How Much Does a Managed SOC Cost in UAE in 2026?
Managed SOC (Security Operations Center) services in the UAE cost AED 5,000 – AED 30,000 per month depending on coverage level, number of endpoints, and included capabilities. This is 80-90% less than building an in-house SOC.
Managed SOC Tiered Pricing
| Tier | Coverage | Features | Monthly Cost (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 8×5 monitoring | SIEM alerting, basic incident triage, monthly reports | 5,000 – 8,000 |
| Professional | 24/7 monitoring | SIEM + EDR, weekly threat hunting, incident response, compliance reporting | 10,000 – 18,000 |
| Enterprise | 24/7 + dedicated analyst | Full MDR, daily threat hunting, compliance reporting, IR retainer, custom playbooks | 18,000 – 30,000 |
In-House SOC vs Managed SOC: Annual Cost
| Factor | In-House SOC | Managed SOC |
|---|---|---|
| Staff (6-8 analysts for 24/7) | AED 1,200,000 – 2,000,000 | Included |
| SIEM License | AED 100,000 – 500,000/yr | Included |
| EDR/XDR Tools | AED 50,000 – 200,000/yr | Included |
| Facility & Infrastructure | AED 100,000 – 300,000/yr | N/A |
| Training & Certifications | AED 50,000 – 100,000/yr | Included |
| Threat Intelligence Feeds | AED 30,000 – 100,000/yr | Included |
| Total Annual | AED 1,530,000 – 3,200,000 | AED 60,000 – 360,000 |
Per-Endpoint Pricing Model
Some managed SOC providers price per endpoint rather than flat monthly fees:
| Endpoint Count | Per Endpoint/Month (AED) | Estimated Monthly Total (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 endpoints | 40 – 50 | 2,000 – 2,500 |
| 50-200 endpoints | 30 – 45 | 1,500 – 9,000 |
| 200-500 endpoints | 20 – 35 | 4,000 – 17,500 |
| 500+ endpoints | 15 – 25 | 7,500 – 12,500+ |
What Is Included in Managed SOC Services
Essential Tier (AED 5,000 – 8,000/mo)
- SIEM deployment and log management
- 8×5 alert monitoring and triage
- Automated threat detection rules
- Monthly security summary reports
- Email notification for critical alerts
- Up to 50 log sources
Professional Tier (AED 10,000 – 18,000/mo)
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- 24/7/365 monitoring by certified analysts
- EDR deployment and management
- Weekly proactive threat hunting
- Incident response coordination
- Compliance-ready reporting (ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NESA)
- Vulnerability scan correlation
- Up to 200 log sources
Enterprise Tier (AED 18,000 – 30,000/mo)
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- Dedicated security analyst
- Daily threat hunting campaigns
- Custom detection rules and playbooks
- SOAR automation for common incidents
- Incident response retainer (up to 40 hours/year)
- Executive dashboard and board-ready reports
- Threat intelligence briefings
- Unlimited log sources
SIEM Technology Options
| SIEM Platform | Type | Best For | Impact on Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Sentinel | Cloud-native | Microsoft-heavy environments | Lower (bundled with E5) |
| Splunk | On-prem / Cloud | Large enterprises, complex environments | Higher (data volume pricing) |
| IBM QRadar | On-prem / Cloud | Regulated industries | Medium-High |
| Elastic Security | Open source / Cloud | Cost-conscious, technical teams | Lower |
| Google Chronicle | Cloud-native | Google Cloud environments | Medium (flat-rate pricing) |
Factors That Affect Managed SOC Pricing
- Number of endpoints: More devices = higher cost (but better per-unit rates at scale)
- Log volume: High-volume environments (e.g., e-commerce) generate more data for analysis
- Coverage hours: 8×5 vs 24/7 is the biggest pricing differentiator
- Compliance requirements: PCI DSS, NESA, and ISO 27001 require specific logging and reporting
- Incident response: Whether IR hours are included or billed separately
- Data residency: UAE-hosted SIEM costs more than global cloud options
- Custom integrations: OT/SCADA monitoring, custom applications, or legacy systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a managed SOC cost in UAE?
Managed SOC services in UAE cost AED 5,000 – 30,000 per month. Basic 8×5 monitoring starts at AED 5,000/month, while 24/7 enterprise-grade SOC with dedicated analysts costs AED 18,000-30,000/month. This is 80-90% less than building an in-house SOC.
What is the difference between SOC and SIEM?
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is the technology platform that collects and analyzes security logs. SOC (Security Operations Center) is the team of analysts who monitor the SIEM, investigate alerts, and respond to incidents. A managed SOC includes both the technology and the human expertise.
Do I need 24/7 SOC monitoring?
If you process sensitive data (financial, healthcare, PII) or are a target for advanced threats, 24/7 monitoring is strongly recommended. Attackers often strike outside business hours. For lower-risk environments, 8×5 monitoring with after-hours automated alerting may suffice.
Can a managed SOC meet NESA compliance requirements?
Yes. A properly configured managed SOC satisfies NESA IA requirements for continuous monitoring, incident detection, and security event logging. Ensure your provider delivers compliance-specific reports and maintains UAE data residency if required.
How quickly can a managed SOC be deployed?
Essential tier: 1-2 weeks. Professional tier: 2-4 weeks. Enterprise tier: 4-8 weeks. Deployment time depends on the number of log sources, endpoint agent rollout, and custom integration requirements.
Get Managed SOC Pricing
eShield provides managed SOC services from our UAE-based security operations center. Get 24/7 monitoring without the cost of building an in-house team.
Related: Managed SOC services | Penetration testing | vCISO services
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