How Much Does Business IT Support Cost in the UK?
Header graphic for a UK business IT support pricing guide, showing a modern office desk with a laptop, support checklist, Microsoft 365 and cyber security themes.
What does IT support normally cost?
If you've ever asked an IT company how much support costs and received the answer “it depends”, that's because it genuinely should.
But that isn't a particularly useful answer when you're trying to set a budget.
The cost of managed IT support in the UK varies considerably depending on what's included. Published 2026 pricing guides put typical costs somewhere between £30 and £150 per user, per month, with basic support towards the bottom of that range and more comprehensive managed and security-led services towards the top.
The important bit, though, isn't simply how much you're paying.
It's what you're actually getting for it.
Most managed IT providers charge either:
per user, per month
per device, per month
a fixed monthly fee based on an agreed scope
Per-user pricing is particularly common because it makes monthly costs relatively predictable as businesses grow or shrink.
Current published pricing examples suggest some fairly broad bands:
| Type of IT support | Typical published range |
|---|---|
| Basic / reactive support | £30–£55 per user/month |
| Managed IT support | £50–£95 per user/month |
| Comprehensive / security-led support | £85–£150 per user/month |
These are market guide prices, not Four Squares prices, and there's plenty of overlap between them.
And that's where comparing IT support gets awkward.
A £35 service and a £90 service may both be sold as “Managed IT Support”, while including completely different things.
What's actually included in “Managed IT support”?
This is the question we'd suggest asking before looking too closely at the headline price.
Does the contract include:
Two quotes can look very different on price simply because one includes services that the other will charge for separately.
Compare the service, not just the number.
What affects the cost of IT support?
Number of users and devices
Unsurprisingly, supporting 50 people generally requires more resource than supporting five.
But don't assume every provider defines a “user” in the same way.
If somebody has a laptop, desktop and mobile device, for example, establish whether those devices are covered by the user price or charged separately.
The level of security
Modern IT support is increasingly intertwined with cyber security.
Endpoint protection, EDR, email security, vulnerability management, backups and managed threat detection can substantially change both the service being provided and its cost.
Current UK pricing guides consistently identify security coverage as one of the factors behind higher-priced managed support packages. [connection...gies.co.uk], [exquitech.co.uk]
Your infrastructure
A relatively straightforward Microsoft 365 environment with laptops and cloud applications is different to an organisation running servers, multiple sites, complex networking, specialist applications or legacy infrastructure.
Complexity matters.
Support hours and response times
Check when support is actually available and what the SLA promises.
“Unlimited IT support” sounds great, but you still need to know:
When can I contact you, and how quickly will you respond when something important breaks?
What should I look for when comparing IT support quotes?
Put the quotes next to each other and forget about the total for five minutes.
Support
What hours are covered? Is remote support unlimited? What about onsite work?
Devices
What's being monitored and managed?
Microsoft 365
Is administration included or charged separately?
Cyber security
Exactly which security products and services are included?
Backup
What's being backed up? Microsoft 365? Devices? Servers?
Monitoring
Is the provider simply receiving alerts, or actively responding to them?
Projects
Are migrations and larger project work included or separately chargeable?
Onboarding
Is there a setup or transition fee?
Contract
How long is the commitment, and what happens if you want to leave?
Once you've done that, compare the prices.
You'll have a much better idea of which quote offers better value.
Are cheaper IT support contracts bad?
Not necessarily.
A small business with simple requirements might genuinely only need straightforward helpdesk support.
There's little point paying for services you don't need.
Equally, a very cheap headline price deserves a closer look at what isn't included.
If security tools, backups, monitoring, onsite support and Microsoft 365 management are all separate extras, an inexpensive-looking service can become a rather different proposition once everything you actually need has been added.
The opposite is also true. There's no point buying the most expensive package simply because it has the longest list of features.
The right IT support contract should fit your business.
What does Four Squares charge for managed IT support?
We prefer being straightforward about this. We price it per user, everything is unlimited. no hidden extras.
We think you should be on Square Three - our managed IT and security service - and it is £39.99 per user, per month.
Square Three? There are others?
There’s a growing trend in managed IT towards offering a single, standard package.
We understand the logic. For larger organisations with established IT policies, security requirements and budgets, standardisation can work extremely well.
But it doesn't reflect the businesses we speak to every day.
Businesses are different. Their risks are different. Their budgets are different. And they're at very different stages in how they use and secure their technology.
We believe our job is to support your business, not order you around.
We take cyber security seriously. Very seriously. For most organisations, Square Three is the minimum level we'd recommend, combining business-hours IT support with proactive management and 24/7 security monitoring and response. Our existing service material positions Square Three in exactly that way, while Square Two focuses on proactive IT support and Square Four provides a complete 24/7 IT and security service.
But recommending something isn't the same as forcing you to buy it.
If you don't have the budget for that level of security today, we'd rather provide you with really good IT support through Square Two than refuse to work with you because you won't buy our preferred bundle.
Equally, if you've made an informed decision that additional security isn't right for your business, that's ultimately your decision.
We'll explain the risks. We'll tell you honestly what we'd recommend. We'll help you improve things when you're ready.
But we won't penalise you for saying no.
That's why we offer Square Two, Square Three and Square Four rather than pretending every business needs exactly the same thing.
Square Two: Really good IT support
Ideal for organisations seeking reliable IT support, improved security, reduced downtime, and confidence in their technology. Bringing together support, device management, cybersecurity, backup, and Microsoft 365 administration in one fully managed service.
Proactive Device Protection & Management
Advanced Antivirus & Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Continuous protection against malware, ransomware, and emerging threats, with intelligent detection and rapid response to suspicious activity.Automated Patch Management
Operating systems and third-party applications are kept up to date automatically, closing security vulnerabilities without interrupting users.Automated Issue Resolution
Routine problems (performance, disk usage, service failures) are detected and remediated automatically where possible, reducing downtime and user disruption.
Backup & Data Protection
Device Backups
Critical workstation data is securely backed up, ensuring rapid recovery in the event of hardware failure, loss, or ransomware incidents.
Microsoft 365 Backup
Protection for Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams data, safeguarding against accidental deletion, retention gaps, or malicious activity beyond Microsoft’s native recovery limits.
Email & Identity Security
Advanced Email Security
Protection against phishing, spoofing, malware, and business email compromise, helping keep your users and data safe.Branded Email Signatures
Centrally managed, professional email signatures applied consistently across the organisation, supporting brand consistency and marketing campaigns.
User-Centric Support
Business Hours Helpdesk (9:00 – 17:30)
Responsive support for your users, backed by a fully managed and monitored IT environment.User & Endpoint Management
Ongoing administration of devices, users, and policies to maintain security, compliance, and performance.
Square Two is our business-hours managed IT support service. It's proper support from highly qualified engineers, backed by proactive management of your IT environment.
It's bloody good IT support. But it isn't a 24/7 managed cyber security service.
We're deliberately honest about that distinction.
Square Three: IT support with security taken seriously
Combining fully managed IT support with continuous security oversight, proactive threat detection, and ongoing vulnerability testing. Ideal for organisations seeking enhanced protection, reduced cyber risk, and greater confidence in their technology environment.
Proactive Device Protection & Management
Advanced Antivirus & Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Continuous protection against malware, ransomware, and emerging threats, with intelligent detection and rapid response to suspicious activity.Automated Patch Management
Operating systems and third-party applications are kept up to date automatically, closing security vulnerabilities without interrupting users.Automated Issue Resolution
Routine problems (performance, disk usage, service failures) are detected and remediated automatically where possible, reducing downtime and user disruption.
Backup & Data Protection
Device Backups
Critical workstation data is securely backed up, ensuring rapid recovery in the event of hardware failure, loss, or ransomware incidents.
Microsoft 365 Backup
Protection for Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams data, safeguarding against accidental deletion, retention gaps, or malicious activity beyond Microsoft’s native recovery limits.
Email & Identity Security
Advanced Email Security
Protection against phishing, spoofing, malware, and business email compromise, helping keep your users and data safe.Branded Email Signatures
Centrally managed, professional email signatures applied consistently across the organisation, supporting brand consistency and marketing campaigns.
User-Centric Support
Business Hours Helpdesk (9:00 – 17:30)
Responsive support for your users, backed by a fully managed and monitored IT environment.User & Endpoint Management
Ongoing administration of devices, users, and policies to maintain security, compliance, and performance.
Continuous Security Validation
Inclusive vulnerability scanning & penetration testing (vPenTest)
Ongoing, enterprise-grade security testing built into the service; identifying weaknesses before attackers do, with clear remediation actions.
(A level of continuous testing rarely included as standard in managed IT services.)
24/7 Security Monitoring & Threat Response
24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC)
Round-the-clock monitoring of your environment to detect, investigate, and respond to potential threats in real time.Managed Threat Response
Security incidents are actively analysed and contained, reducing the likelihood of escalation or business impact.
Square Three takes everything we like about Square Two and adds the level of proactive cyber security we’d recommend for most businesses.
You still get our engineers during business hours, but your security doesn’t clock off when you do. 24/7 monitoring and response means real people are watching for threats and responding when something needs attention.
It brings support, device management and cyber protection together rather than treating security as an optional extra bolted on afterwards.
Square Four: Everything IT and security, 24/7
Providing 24/7 IT support, security operations, strategic oversight, and continuous improvement through a fully managed service. Ideal for organisations that want a trusted partner to take complete responsibility for technology and cyber security.
Proactive Device Protection & Management
Advanced Antivirus & Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Continuous protection against malware, ransomware, and emerging threats, with intelligent detection and rapid response to suspicious activity.Automated Patch Management
Operating systems and third-party applications are kept up to date automatically, closing security vulnerabilities without interrupting users.Automated Issue Resolution
Routine problems (performance, disk usage, service failures) are detected and remediated automatically where possible, reducing downtime and user disruption.
Backup & Data Protection
Device Backups
Critical workstation data is securely backed up, ensuring rapid recovery in the event of hardware failure, loss, or ransomware incidents.
Microsoft 365 Backup
Protection for Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams data, safeguarding against accidental deletion, retention gaps, or malicious activity beyond Microsoft’s native recovery limits.
Email & Identity Security
Advanced Email Security
Protection against phishing, spoofing, malware, and business email compromise, helping keep your users and data safe.Branded Email Signatures
Centrally managed, professional email signatures applied consistently across the organisation, supporting brand consistency and marketing campaigns.
User-Centric Support
Business Hours Helpdesk (9:00 – 17:30)
Responsive support for your users, backed by a fully managed and monitored IT environment.User & Endpoint Management
Ongoing administration of devices, users, and policies to maintain security, compliance, and performance.
Continuous Security Validation
Inclusive vulnerability scanning & penetration testing (vPenTest)
Ongoing, enterprise-grade security testing built into the service; identifying weaknesses before attackers do, with clear remediation actions.
(A level of continuous testing rarely included as standard in managed IT services.)
24/7 Security Monitoring & Threat Response
24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC)
Round-the-clock monitoring of your environment to detect, investigate, and respond to potential threats in real time.Managed Threat Response
Security incidents are actively analysed and contained, reducing the likelihood of escalation or business impact.
24/7 Support
24/7 fully managed IT support
Your entire IT environment is supported around the clock; real people, real expertise, always available to resolve issues and keep your business moving.
Continuous Improvement & Strategic Oversight
Proactive optimisation of your IT environment
Your systems aren’t just maintained; they are continuously improved, secured, and aligned to your business needs as you grow.
This is total ownership of your IT and security; proactively managed, continuously protected, and always improving.
Square Four is for organisations that need more than business-hours support.
IT support, Security Management and Response are available 24/7, bringing the whole thing together into one complete IT and security service.
No distinction between whether something happens at 11am or 11pm. If your business needs IT and security looked after around the clock, Square Four is us taking responsibility for the lot.
So, how much should you budget?
For planning purposes, the published UK market is broad: roughly £30 to £150 per user, per month, depending on what's included.
But we'd avoid choosing an IT provider based on that number alone.
Ask what is included. Ask what's excluded. Understand the security provision, the SLA and what happens when you actually need help.
Then look at the price.
Because the cheapest IT support isn't necessarily the best value.
And neither is the most expensive.
The best value is the service that gives your business the support, security and expertise it actually needs.