Security spending rebounding strongly

Security vendors are benefitting from stronger PC sales

Spending on IT security is returning to pre-recession rates, according to the latest study from analyst firm Canalys.

In the fourth quarter of 2009 spending rose 10.1 per cent sequentially, with the market worth a total of $3.6bn by the end of the year. Spending was spurred on by rising PC sales to businesses and consumers.

"The release of Windows 7 and the resurgence of the PC market have dramatically helped the client security market," said Nikki Babatola, an analyst at Canalys.

"This improvement will likely continue throughout 2010 as businesses roll out more computer systems."

On the client side, Trend Micro had the strongest growth at 13.9 per cent, but Symantec retook the top spot with over a quarter of the market, outpacing McAfee, which saw more modest growth.

On the appliance side, Cisco is still the largest vendor with 27.7 per cent of the market, but Canalys warned that it is facing increasing competition in the sector.

"McAfee in particular has had good traction in its appliance business after having acquired Secure Computing at the end of 2008," said Babatola.

"Though Check Point experienced some contraction in its appliance business during the fourth quarter, it is now seeing the majority of its security business deployed in an appliance form factor," she added.