Security channel looking strong for 2010

Bruen: security resellers are manic and have great pipelines

The security channel is set for continued growth after research predicted a four
per cent increase in security software budgets in 2010.

After quizzing more than 1,000 IT professionals on their budget expectations, Gartner predicted that growth in the sector will outpace all other areas of infrastructure software in 2010.

It tipped security information and event management (SIEM), email security, URL filtering and user provisioning as growth hotspots.

Gartner also expects security services budgets to rise by about three per cent, significantly outstripping other services areas.

However, channel players claimed Gartner was being too pessimistic.

Kay Bruen, founder of channel consultancy firm Clipsham IT, said: “The feedback security resellers are giving me is that they are manic and have great pipelines. Because security has not seen a huge downturn, I expect growth to be closer to 10 per cent next year.”

Dave Ellis, e-security director at distributor Computerlinks, was also surprised by the muted estimates.

“Any technology that allows you to demonstrate a return on investment will be pretty hot,” he said. “Corporate governance will also keep the market pretty buoyant.”