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.