“What does this actually cost?” is usually the second question we get, right after “do we really need this?” Here’s a straight answer, with real market numbers, instead of the usual “contact us for a quote” runaround.
Key Takeaways
- Buying Managed EDR direct from a vendor typically runs $8–$9 per endpoint/month; buying through an MSP or MSSP typically runs $7–$15 per endpoint/month, inclusive of monitoring and support.
- Identity threat detection (ITDR) and security awareness training (SAT) each typically add a few more dollars per user/month.
- Humacentric Guardian bundles all three — EDR, ITDR, and SAT — starting at $9/user/month, with a fully managed option at $19/user/month.
- The real comparison isn’t tool cost vs. no cost — it’s monthly cost vs. the cost of a single incident.
What the Market Actually Charges
Pricing in this space is confusing on purpose in a lot of cases — “contact sales” pages and enterprise-oriented quoting processes aren’t built for a 15-person business trying to get a straight number. Based on current published and MSP-reported pricing:
- Managed EDR: roughly $7–$15 per endpoint/month through a managed provider; around $9/endpoint/month buying directly from a major platform vendor
- Managed ITDR: commonly $5–$8 per user/month as an add-on
- Security Awareness Training: typically $1.25–$4 per user/month for the platform alone; more for a fully managed program with phishing simulations and reporting
Add those up separately and a small business assembling all three from different vendors is often looking at somewhere in the $15–$25 per user/month range, before accounting for the time someone on staff has to spend managing three separate vendor relationships and dashboards.
What Humacentric Guardian Costs
| Plan | Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Guardian Essentials | Managed EDR | $9/user/mo |
| Guardian Complete | Managed EDR + ITDR + SAT | $19/user/mo |
One bill, one team accountable for all three layers, instead of three vendor relationships and three separate invoices to reconcile. Full details, add-on pricing, and volume discounts are on our pricing page.
The Comparison That Actually Matters
It’s easy to look at any of these numbers and think “that adds up over a year.” It does. But recent industry data puts that in perspective: 40% of small businesses say a cyber incident costing $100,000 or less would force them to close, and small businesses are targeted nearly four times as often as larger companies. A 20-person business on Guardian Complete spends $380/month, or $4,560/year. That’s the cost of prevention against a category of incident that closes companies outright.
How to Get an Exact Number for Your Business
Per-user pricing is simple math once we know your headcount and current environment — that’s exactly what a free risk assessment covers, along with an honest read on whether Essentials or Complete is the right starting point.
FAQ
Is there a setup fee?
Most accounts include a modest one-time onboarding fee covering deployment and integration — details are on the pricing page, and it’s often waivable on an annual term.
Do prices go down for larger teams?
Yes — volume discounts start at 26 users, with additional savings for annual prepay.
Can we start smaller and add layers later?
Yes. Most clients start with Essentials or Complete and adjust after seeing the reporting in action.
Want an exact number for your headcount? Book a free risk assessment — no obligation, no enterprise sales process.