Wireless security rises to 20% of '06 IT plans, Virus defense 30%

Wireless security, at one timemore a passing thought than a concrete concern for enterprise network builders, has come of age. While once registering only a few percentage points of overall IT security planning, wireless security has begun a steady climb to 'top-of-mind' status among IT decision-makers and planners. According to our IT Priorities data for IT planning 12 months out, wireless security is now 20% of security projects planned for 2006--a clear signal that wireless networking isn't just marketing buzz anymore.

Also notable, virus defense planning now represents nearly 1/3 of all 12-month security plans. The contrast in the level of planning reported 12 months ago--less than 5% of security plans involved virus defense--shows that managers have adjusted their planning to avoid the disruptions they faced last year. Recall, in the 2nd half of '04, real-time virus defense spending spiked dramatically beyond planned levels as IT managers had to shift resources to counter the deluge of Trojan horses and other malware.Andnow astudy by IBMhas identified viruses on mobile devices and IP telephony security threats as looming network security risks for 2005. Which all goes to prove, or rather improve, the old adage--a pound of security prevention is definitelyworth more than a pound of cure.