Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

  • Congratulations TouchToneTommy on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Computer security price

Status
Not open for further replies.

brooksp

Technical User
Feb 8, 2003
1
IE
Hi, it might be a bit of a strange request but can anyone give me an idea of the current prices charged for security services?
I live in the west of Ireland and I recently gave a security presentation to some small businesses in my town, it was arranged and paid for by our local town information authority and was very successful. This has led to me being approached by some of the companies asking me to provide them with some basic security services. DSL has just been launched in the town and there is not yet any local companies providing security services. I have over 10 years computer experience in Windows and Linux and have been working as a security administrator for the last 3 years. I have never worked freelance though and don’t know what are acceptable prices to charge.
I understand that prices will vary from country to country and depend on the job and size of organization but a rough ballpark figure would help a lot. The products used will also have a huge bearing on price; I intend to use Linux in as many situations as possible. I am really looking for an idea on what are acceptable levels for consultancy, labour and on-going maintenance. I think the best idea would be to give a few examples of requests.
1. A successful solicitors office with 20 Pc’s has just got DSL and wants me to do two things, replace their win2000 server with a Linux server and install a firewall to protect their connection.
2. One accountancy company, approx 15 employees, wants me to educate the staff and develop an Internet AUP. They also want me to keep their pc’s up-to-date with security fixes and do monthly checks on their equipment.
3. The principal of a school with about 35 Pc’s wants me to lock-down the workstations to prevent changes and install a content blocking Internet gateway and firewall.

I have had lots of positive response from doing the presentation and think I can make something of this but don’t have a clue of prices. Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

Paul
 
brooksp,
I frequently perform small projects involving Linux and security for local customers. My going rate is $150USD/hour. However, this is in the Desert Southwest, so that is what the market will bear. My personal approach to new customers is to measure the "flinch factor". I tell them my hourly rate and watch them closely to see if they flinch. If they don't flinch, then we are both happy and the project can proceed, if they do flinch, I might negotiate with the customer to a point, but don't undervalue your services. If you do that, you just become a commodity and will lose your value in the marketplace.

Good luck,

Joe Joseph B. Baugh, PMP, CISSP, CBM, CCAI, CCNP, CCDP, CCSE, CUE
Network Services Manager, Sierra Southwest Cooperative

"The road goes on forever and the party never ends." -- Joe Ely: Love And Danger, 1993
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top