Dimension Data, an IT services and solution provider, working with IDC, commissioned a report titled, "2009 Global IT Security Research Results Summary," whose findings look positive for all industry sectors. The report had the following key findings:

• IT security spending remains strong in all sectors and emerging economies.
• The organizations surveyed stated that they had a clear view of the threat landscape.
• There is a real interest in data loss prevention. Ninety-two percent surveyed claim they currently use or will use DLP models in the next 12 months. (Of course, Dimension Data is a provider of DLP-focused solutions, so it had a particular interest in including this topic in the survey.)
  
• Compliance is still viewed as a "grudge purchase."
• Companies are taking a more proactive approach to IT security by undertaking an audit or penetration test.
• Top initiatives planned for the future: remote protection, business continuity, anti-spam, data leakage/loss prevention, and privacy protection.

I made a prediction earlier this year stating that IT security spending would increase this year and next, and I think the Dimension Data report confirms this. In fact, just last month, Gartner stated that according to what they are seeing, they predict that the security software market will continue to grow despite poor economic conditions. Even the government will be spending more. The Obama administration will set aside $355 million for cybersecurity efforts in 2010.

All of this is great news for security professionals. Security has long been an afterthought in many organizations and budgets have shown it. Reports like this illustrate that organizations are willing to spend the money on security even when dollars are tight.