Security is one of the key background tasks assumed by IT departments in Europe. Defending against IT threat, protecting IT assets, monitoring and managing compliance status, protecting information against leakage, and enabling business partnerships and ubiquity for employees are some of the tasks that IT security executives must fulfill. In 10 years their duties have shifted from highly technical activities to a full business-oriented agenda. IDC's European Security Products and Strategies service closely follows security market spending and trends for security hardware, software, and services in Western Europe.

This service covers the following segments:

• Security appliances: secure content management appliances, firewall/VPN appliances, intrusion detection and prevention, and unified threat management (UTM) appliances
• Security software: identity and access management (IAM), secure compliance and vulnerability management (SCVM), secure content and threat management (SCTM), and other security software (encryption, wireless)
• Security services: consulting, implementation, operations, and education and training

Throughout the year, this service will address the following topics:

• Evolution of the security solutions market in Western Europe
• End-user security spending expectations
• Market opportunity and growth trends
• Security best practices in European organizations
• Competitive environment and recommendations for vendors
• CSO agendas
• Vendor profiles

This service addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. What are the major issues relating to IT security that companies face today and in the future?
2. Which industries and company size bands are the critical focal points for vendors in the coming year?
3. How are the top vendors positioned in terms of company and product strategies and market share?
4. How are market ecosystems changing?
5. How are regulatory and compliance changes affecting market growth?

IDC's European Security Products and Strategies service examines how security vendors are positioning themselves to compete in the security hardware (appliances), software, and services market. This service reviews strategies, market positioning, and future direction of providers in the European security products and strategies market, including:

ActivIdentity, Aladdin, Arkoon, Barracuda, BMC, BNX, CA, Check Point, Cisco, Clearswift, Cybersafe, EMC (RSA Security), Entegrity, Enterasys, Entrust, F5, Finjan, Fortinet, Foundry, F-Secure, Gemalto, Groupe Bull, HP, IBM, Internet Security Systems (IBM), Iron Port (Cisco), Juniper, KasperskyLabs, Keyware, McAfee, MessageLabs, Microsoft, Netasq, Norman, Nortel, Novell, Oracle, PGP, Postini, Protegrity, Secure Computing, SonicWALL, Sophos, SSH, Sun, SurfControl (Websense), Sky Recon, Symantec, Trend Micro, Tumbleweed, Utimaco, Vasco, VeriSign, Vericept, WatchGuard, Websense, and ZixCorp.

This service focuses on the following core research. In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct additional research on specific topics, or emerging market segments, via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment:

These studies provide detailed analysis of the European security markets. Revenue and market share data will be included for the leading vendors in each segment, and five-year forecasts by segment and country will be provided. Market trends are discussed and guidance is offered on appropriate strategies.

• Western European Security Forecast, 2009-2013, the Big Picture

• Western European Security Appliances Forecast, 2009-2013
• Western European UTM Forecast, 2009-2013
• Quarterly Western European Security Appliance Market Directions

• Western European Security Software Forecast, 2009-2013
• Western European Security Software Vendors Shares, Country Level, 2008

• Western European Security Services Forecast, 2009-2013

IDC Links

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Complimentary/special admission price to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC account manager.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10-plus years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.