2026 Comparison
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Data last verified: January 2026
Incident Response Retainer vs On-Demand: Cost Analysis
Retainers provide guaranteed response and lower rates. On-demand has no commitment but higher costs.
Pricing verified Q1 202645+ vendor interviews127+ data sourcesUpdated monthly
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | IR Retainer | On-Demand IR |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $25,000-$200,000/year | $0 until incident |
| Hourly Rate | $200-$400/hour | $400-$600/hour |
| Response Time | 2-4 hour SLA | When available |
| Relationship | Knows your environment | Cold start |
| Best For | Cyber insurance, compliance | Very low risk tolerance |
Our Verdict
Retainer for any organization with meaningful cyber risk. The SLA alone is worth it.
Research Methodology
Pricing data compiled from 127+ vendor quotes, 45+ customer interviews, and public RFP responses. Reviewed by security industry experts with 20+ years combined experience.
Last verified: January 2026 • Next update: April 2026
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