A dynamic approach to cybersecurity pricing can transform how MSPs deliver protection. As client needs evolve and the threat landscape shifts, a flexible model becomes essential. GFI LanGuard’s new pay-per-scan option for MSPs offers a practical, scalable alternative to fixed subscriptions, allowing you to align costs with actual scanning activity while preserving the robust protection clients expect.
Understanding Pay-Per-Scan
Pay-per-scan is a pricing model designed specifically for GFI LanGuard MSP partners. In addition to traditional yearly subscriptions, MSPs gain access to monthly billing that is determined by the number of scans performed within the month. This means you pay only for the scans you actually execute, giving you tighter control over your cybersecurity budget and eliminating charges for unused services. The model is purpose-built to reflect real-world usage, enabling you to adapt pricing and protection levels in response to changing client needs and evolving digital challenges. In essence, pay-per-scan reframes cybersecurity expenditure from a fixed cost into a variable cost that tracks your activity and demand.
This approach aligns well with how MSPs operate: you manage multiple client environments, each with its own network size, risk profile, and scanning cadence. With pay-per-scan, you’re not locked into a one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, you gain a pricing framework that mirrors the actual work you perform, making it easier to justify investments in proactive security while avoiding overprovisioning. The model supports the core MSP objective of delivering consistent, high-quality security services in a way that mirrors client requirements and budget pressures. By tying charges directly to scan volume, you can offer transparent, predictable pricing to clients while maintaining the agility to scale up or down as needed.
The Mechanics of Pay-Per-Scan
Every month, GFI LanGuard MSP calculates usage across all licenses for the preceding month. The total number of scans completed since the last billing cycle is captured and reported as telemetry, forming the basis for the monthly charge. This process ensures that billing reflects real activity, enabling MSPs to manage costs with accuracy and clarity. The pay-per-scan model is designed to be precise and transparent, so you can reconcile billing with your actual security operations and client demand.
To accommodate the diversity of end-customer networks that MSPs audit, the model introduces node tiers. These tiers are controlled by the license key and permit networks of varying sizes: up to 25, 50, 100, 250, or 250+ nodes. Each tier has a defined per-scan price, allowing you to tailor licenses to the specific scale of each network you monitor. This tiered structure provides a practical means to optimize cost per scan based on the size and complexity of client environments. Practically, you can hold license keys across multiple tiers and deploy the most appropriate key for every network you scan, ensuring you’re billing and provisioning reflect the actual scope of work.
In addition to tiered options, GFI LanGuard MSP offers a flat monthly price for unlimited nodes and unlimited scans across any number of customer networks. This unlimited plan provides maximum flexibility for MSPs managing large client bases or networks that require frequent scans. The combination of tiered pricing and unlimited coverage creates a versatile toolkit for MSPs: you can optimize for cost efficiency on smaller networks while retaining the option to scale without constraint for expansive deployments or heavy scanning schedules.
Node Tiers and Pricing
The node-tier system is at the heart of the pay-per-scan pricing strategy. It recognizes that MSPs work with networks of different sizes and risk profiles, and it aims to align charges with the expected workload. The tiers include options for up to 25, 50, 100, 250, or 250+ nodes. Each tier comes with a per-scan price that reflects the scale of the network and the associated resource requirements for thorough scanning, vulnerability assessment, and remediation planning. This structure enables you to configure licenses that fit the exact network footprint you manage, reducing waste and ensuring fair pricing for every client scenario.
Beyond the tiered options, the unlimited plan stands out as a practical alternative for MSPs that manage large or highly active networks. The flat monthly price covers unlimited nodes and unlimited scans, eliminating per-scan accounting and simplifying budgeting for MSPs with complex portfolios or high-frequency scanning needs. This option is especially valuable for MSPs delivering continuous security monitoring or operating in environments with rapid change and frequent updates. By combining tiered capabilities with an unlimited option, the pay-per-scan model accommodates a broad spectrum of MSP business models—from lean practices to large, multi-client operations.
Why Choose GFI LanGuard MSP
The pay-per-scan feature delivers multiple, well-defined benefits for MSPs looking to optimize cost, flexibility, and scalability in their security offerings. First and foremost, it is cost-effective. By charging only for the scans performed for your clients, you can better manage deployment consumption and avoid paying for services that aren’t used. This precision helps you allocate security budgets more efficiently and reduces the risk of paying for underutilized features. The model translates into tangible value for both MSPs and clients by ensuring that expenditures align with actual security activity.
Second, the model is highly flexible. The monthly billing options are designed to meet your clients’ demands, providing a dynamic solution that adapts to their unique needs. As client networks shift in size or risk profile, you can adjust your scanning strategy and pricing in response. This flexibility is especially valuable in dynamic market conditions where client requirements can change rapidly due to growth, acquisitions, or evolving regulatory obligations.
Third, the pay-per-scan model is scalable. As your client base expands, you can transition to higher node tiers or opt for the unlimited scans option to ensure your cybersecurity offerings scale with your business. This scalability helps you maintain consistent service quality and coverage without being constrained by rigid pricing or licensing structures. The model supports growth without forcing a disruptive overhaul of your security tooling or budget planning.
Fourth, efficiency is a core advantage. Regular audits are essential to maintaining robust cybersecurity, and the pay-per-scan approach simplifies and reduces the cost of conducting these audits. By aligning charges with actual scanning activity, you can deliver high-quality services to clients in a more sustainable and cost-conscious way. This efficiency also supports faster remediation and better risk management, as MSPs can plan and execute scanning campaigns with clear, predictable costs.
Collectively, the pay-per-scan model in GFI LanGuard MSP offers a balanced, practical approach to cybersecurity pricing. It combines the predictability of monthly billing with the precision of usage-based charges, delivering a flexible, scalable, and cost-conscious solution. For MSPs aiming to stay ahead of evolving threats while delivering reliable value to clients, this model provides a robust framework to maintain protection, adapt quickly, and optimize financial performance.
Practical Scenarios and Use Cases
Consider a small MSP managing a handful of client networks with modest scanning requirements. The tiered node structure allows the MSP to select a smaller node cap, aligning scans with the actual needs of each network while keeping costs predictable. If that portfolio suddenly grows through new client acquisitions, the MSP can upgrade to a higher tier or switch to the unlimited option to accommodate the increased scanning activity without renegotiating each contract.
Now imagine a mid-sized MSP with a mix of small and medium networks, some of which require frequent scans due to regulatory demands or ongoing remediation projects. The pay-per-scan model enables precise budgeting on a per-network basis. The MSP can allocate a dedicated tier to each client, ensuring that scanning costs reflect network size and activity. When demand spikes—for example, during a quarterly security assessment season—the MSP can temporarily leverage the unlimited plan to cover the surge without worrying about hitting per-scan caps.
In a larger MSP landscape, where multiple enterprise clients operate across geographically dispersed sites, the unlimited option becomes particularly attractive. This approach removes the complexity of tracking per-scan charges across dozens or hundreds of networks and provides a single, predictable monthly expense. It supports continuous monitoring and frequent scans, which are often required by high-security environments or industries with strict compliance requirements. The combination of tiered options and an unlimited plan equips large MSPs to manage diverse client portfolios with clarity and agility.
For MSPs transitioning from fixed subscriptions to pay-per-scan, the model offers a clear path to modernization. You can maintain yearly or multi-year commitments for clients who prefer stability while introducing monthly pay-per-scan options for others who demand flexibility. This blended approach can help you balance revenue predictability with the benefits of usage-based pricing, enabling you to tailor your security offerings to each client’s risk tolerance and budgetary constraints.
Implementation Considerations and Best Practices
To maximize the value of pay-per-scan, MSPs should start with a careful assessment of each client’s network footprint and scanning needs. Map networks to the appropriate node tier based on size and anticipated scan frequency. This ensures you aren’t overpaying for smaller environments or underpricing for larger ones. It’s important to document the rationale for tier selection so you can justify pricing decisions to clients and stakeholders.
Monitoring telemetry and usage reports is essential for accurate monthly billing. Establish a routine to review scan counts and confirm that the reported usage aligns with operational activity. Implement internal controls to detect anomalies, such as sudden spikes that might indicate a surge in scans due to a remediation project or a scanning policy change. Regular reconciliation helps ensure transparency and trust with clients while preventing billing surprises.
Forecasting and budgeting become more precise with pay-per-scan. Use historical scan data to project monthly costs under different scenarios—steady-state operation, growth, seasonal fluctuations, and project-driven surges. This foresight helps you set client expectations, plan for capacity, and optimize resource allocation across your service portfolio. The unlimited plan can simplify budgeting for high-demand environments, but it’s important to evaluate its cost-effectiveness relative to a tiered approach for each client.
License management is another key area. If you operate licenses across multiple tiers, ensure you have an efficient process for distributing, tracking, and renewing keys. Centralized license management reduces the risk of misalignment between the networks you monitor and the licenses assigned. Consider establishing a policy for switching networks between tiers as client footprints evolve, and document any changes to maintain a clear audit trail.
From an operations standpoint, communicating the value of pay-per-scan to clients matters. Highlight how the model aligns security spend with actual activity, reducing waste and improving cost transparency. Demonstrate how ongoing audits and frequent scanning contribute to risk reduction, faster remediation, and compliance readiness. When presenting options, provide scenarios that illustrate cost differences under various network sizes and scanning frequencies to help clients make informed decisions.
Implementation Roadmap and Change Management
A structured rollout can help you adopt pay-per-scan smoothly. Start with a pilot program for a subset of clients to test tier selections, monitor billing accuracy, and gather feedback on pricing clarity. Use pilot results to refine tier assignments, communication materials, and forecasting methods before extending the model to the broader client base. This staged approach minimizes disruption while building confidence in the new pricing structure.
Develop client-specific playbooks that explain the chosen tier, expected scanning cadence, and the monthly cost implications. These documents should be clear and concise, focusing on how the pricing aligns with each client’s risk posture and security objectives. Provide a straightforward process for tier adjustments as client environments evolve, including triggers such as network growth, remediation projects, or regulatory changes.
Invest in reporting tools and dashboards that make usage data accessible and transparent. Regularly share monthly telemetry summaries with clients, highlighting scans performed, tier utilization, and incremental risk reduction achieved through ongoing assessments. Transparent reporting reinforces trust and helps clients see the direct link between activity and protection levels.
Ensure your internal teams are trained on the pay-per-scan workflow. From sales to engineering and finance, everyone should understand how usage is calculated, how billing is generated, and how to address discrepancies. Cross-functional alignment reduces confusion and accelerates decision-making when clients request pricing adjustments or service modifications.
Operational and Security Outcomes
Adopting a pay-per-scan model can improve operational efficiency by aligning security activities with budgetary planning. Monthly billing tied to actual scanning activity helps MSPs forecast expenses with greater accuracy and respond quickly when network needs shift. This alignment supports sustainable growth, enabling you to maintain robust protection across a growing client portfolio without compromising financial discipline.
In terms of security posture, the pay-per-scan approach encourages regular audits and proactive scanning. By tying cost to scanning activity, MSPs are incentivized to maintain consistent scanning schedules and timely remediation strategies. The model supports continuous risk assessment and remediation workflows, which are essential for staying ahead of evolving threats. It also helps MSPs demonstrate consistent security coverage to clients and regulators, reinforcing trust and credibility.
The unlimited option adds another layer of flexibility for high-demand environments. For MSPs that require frequent scans across many networks, this plan eliminates per-scan cost concerns and simplifies management. It enables rapid response to new threats, faster policy refinement, and more frequent security validation. Collectively, the pay-per-scan framework equips MSPs to deliver scalable, adaptable, and cost-conscious cybersecurity services.
Conclusion
GFI LanGuard MSP’s pay-per-scan model represents a strategic shift in how MSPs price and deliver cybersecurity protection. By combining monthly usage-based billing with a tiered node structure and an optional unlimited plan, the model offers a flexible, scalable, and cost-conscious solution that aligns with the realities of client management. It enables MSPs to scale up or down in response to network changes, while maintaining consistent protection and predictable budgeting. For MSPs seeking to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and to deliver value-driven security services, the pay-per-scan approach provides a practical path to better alignment between activity, price, and protection. Embrace the adaptability, manage costs more effectively, and keep client networks safeguarded with a pricing model designed for dynamic cybersecurity needs.