2009-04-15

By Editor, CIR

Spending on information security is likely to increase despite an overall squeeze on IT budgets, a survey suggests.

Infosecurity Europe, which canvassed more than 1,000 respondents, found that 55% planned to increase spending on information security this year and 34% planned to maintain it at last year's level. Only 2% anticipated a "significant" reduction of 5% or more.

By contrast, 36% of respondents expected their overall IT spending to be slightly less than last year and a third anticipated major reductions. Only 20% anticipated an increased IT spend and 10% planned to maintain it at 2008 levels.

The increase in security threats and the fact that many organisations are in "catch-up" mode explains the priority afforded to spending on information security, said Eric Domage, research manager -- security products and services for IDC EMEA Software.

"We expect to see an increase in ''frustration hacking'' when people opportunistically attack their own company because they have been fired or frustrated," he added.

"They are called first-time-last-time attacks because the people committing them have never done anything wrong before and it is done on their last day in the job."

According to Tamar Beck, group event director for Infosecurity Europe, the threat from cyber crime has increased significantly in the past 12 months and 90% of organisations expect security breaches to increase in 2009.

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