What Does Outsourcing IT Cost for SMEs? Prices & Comparison 2026

What Does Outsourcing IT Cost for SMEs? Prices & Comparison 2026

In 2026, outsourcing IT costs an SME an average of €65 to €125 per workstation per month, depending on the service level and the size of your organisation. A company with 20 employees in the Netherlands therefore pays between €1,300 and €2,500 a month for fully managed IT, including helpdesk, monitoring and baseline security.

Key points (TL;DR)

• Basic IT management: €50-75 per workstation/month: monitoring, updates, helpdesk during office hours
• Fully managed IT: €100-150 per workstation/month, including security, 24/7 support and strategic advice
• An average SME (25 workstations) pays €1,625-€3,750/month for outsourced IT management
• Break-even point: outsourcing becomes cheaper than one in-house IT employee once you have 15+ workstations
• Hidden cost: downtime costs Dutch SMEs an average of €4,500 per hour. Proactive management helps you avoid it
• NIS2 compliance adds €15-30 per workstation/month as an extra security layer

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What does outsourcing IT cost per service level?

The price of outsourced IT depends heavily on the service level you choose. In the Netherlands, there are three common models:

1. Basic IT management: €50-75 per workstation/month

This is the entry level for businesses taking their first step towards outsourced IT management.

Included:

• Remote monitoring of workstations and servers (24/7)
• Software updates and patch management
• Helpdesk during office hours (08:00-17:30)
• Antivirus management and baseline security
• Monthly reporting and incident handling

Not included:

• Advanced cybersecurity (EDR, SOC)
• On-site support (separate rate: €85-125/hour)
• Strategic IT advice
• Projects and migrations
• 24/7 out-of-hours support

Who it's for: businesses with up to 15 workstations, or organisations with some in-house IT knowledge.

2. Fully managed IT: €100-150 per workstation/month

The most popular model for SMEs that want IT taken entirely off their hands.

Included:

• Everything in the basic package
• Advanced cybersecurity: EDR, email security, vulnerability scanning
• 24/7 helpdesk and monitoring
• On-site support when needed
• Strategic IT advice and quarterly reviews
• Backup and disaster recovery
• A dedicated account manager
• Guaranteed response times (SLA)

Who it's for: businesses with 15+ workstations that want fully managed IT without hiring their own IT staff.

3. Enterprise managed IT: €150-250 per workstation/month

For organisations with complex environments, multiple locations or strict compliance requirements.

Included:

• Everything in the fully managed package
• Dedicated SOC monitoring (24/7 Security Operations Center)
• Compliance support (NIS2, ISO 27001, NEN 7510)
• Tailored SLA with response times of 15-30 minutes
• In-depth reporting and boardroom presentations
• Penetration tests and security audits

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Comparison: outsourcing versus an in-house IT employee

One of the most common questions is: is outsourcing cheaper than hiring your own IT employee?

The verdict: for organisations with 15+ workstations, outsourcing is demonstrably cheaper than one in-house IT employee, and you get access to a full team of specialists instead of a single person.

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Price calculation by company size

Use the table below as an indication for your organisation:

From 50 workstations upwards, most providers offer a volume discount of 10-15%.

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Which factors affect the price?

The final price of outsourced IT depends on several variables:

Number of workstations: the more workstations, the lower the price per workstation. Economies of scale kick in from around 25-50 workstations.

Complexity of the IT environment: legacy systems, custom applications or multiple locations increase the management workload, and with it the cost. A standard Microsoft 365 environment is simpler to manage than a mixed on-premises/cloud environment.

Security and compliance requirements: organisations that fall under NIS2, DORA or ISO 27001 pay an extra €15-30 per workstation for the additional security measures.

SLA level: 24/7 availability with a 15-minute response time costs more than an office-hours helpdesk with a 4-hour response time.

Contract length: a 36-month contract typically brings a 5-10% discount compared with a 12-month agreement.

Industry-specific requirements: healthcare, financial services and government have additional requirements (NEN 7510, DORA) that bring extra costs.

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The hidden costs of doing it yourself

Many businesses underestimate their real IT costs when they handle IT management themselves.

Downtime: unexpected outages cost Dutch SMEs an average of €4,500 per hour in lost productivity. Proactive management prevents 80-85% of incidents before they have any impact.

Security incidents: the average damage from a ransomware attack on an SME is €150,000-€250,000, excluding reputational damage. A solid cybersecurity strategy prevents most attacks.

Opportunity costs: every hour a director or manager spends on IT problems is an hour taken away from strategic work. At an hourly rate of €100+, that quickly becomes more expensive than professional management.

Knowledge gap: IT changes at breakneck speed. Without continuous training, knowledge goes out of date within 12-18 months, which leads to higher risks.

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Why choose TRON Group?

TRON Group is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) based in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, specialising in IT management and cybersecurity for Dutch SMEs.

What sets TRON Group apart from other IT providers:

• Transparent fixed prices: no billing by the hour, no hidden costs
• A complete team of specialists: network experts, security engineers, cloud architects and helpdesk staff
• Proactive management: 24/7 monitoring prevents problems before they have an impact
• SME focus: we understand the challenges of growing Dutch businesses
• MSSP approach: security isn't an optional extra, it's the foundation of our service

Want to know exactly what outsourcing would cost you? Call us on +31 85 303 5869 or request a free IT Quick Scan.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Cost of Outsourcing IT

What does outsourcing IT cost for a company with 10 employees?

For a company with 10 employees, basic IT management costs €500-€750 per month. Fully managed IT costs €1,000-€1,500 per month. This includes 24/7 monitoring, helpdesk, updates and baseline security. If you also want advanced cybersecurity and strategic advice, expect to be at the top of that range.

Is outsourcing IT cheaper than employing your own IT person?

Yes. For most SMEs, outsourcing becomes cheaper once you have 12-15 workstations. Including employer costs, training, tooling and overheads, an in-house IT employee costs at least €5,400 per month. Fully managed IT for 25 workstations costs €2,500-€3,750 per month. That's less than half, with access to a full team of specialists.

What is typically included in an IT management contract?

A standard IT management contract covers: 24/7 system monitoring, software updates and patch management, a helpdesk (office hours or 24/7 depending on the package), incident handling, monthly reporting and antivirus management. Fully managed packages add cybersecurity, backup, strategic advice and on-site support. Always ask for a concrete SLA with guaranteed response times.

How quickly does outsourcing IT pay for itself?

Most SMEs see a return on their investment within 6-12 months. The main savings come from less downtime (an average of €4,500 per hour saved), lower costs from security incidents, and no HR costs for in-house IT staff. Proactive management also prevents 80-85% of IT problems before they cause lost productivity.

What does outsourcing IT cost with compliance requirements (NIS2)?

Organisations that fall under NIS2 pay an extra €15-30 per workstation per month for the additional security measures the directive requires. This covers more extensive monitoring, incident response procedures, supply chain security and reporting. For a company with 25 workstations, the total extra cost is therefore €375-€750 per month on top of regular IT management.

Can you combine outsourced IT with your own IT employee?

Yes, this is called co-managed IT or hybrid IT management. Your own IT employee stays in control and keeps the knowledge of the organisation, while the external partner takes over 24/7 monitoring, specialist tasks (security, cloud) and the day-to-day helpdesk load. This model typically costs 30-40% less than fully outsourcing, while still giving you extra capacity and expertise.

How do I choose the right IT partner for my business?

Look for: proven experience in your industry, certifications (ISO 27001, Microsoft Gold Partner), a transparent SLA with guaranteed response times, clear exit clauses in the contract, and references from comparable clients. Read our comprehensive guide to choosing an IT partner for all the criteria.

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TRON Group | Managed IT & Cybersecurity for Dutch SMEs | Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel | tron-group.eu | +31 85 303 5869