SMB security spend set to rise

Research from market watcher AMI claims the cloud is the main driver behind the increase

SMB security spend – both on-premise and cloud – is predicted to rise 10 per cent by 2016, according to market watcher AMI Partners.

Cloud security services account for nearly 17 per cent of this total spending and is projected to increase to 24 per cent by 2016.

The key drivers for the adoption of cloud-based security services come from several factors: proliferation of mobile devices – both officially purchased devices and employees' own devices; employees wanting to use devices to access and disseminate company data in the same way they do in their private lives through a variety of social media; and weak economic conditions and capital expenditure restraints which mean the cloud payment model is a better way of ensuring solutions are always up to date.

Hugh Gibbs, vice president of research for EMEA at AMI, said: "Security is a complex issue with rapidly changing permutations. Widespread lack of technical resources and expertise is leading to an increasing desire to outsource the problem among SMBs. This is presenting major opportunities for managed service solutions, particularly for skilled, local channel partners and managed security service providers."