For a 25–50 employee financial services firm in London, managed IT support typically costs £100–£150 per user per month. This puts most firms in the range of £3,000–£7,500 per month depending on security requirements, compliance support, and service coverage.

Unlike standard SMEs, FCA-regulated firms pay more because IT support must include cybersecurity controls, audit-ready documentation, incident response, and strategic oversight. The cost is driven less by headcount and more by regulatory risk and evidence requirements.

In short: you’re not paying for IT fixes — you’re paying for reduced regulatory, financial, and operational risk.

What’s Included in Managed IT Support for FCA-Regulated Firms?

Managed IT support for financial services goes beyond basic helpdesk and device management. A compliant service typically includes:

• User & device support (desktops, laptops, mobile devices)
• Server and cloud infrastructure management
• Cybersecurity tooling (EDR, MFA, email security, monitoring)
• Compliance support (policies, audit evidence, reporting)
• Strategic IT oversight (vCIO planning and risk reviews)

For FCA-regulated firms, support must be documented, repeatable, and auditable — not “best effort”.

Why Financial Services IT Costs More Than Standard SME IT

Financial services firms face higher IT costs because of regulatory accountability.

Key differences include:

• Security controls must be enforced firm-wide, not optional
• Incidents must be logged, investigated, and evidenced
• Access, risk, and supplier records must be maintained
• Downtime and data loss carry regulatory consequences

This additional responsibility is why financial services IT typically costs 30–50% more than non-regulated SME support.

Cost Drivers That Push Pricing Toward £150 Per User

Pricing moves toward the upper end of the range when firms require:

• 24/7 servicedesk and monitoring
• Advanced cybersecurity stack (EDR, SIEM, MDR)
• FCA compliance support and audit preparation
• vCIO involvement and board-level reporting
• Business continuity and disaster recovery testing

Firms handling client money, sensitive financial data, or time-critical services usually fall into this category.

What Cheaper IT Support (£50–£75 Per User) Usually Misses

Lower-cost IT support often excludes critical controls such as:

• No documented compliance evidence
• Reactive (not proactive) cybersecurity
• No incident response framework
• Limited or no audit support
• No strategic IT planning or risk reporting

While cheaper options may work for non-regulated businesses, they often expose financial services firms to audit failures, security incidents, and operational risk.

Example: 35-User London Financial Services Firm

A 35-user FCA-regulated firm moved from low-cost IT support to a fully managed service.

Before:

• Inconsistent security controls
• No centralised documentation
• High audit anxiety
• Unpredictable IT costs

After:

• FCA-aligned security framework implemented
• Documented policies and audit evidence created
• 24/7 monitoring and response enabled
• Fixed monthly cost aligned to risk

Result: reduced audit findings, improved resilience, and predictable IT spend aligned with regulatory expectations.

Why FCA-Regulated Firms Choose Specialist IT Providers

Firms typically look for:

• Proven experience supporting FCA-regulated clients
• Cybersecurity-first service design
• vCIO leadership and strategic planning
• 24/7 servicedesk and monitoring
• Clear accountability and documentation

For regulated firms, managed IT support is not an overhead — it’s a risk-management function.

Final Takeaway

For a 25–50 person financial services firm in London, budgeting £100–£150 per user per month for managed IT support is normal — and often necessary — to meet FCA expectations, reduce risk, and maintain operational stability.

The right provider doesn’t just keep systems running — they help keep your firm compliant.

Managed IT Support London – Managed IT Services – Cloudscape IT