F-Secure has jumped on the open source bandwagon by releasing products aimed at protecting enterprise Linux users.

The vendor has launched an antivirus product for open source Samba Servers.

Later this year it is also due to launch a real-time scanning antivirus product designed to provide "automatic and manageable" security for Linux servers and workstations.

"With these products F-Secure is bringing Linux security to a new level and enabling firms to deploy Linux to their existing IT infrastructure," said Risto Siilasmaa, president of F-Secure.

Analysts have predicted significant growth for the Linux market. According to Linux Spending Getting Ready to Snowball, a report by the IDC-owned firm Financial Insights, Linux spending will soar from $393m last year to $1.8bn in 2007.

"Although Linux spending remains small compared with other technologies, it is on the cusp of surging," said Damon Kovelsky, analyst at Financial Insights.

"Leading-edge firms have demonstrated its viability, and we think that over the next 12 months spending will start to snowball as more firms look to use and implement Linux."

This could be good for the channel. Last week IBM unveiled a further Linux push by offering a range of financial incentives to VARs.

Ian Kilpatrick, group managing director of security distributor Wick Hill, said: "[The Linux market] will definitely become more commercial as more firms look into it."

sara_yirrell@vnu.co.uk