The Middle East is now placed second in worldwide IT security services spending, according to a recent report from market analyst IDC. Based on the report, the Middle East, led by the UAE, spent $4.718 b in 2005, a 15.6% increase over the previous year, which placed the region in second place worldwide based on e-security services spending in 2005. These figures are expected to reach $5.620 b in 2006 and $ 9.338 b in 2009 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6%. IDC’s report shows that the Americas region tops the list with $ 8.065 b reported in 2005 and 19.6% CAGR until year 2009.
As a reflection of this trend, GITEX 2006 is all set to put the spotlight on IT security and related services to help boost the market for security awareness according to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) organiser of the region’s key IT and communications exhibition, taking place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from 18 - 22 November 2006.
“Having emerged rapidly, the Middle East, especially UAE has been an eager adopter of the latest in technology especially IT security technologies and products. Companies have been actively incorporating security mechanisms across their enterprise and GITEX 2006 will help to speed up the pace of investments and also create a platform for visitors from other Middle East countries to take advantage of the technology spread available,” said DWTC Director General, Helal Saeed Al Marri.
The show has seen strong participation acceptance from security vendors like Symantec, Trend Micro and SonicWall amongst others who confirm that their return on investment in GITEX has been very good.
Security vendor Symantec says it has achieved a ten-fold return on investment by appearing at last year’s GITEX 2005 show. A major participant this year as well, the company says it sees its participation at the show as a strategic investment. “Besides achieving return on investment, GITEX is also a time to give a clear message to customers and partners about our commitment. In terms of the region and its importance, the investments going on makes this market an extremely interesting one,” says Symantec Regional Director MEA, Kevin Issac.
Among the major areas of interest will be the gateway appliances market, especially the Unified Threat Management (UTM) products, network security technologies, messaging security, data encryption, identity management, data backup and recovery.
Security solutions delivered as hardware appliances in particular are expected to be a major push at the show this year. This trend is also likely to extend the market for security products and technologies well into the SMB market.
According to IDC forecasts, the threat management security appliance market will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 15% between 2005 and 2009. This growth translates into a total market greater than $5 billion. IDC believes that over the next five years the revenue generated by the sale of UTM (Unified Threat Management) security appliances will exceed that of standard firewall/Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and 80% of all network security solutions will be delivered via a dedicated appliance by 2007.
The UTM product category represents the unification of firewall, VPN, intrusion detection and prevention, and gateway antivirus into a single platform. Vendors like Fortinet, SonicWall and Secure Computing who are participating at GITEX 2006 are planning to capitalise on this trend and showcase their UTM products.
“Government bodies and companies across the Middle East recognises the importance of protecting their IT systems from threats. We have always considered this market to be a serious one and at GITEX 2006 we expect to showcase our range of e-mail security, data backup and disaster recovery products in line with the IT security spending trends in the region. The UTM market is also one area which will get strong customer attention at the show,” says Shahnawaz Sheikh, Regional Sales Manager, MEA at SonicWall.
The participation of a number of security focused value added distributors (VADs) will also help push security and related service offering to visitors at the show. Dubai-based security VAD, Fusion Distribution says this GITEX will help the company steamroll its play into the security market. Fusion’s portfolio supports an impressive mix of the leading vendors in the security market including names like MessageLabs, SurfControl and RSA.
“This GITEX our focus will be on highlighting the growing need for a range of security solutions including mail and Web content filtering, antivirus, identity management, intrusion protection and UTM appliances,” says Lee Reynolds, Marketing Director at Fusion.
The overall network security category is also going to be one of the hot topics at this year’s GITEX. Antivirus and Internet content security software and services vendor Trend Micro is all set to gear up for its security play at this year’s show. “At GITEX 2006, we are planning to launch a range of gateway appliances and it will be a time for us to help the industry play it safe,” adds Justin Doo, Regional Director MENA, Trend Micro.
Running concurrently with GITEX 2006 will be a new dedicated exhibition aimed exclusively at the telecommunications sector - GULFCOMMS 2006. The new show brings together some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies in the telecommunications sector, including operators and specialists in mobile communications, network development, satellite applications, IP technology and infrastructure solutions.
This trade-only focused exhibition will provide the most sought after business networking platform for the global telecommunications industry, particularly given the high levels of interest in the potential of the Middle East market.
GITEX, The Middle East’s Premier Information Technology and Communications exhibition, takes place on the 18-22 November 2006 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE and will be held in conjunction with GULFCOMMS, the Middle East’s Largest International Telecommunications Technology Event for Mobile, Fixed, IP and Satellite.
