How this Network-as-a-Service cost estimate works
This tool gives you a planning-grade monthly cost range for a fully managed network — switches, Wi-Fi access points, monitoring, support, and hardware refresh, all in one subscription. Headcount is the fastest proxy for network size, so we apply a real-world per-employee rate band drawn from managed-network pricing across leading NaaS providers to turn your employee count into an estimated monthly range.
Most Network-as-a-Service contracts land between $20 and $29 per employee per month for an all-in managed package at typical office density. Your exact figure depends on the number of sites, the Wi-Fi coverage you need, security and compliance requirements, and the SLA tier you choose. An independent NaaSAdvisor advisor turns this range into real, competing quotes — free, with no vendor bias and no obligation.
Why companies are switching to Network-as-a-Service
For decades, standing up an office network meant a large upfront hardware purchase, a separate install contract, per-device software licenses, support agreements, and an internal team to keep it all running — then repeating the whole project at the next refresh. Three pressures are pushing IT leaders toward the as-a-service model instead:
- Aging hardware and looming refresh costs. Switches and access points hit end-of-life every 5–7 years. NaaS folds the refresh into a flat monthly fee, so you never face a six-figure capital purchase again.
- Hard-to-hire network talent. Skilled network engineers are scarce and expensive. With NaaS, design, 24/7 monitoring, and support come bundled — the provider runs the network for you.
- CapEx to OpEx. Finance teams increasingly prefer a predictable operating expense that scales with headcount and square footage over lumpy capital outlays that have to be depreciated.
The result is enterprise-grade networking — owned, monitored, and refreshed by the provider — delivered the same way you already buy software like Microsoft 365 or Salesforce. Read the plain-English guide to NaaS →
What your monthly NaaS price actually covers
A Network-as-a-Service subscription bundles most of what you'd otherwise buy and manage piece by piece. At a typical all-in rate, the following are almost always included:
Hardware
Enterprise switches, Wi-Fi access points, and controllers — owned and maintained by the provider, not purchased by you.
Design & install
Site survey, RF and coverage design, configuration, and turn-up across all of your locations.
24/7 monitoring & support
Proactive alerting and a support team with defined response times keeping the network healthy.
Cloud management
A single dashboard for visibility and analytics across every site, kept current with automatic updates.
Hardware refresh
Equipment is refreshed over the contract term — no end-of-life surprises or surprise capital projects.
Capacity scaling
Add users, devices, or square footage and your network scales at the same predictable per-unit rate.
Usually optional add-ons: advanced security (next-gen firewall, ZTNA, SASE), internet circuits and ISP management, SD-WAN, cellular failover, guaranteed uptime SLAs, and compliance packages (HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2). See what's included vs. optional →
What affects your Network-as-a-Service cost
The per-employee range above is a starting point. The factors that move your actual NaaS pricing up or down include:
- Headcount and device density. More users and connected devices per square foot mean more access points and switch capacity.
- Number of sites and square footage. Multi-site environments and larger floor plans need more coverage and centralized management.
- Wi-Fi performance requirements. High-density spaces — warehouses, schools, healthcare, events — need denser, higher-spec coverage.
- Security and compliance. Next-gen firewall, segmentation, ZTNA/SASE, and HIPAA/PCI/SOC 2 controls add to the base rate.
- SLA and redundancy tier. Guaranteed uptime, redundancy, and cellular failover raise the price but reduce risk.
- Connectivity. Whether internet circuits and ISP management are bundled in or kept separate.
- Contract term. Longer terms typically lower the monthly rate.
The NaaS providers we compare for you
NaaSAdvisor is independent — we're not a single vendor. We benchmark your needs against the dedicated NaaS players and the established networking vendors with as-a-service or cloud-managed programs:
Meter
Full-stack NaaS billed per square foot, typically including ISP management and the entire network as one service.
Nile
Security-first NaaS with a per-user model and built-in zero-trust access and performance guarantees.
Cisco Meraki
Cloud-managed switching and Wi-Fi, available as-a-service through partners and subscription programs.
Juniper Mist
AI-driven cloud networking with strong wireless assurance and automated troubleshooting.
HPE Aruba
Enterprise networking delivered as-a-service via the GreenLake consumption model.
Fortinet & Extreme
Security-converged and cloud-managed networking options for organizations that want firewall and LAN under one roof.
Network-as-a-Service pricing, answered
How much does Network-as-a-Service cost?
For a fully managed package at typical office density, most contracts fall between $20 and $29 per employee per month — covering hardware, installation, monitoring, support, and refresh. Smaller or simpler sites can come in lower; high-density or high-security environments run higher. The calculator above gives you a range for your headcount.
How is NaaS priced — per user, per device, or per square foot?
It varies by provider. Meter commonly prices per square foot, Nile offers a per-user model, and others price per device or access point. We use per-employee here because it's the fastest, most reliable proxy for network size. An advisor maps your environment to whichever model is cheapest for you.
Is this estimate a quote?
No. It's a planning-grade range to help you budget and compare options. Your exact figure depends on a quick scope review — number of sites, coverage needs, security, and SLA. A Bridgepointe advisor turns it into real, competing proposals from the providers that fit.
Does NaaS include internet/ISP service?
Sometimes. NaaS covers the network inside your buildings — switching and Wi-Fi. Some providers (like Meter) also manage your internet circuits and ISP relationships; others leave that to you. It's one of the biggest line items to confirm provider-by-provider.
What does the advisory cost?
Nothing. NaaSAdvisor is powered by Bridgepointe Technologies, a vendor-neutral technology advisor compensated by the provider you ultimately choose — like a mortgage broker. You pay the same provider price either way, and there's no fee to you, ever.
How fast can I get real quotes?
Submit the form above and an independent advisor will email your exact estimate within one business day — or call 844-506-2299 to talk now.
Why mid-market teams trust Bridgepointe
Bridgepointe has been matching mid-market organizations with the right infrastructure and networking providers since 2004. We benchmark your requirements, model the alternatives, and bring you competing proposals — independent, with no vendor bias and no advisory fee.