Firewall sales to skyrocket, say analysts

The market for firewall software and devices will jump 25 per cent in the next two years to nearly $2.5bn in worldwide sales, research firm Meta Group has predicted in its latest report.

Firewalls - software that keeps out unwanted intruders - are a mainstay of corporate security. While almost every large and midsize business already uses a firewall, more companies will start installing the devices at an increasing number of points in their networks, said Mark Bouchard, senior program director for technology research at Meta Group.

I see a lot more customers intent on using firewalls in a lot more places, like between business units," he said.

Digitally cordoning off networks has proved to be an effective way to prevent some attacks, such as worms, from spreading. Business adoption of that tactic, plus sales to new customers, will expand the market for firewalls to $2.5bn worldwide in 2005, Bouchard estimated.

The forecast comes as security companies seek to improve the integration of different safeguards into a single device. Such a product would bring together many functions, such as virus protection, intrusion detection, virtual private networking (VPN), firewalls and content filtering.

Security device maker NetScreen Technologies and network hardware maker Cisco both plan to add secure sockets layer (SSL) functionality to their VPN products. Internet Security Systems, a network protection company, has combined several security functions into an all-in-one device. In addition, Check Point Software Technologies announced in mid-November that it would branch out from firewall and VPN software and devices to incorporate internal network and website protection software and services.

Meta Group's Bouchard believes that companies will still demand stand-alone firewall devices to protect key parts of their networks.

"I believe that the integrated products have a way to go before they become a primary solution," he said.

Robert Lemos writes for CNET News.com