As hackers continue to strike businesses, the security industry is expected to have a big year The prevalence with which hackers are handing out headaches to IT security pros will have a big upside for vendors in the coming year, according to new figures from Canalys.The analyst company predicts enterprise security software investments will increase 8.7 percent year-on-year for 2012, reaching US$22.9 billion worldwide.Although antivirus software has been assailed for not keeping up with emerging threats, it will be one of the sources of growth because it is still considered a required base level of security. That segment is expected to grow 6.8 percent year-on-year.Canalys also said smaller vendors will chip away at the dominance of companies such as Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee. One of the fastest growing vendors is Kaspersky Lab, and others gaining market share include Panda Security, F-Secure, Eset and AVG. Many small businesses now do not realize that they need to secure data just as much as larger business, Canalys said. Those small companies tend to have consumer buying patterns when it comes to selecting security software and are more price sensitive than knowledgeable about threats.Vendors are making it easier for SMBs to buy antivirus software through online stores, Canalys said. Symantec allows businesses to buy up to 1,000 licenses online, and others such as McAfee, Sophos, Trend Micro and Kaspersky Lab have volume licensing deals online. The strategic move is aimed at gaining more share in the high-volume, low-value end of the SMB market, Canalys said.Send news tips and comments to jeremy_kirk@idg.com Related content feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime news analysis China’s offensive cyber operations support “soft power” agenda in Africa Researchers track Chinese cyber espionage intrusions targeting African industrial sectors. By Michael Hill Sep 21, 2023 5 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks Critical Infrastructure brandpost Proactive OT security requires visibility + prevention You cannot protect your operation by simply watching and waiting. It is essential to have a defense-in-depth approach. By Austen Byers Sep 21, 2023 4 mins Security Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe