Outsourcers build up security capabilities

Global managed services giant Getronics has acquired US security services specialist RedSiren, following the trend for outsourcing providers to beef up their security offerings.

Getronics said companies are warming to the idea of security outsourcing - though recent research by IT Week publisher VNU, sponsored by Unisys, suggests many UK corporates are still cautious.

According to Getronics, the increasing complexity of security networks and the frequency of updates means outsourcing is becoming more attractive to firms as the cost of in-house security control rises.

Doug Goodall, chief executive at RedSiren, said that firms are becoming less afraid of losing control through outsourcing.

"Companies have disparate security environments and are realising managing them is not core to their business," Goodall added. "We're still at the front end of the wave for security services demand."

John Holland, senior vice-president at security services specialist CyberTrust in Europe, said security outsourcing with service-level agreements can help firms manage risk. "We're seeing demand increase as firms realise this is not giving away the crown jewels," he added.

However, VNU research published last month found 80 percent of UK businesses were managing their security in-house, and 88 percent said that loss of control was the main barrier to outsourcing.

Martin Canning of research firm IDC said that though the outsourcing of security management may reduce their costs, firms still fear a loss of control. "It hasn't really taken off, and I don't think it ever will," he added. Canning said many firms see security as essential to their business, and do not accept the outsourcers' argument that its management should be handed to outside specialists.