Microsoft 365 Security Assessment Fee in Hong Kong: How SMEs Choose a Fixed-Price Audit

The short version: A Microsoft 365 security assessment is usually charged in one of three ways: self-run tools (your own time), a consultant's day rate (the total is unknown until the days are agreed), or a fixed-price audit banded by headcount. Brocent's Microsoft 365 CIS Benchmark Audit is one-time, in US dollars, excluding tax: US$450 for 1 to 10 users, US$990 for 11 to 25, US$1,800 for 26 to 75, US$2,900 for 76 to 150, and quoted above 150. The report arrives 5 to 7 business days after read-only access is granted.

Hong Kong SMEs rarely commission a Microsoft 365 security assessment out of idle curiosity. Someone has asked: a client's security questionnaire, a cyber-insurance renewal form, a request from a group head office, or a director who has just read that a peer's mailbox was taken over. The question then becomes practical: what does it cost, what is included, and who has to approve it?

This guide starts from those questions. It explains how a fixed-price audit is usually scoped, what the price follows, who signs off inside a typical company, and how to compare several quotes. Prices are our published US-dollar list. We do not convert them to Hong Kong dollars.

How much does a Microsoft 365 security assessment cost?

Start with our own price list. The Microsoft 365 CIS Benchmark Audit is a one-time fee in US dollars, excluding tax, banded by number of users:

• 1 to 10 users: US$450
• 11 to 25 users: US$990
• 26 to 75 users: US$1,800
• 76 to 150 users: US$2,900
• Over 150 users: quoted for the tenant

The scope is identical in every band: CIS Microsoft 365 Benchmark Level 1 and Level 2, including the manual controls that need a person's judgement; Entra ID, Defender, Purview, Exchange, SharePoint and Teams; evidence designed to be used for common cyber-insurance questionnaire and Cyber Essentials questions; a prioritised roadmap with effort estimates; and a debrief call. The current list is always on the audit pricing page.

The bands follow headcount because a bigger company usually has more users, groups, devices and policies to review. Scope does not shrink for a smaller band: a ten-person company is reviewed against the same full benchmark as a hundred-person one.

What does a fixed-price audit include, and what does it not?

It includes finding out where you stand and telling you what to do first: a review of tenant configuration, the gaps found, a risk-ordered list, an effort estimate for each fix, and a debrief.

It does not include doing the fixes. Remediation and hardening are quoted per job, so this article lists no hardening prices. Keeping the two apart has a benefit: whoever assesses you has no incentive to inflate the findings, and you can decide whether your own team, your current IT provider or we carry out the work.

Is a re-audit after the fixes charged separately?

If Brocent did the remediation, the re-audit is included. If the fixes were made in-house, the re-audit is charged at the band price. Ask every provider the same question, because "free re-check" can mean one visit, or only the original findings, and the quote should say which.

Is there an ongoing option?

Yes. Alongside the one-time audit there is a managed option at US$6 to 10 per user per month, with a re-audit each quarter. It suits companies whose staff and policies change often and who want the baseline to stay put. A small company that needs evidence for one questionnaire or one renewal will usually be well served by the one-time audit.

Who signs off a Microsoft 365 security assessment in a Hong Kong SME?

The price is modest, but more than one person often has a say. In general:

• Director or owner: decides whether to do it and whether the budget fits. A fixed price helps, because it can be matched to headcount straight away.
• Finance or admin: cares about invoice currency and tax. Our list is in US dollars, one-time and excluding tax; payment arrangements are confirmed in the quote.
• In-house IT or the current IT provider: grants the read-only access and will be asked how they are doing. Involve them from the start and present the audit as a second pair of eyes, not an appraisal.
• Insurance broker, client or head office: usually the party that asked. Find out what form of evidence they want before the audit, not after.

What does the Global Administrator have to do?

One person with the Global Administrator role consents once to a read-only Microsoft Graph app. It takes about 15 minutes and can be removed in Entra ID afterwards. The app reads configuration. It never reads mail or document content. If an outside provider manages your tenant, tell them first so a security policy does not block the consent.

How do you compare Microsoft 365 security assessment quotes?

Several quite different services are sold under one name. Work out which one you are being quoted before comparing numbers.

Self-run tools, day-rate consultants or a fixed-price audit?

• Self-run tools: no cash cost, but someone in-house must run PowerShell and interpret the output. They are quick. What the output cannot do is tell you which fix matters first for your staff, licences and risk, or check manual controls with no interface to read.
• Day-rate consultants: the most flexible, but the total is unknown until scope and days are agreed. Suited to unusual scope, several tenants or work that needs interviews.
• Fixed-price audit: you know the total, scope and delivery time in advance, which makes internal approval easier. The limit is that scope is set, and extra work is agreed separately.

None is always best. For a single tenant, a modest headcount and a specific requirement to evidence, a fixed price is the easiest to approve. If your IT team has spare capacity, a scanner is a fair first step.

Five questions to put to every quote

1. Which CIS Benchmark level, and are the manual controls included?
2. Which services are covered: Entra ID, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Defender, Purview?
3. When is the report delivered, and from which day does the clock start?
4. How is a re-audit after the fixes charged?
5. Can the report be used as evidence for a questionnaire or renewal, or is it for internal reading only?

Watch the wording of the last one. We say our report is "designed to be used as evidence". We do not say an insurer, auditor or scheme "accepts" or "certifies" it, and the audit does not grant or guarantee Cyber Essentials certification.

How long does it take, and what should you prepare?

The report is delivered 5 to 7 business days after read-only access is granted, with a debrief call. You need a Global Administrator who can give consent, the basic facts about the tenant (number of users, main services in use, any outside IT provider) and the specific requirement you are trying to meet, such as a named questionnaire. If you send the questionnaire in advance, the evidence section of the report can be aimed at the questions you must answer.

The service is delivered remotely.

Where to read next

For the full price picture, including free tools and other ways of charging, see how much a Microsoft 365 security audit costs. If you are torn between a fixed price and hourly billing, fixed price or hourly compares them point by point. Scope and process for Hong Kong firms are in Microsoft 365 security audit in Hong Kong. To preview a report, read the sample report walkthrough. For insurance renewals, see cyber insurance requirements for Hong Kong IT renewals. What the audit covers is on the service page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Microsoft 365 security assessment cost in Hong Kong?

Brocent's one-time audit is banded by users: US$450 for 1 to 10, US$990 for 11 to 25, US$1,800 for 26 to 75 and US$2,900 for 76 to 150, excluding tax. Above 150 users it is quoted. We do not publish Hong Kong dollar conversions.

Does the scope change between bands?

No. Every band covers CIS Microsoft 365 Benchmark Level 1 and Level 2, including manual controls, across Entra ID, Defender, Purview, Exchange, SharePoint and Teams.

How long does the audit take?

The report arrives 5 to 7 business days after read-only access is granted, followed by a debrief call.

Will the assessment read our email or documents?

No. It uses a read-only Microsoft Graph app that a Global Administrator consents to once. It reads configuration, not mail or document content, and the consent can be removed in Entra ID.

Is fixing the problems charged separately?

Yes. The audit delivers findings and a roadmap; hardening is quoted per job. When Brocent does the remediation, the re-audit is included. After in-house fixes, a re-audit is charged at the band price.

Does the audit give us Cyber Essentials or regulatory compliance?

No. The report is designed to be used as evidence for common cyber-insurance questionnaire and Cyber Essentials questions. The audit does not grant or guarantee certification, and we make no regulatory compliance claims.

Next steps

Count your users and match them to a band to see roughly where the budget lands. The full list and scope are on the Microsoft 365 Security Audit pricing page. If a questionnaire or a renewal form is already waiting, contact us and bring it along.