IDC: Bright future for IT security services

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,80790,00.html

By Paul Roberts
IDG News Service
APRIL 29, 2003

The results of a new study from research firm IDC offer a strong
thumbs-up to the fast-evolving information security services sector,
predicting that the market for such services will increase to more
than $23.5 billion in the next four years.

The study, "Worldwide and U.S. Information Security Forecast 2003 --
2007," provides a five-year forecast for the information security
services market, which includes a wide range of activities, from
application testing to training and outsourced security strategy
planning, IDC said in a statement.

Demand for stronger application security and security for wireless
networks will drive the growth of the information security services
market, as will the continuing trend toward outsourcing
network-security functions such as application security testing,
disaster recovery and management of network security devices,
according to IDC.

Framingham, Mass.-based IDC predicted more than 20% annual growth in
spending for information security services because companies are
looking to security services providers to help them understand
security risks and develop comprehensive plans to address those risks.

The competitive field for information security services has swelled in
recent years, as traditional players such as Atlanta-based Internet
Security Systems Inc. and McLean, Va.-based BearingPoint Inc.  
(formerly KPMG Consulting Inc.) have found themselves competing for
security consulting and management business against traditionally
product-oriented companies such as Cupertino, Calif.-based Symantec
Corp.

Companies operating in the information security services space will
have to put more effort into differentiating the value of their
services from those of their competitors in order to win business, IDC
said.



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