Networking and security step up in Feb IT priorities rankings

Below is a summary of the latest findings from our monthly IT Priorities survey:

•Software infrastructure remains the top initiative: Software infrastructure projects averaged 23% of IT spending in the last 12 months, but spending is expected to dip to 19% in the following year. Current spending on ERP projects averaged 28% of enterprise software spending, directory services projects are 14%, with CRM solutions at 11% in the last 12 months. Spending for ERP solutions is expected to dip to an average of 25% over the next 12 months, with directory services spending to increase to an average of 18% for the coming year, and CRM spending is expected rise slightly to 13% of enterprise software spending.

• Hardware holds steady at no. 2: Hardware upgrades averaged about 18% of total spending last year and is expected to keep the same level throughout 2006. Server projects averaged 45% of hardware spending in the last 12 months, with 21% of spending on storage projects for the same time frame. Average spending for server solutions is expected to remain steady at 45%  over the next 12 months, while spending on storage projects is expected to rise to an average of 26% for the coming year.

• Wired and wireless was no. 4 last month, now no. 3: Wired & wireless networking solutions averaged about 16% of total spending, and are expected to increase to an average of 21% over the next year. VoIP, the most cited project in the category, averaged 29% of networking spending in the last 12 months.  Investment in other networking technologies (LAN/Routers, RFID, etc.) averaged one fourth of spending on networking solutions. Spending for VoIP solutions is expected to increase slightly over the next 12 months, reaching an average of 30% for the coming year, while other networking technologies are expected to decrease to 20%.

• IT management was no. 3 in January, now no. 4: Spending on IT managment solutions averaged about 13% of total spending last year and is expected to dip down to 10% over the next 12 months.

•Security jumped from no. 7 last month to no. 5 this month: Initiatives to counter cyberthreats averaged 31% of security spending in the last 12 months; authentication/encryption spending over the last 12 months averaged 19% of security spending. Spending for cyberthreat solutions is expected to decrease over the next 12 months, reaching an average of 20%, while authentication/encryption spending is expected to increase to an average of 26% of security spending for the coming year.

• Web Technology remains unchanged: Spending on Web technology soutions such as portals and ecommerce platforms averaged about 7% of total spending last year and is expected to increase to 9% over the next 12 months.
• Data management dropped from no. 5 to no. 7: Spending on data management solutions averaged about 6% of total spending last year and is expected to largely remain unchanged inthe next year.

• OS migration moved up a spot from no. 9 last month to no. 8 this month: Spending on migrating operating systems accounted for about about 7% of total spending last year and is expected to dip  to 6% over the next 12 months.

• App development & integration is now number 9:Spending on application development and integration tools averaged about 3% of total spending last year and is expected to remainn at current levels over the next year.