Worked examples, renewal and GST arithmetic, SLA and contract questions, and a due-diligence method for finding the best-fit provider.
There is no single "best" managed security provider. There is a best fit for your size, risk, systems and budget. This section gives you a repeatable way to find it. The selection guide sets out the method: define the scope, ask every shortlisted provider the same questions, normalise the quotes and score them against criteria you set before you see the prices.
The worked examples show the numbers behind real-world shapes of business: a 25-person professional office, in-house versus managed security, incident-response retainers, renewal uplifts and USD-priced services, FX buffers and GST. The SLA and contract questions and the due-diligence checklist help you test what a provider promises before you sign.
The calculators in the tools section use the same formulas, so you can rerun every example with your own quotes.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
A step-by-step method to scope, shortlist, question, normalise and score managed security providers so you find the best fit rather than the loudest marketing.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
Compare the cost of running security in-house with a managed service, including 24/7 roster arithmetic, tooling and on-costs, an illustrative payback calculation and hybrid options.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
How cyber incident-response retainers are priced in Australia, zero-fee versus prepaid models, an illustrative incident costing, insurer panel issues and contract points.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
A line-by-line illustrative costing of MDR, firewall, pen testing and an IR retainer for a 25-person Australian office, with renewal uplift, growth, GST and a cheaper alternative.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
How to check a managed security provider before you sign: reading ISO 27001, SOC 2 and IRAP claims, data location, privileged access, subcontractors, insurance, references and exit.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
Worked examples of how renewal uplifts, added users, expiring first-year discounts and log tiers raise a managed security bill, and how to negotiate caps and notice periods.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
The SLA definitions, contract clauses and questions that decide what a managed security provider must actually do, plus service credits and Australian unfair contract terms rules.
Worked costings and choosing a provider
How to budget a security platform or MDR service billed in US dollars, how GST works on imported digital services and local resellers, and how to set an FX buffer.
