endpoints, identity platforms, and Microsoft 365 are monitored and analyzed to identify patterns that may indicate active threats or emerging risks.

Included controls:

  • Centralized security monitoring and alert correlation
  • Integration of endpoint, identity, and Microsoft 365 security signals
  • Escalation and response workflows for confirmed threats
  • Security event logging and visibility across systems

Key outcomes:

  • Faster identification of complex or multi-stage attacks
  • Reduced alert noise through correlation and prioritization
  • Coordinated response that extends beyond a single device

This layer works in conjunction with endpoint protection and identity security to provide a broader view of security activity and ensure incidents are addressed consistently.

Real Client Example

A sales and marketing employee at a Smarter IT–managed organization received an email from a known external contact they were actively working with. The sender’s account had been compromised, making the message appear legitimate.

The email contained a password-protected ZIP file with an embedded ISO image. After the user entered the password and mounted the ISO file, malware was executed on the endpoint.

What Happened Next

  • Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) immediately detected suspicious execution behavior and isolated the device from the network within minutes.
  • Managed Detection & Response (MXDR) alerted Smarter IT and the client simultaneously, triggering the incident response process.
  • Using centralized SIEM logging, the team verified:
    • What files were accessed
    • What processes were executed
    • Whether any data was transmitted externally

Outcome

  • No lateral movement occurred
  • No data exfiltration was detected
  • The attack was contained to a single endpoint

The combination of endpoint isolation, centralized monitoring, and correlated event analysis stopped a targeted attack immediately and allowed the organization to confirm impact with confidence.

 

In conclusion, understanding the security measures included in IT pricing is essential for any organization looking to safeguard its digital assets. By leveraging the expertise of MSPs and adopting a multi-layered security approach, companies can significantly reduce their risk exposure and enhance their resilience against cyber threats.