Switch to home office boosts Swiss cyber security market

According to a new ISG study, companies increasingly prefer IT security services from a single source. "For most companies, the large-scale move to a home office was made in a hurry and without much planning," says Frank Heuer, manager at ISG Research. "Accordingly, security measures must now be taken quickly to protect their new communication structures." Security providers who can offer core technical solutions as well as security services are therefore at an advantage. "The demand for one-stop services has increased significantly," says Heuer, "especially among medium-sized companies that want to save themselves as much effort as possible in coordinating service providers."

Many gaps in knowledge about cyber security

Since the new workplace normality in some cases requires completely new or additional security solutions, the submarket of "technical security services" is benefiting most from this, according to the ISG vendor comparison. According to the ISG, in addition to up-to-date security equipment, training is currently playing a very important role. "The move to a home office is associated with many uncertainties for employees," says ISG analyst Heuer. "There are also many gaps in knowledge when it comes to security, which are exploited again and again by Trojan and phishing attackers." Cyber security providers would therefore have to present convincing alternatives to classroom training and convincing overall concepts for remote training.

Challenging cyber security market

For large customers, providers in the demanding market of technical security services also need international experience with a broad range of solutions and teams that are set up across national borders, the ISG study continues. Medium-sized companies, on the other hand, often value the local presence of the service providers in order to receive uncomplicated, rapid support via short routes. Due to their complex IT (security) landscapes and projects, large companies continue to be among the most important customers for technical security services. However, medium-sized companies are also increasingly making use of these services, making them a target group with above-average market growth.

The "ISG Provider Lens Cyber Security - Solutions & Services Report Switzerland 2020" evaluates the capabilities of 73 providers in the cyber security market in five segments: In addition to "Technical Security Services", these are "Identity & Access Management", "Data Leakage/Loss Prevention", "Strategic Security Services" and "Managed Security Services".

Identity & Access Management (IAM)

According to the ISG study, IAM is currently making a comeback as a particularly important security topic. One of the main reasons for this is that, due to increasing digitization, not only users and their identities need to be protected, but also machines and entire company departments as part of Industry 4.0. As in the software market as a whole, there is also a shift in IAM solutions from in-house to cloud operation ("Identity-as-a-Service"). According to ISG, most providers have adapted to this and offer both types of operation. Pure cloud providers are also appearing more and more frequently in this market.

Data Leakage/Loss Prevention (DLP)

In recent years, ISG has seen a significant increase in interest in DLP solutions. The main reason for this is the increasing use of private devices for business purposes. This makes it much more difficult and therefore more important to prevent unwanted data outflows. In addition, the IT trends of big data, social business and cloud computing are making it more difficult to control data movements, which places high demands on providers of DLP solutions.

Strategic Security Services

Increasingly frequent and diverse attacks on IT systems and networks are leading companies to view IT security as a strategic task. According to the ISG study, large companies with complex IT landscapes are among the most important customers for strategic security services. However, medium-sized companies are also increasingly relying on these services because they are particularly affected by the shortage of security experts and have a greater need to catch up with modern security systems.

Managed Security Services

Shortages of skilled personnel and the constant emergence of new types of attacks by hackers are also driving demand for managed security services, according to the ISG study. Providers with Security Operations Centers (SOCs) in Switzerland have an advantage for data protection reasons. According to the study, large companies in particular often attach importance to an international presence of the respective provider with globally distributed SOCs and a broad range of security topics. For medium-sized customers, on the other hand, contact persons with local language skills in the SOCs play an important role.

Leading companies in the cyber security market

The vendor comparison lists IBM as a "leader" in all five market segments and Atos in four. Accenture, Capgemini and Swisscom are named as "Leaders" in three segments and Avectris, DXC Technology, HCL, Microsoft and T-Systems in two segments each. Axians, Bechtle, Broadcom, Dell/RSA, Deloitte, DriveLock, Ergon, EY, Forcepoint, KPMG, Matrix42, McAfee, MobileIron, NEVIS, Okta, Orange Cyberdefense, PwC, Trend Micro and United Security Providers are "Leaders" in one market segment each.

Source: Information Services Group (ISG)