The network security market was up 8% in 2008 to $5.5bn, says
analyst Infonetics Research.
The figures are contained in the analyst's fourth quarter
edition of its
Network Security Appliances and Software report.
Jeff Wilson, an analyst at Infonetics, said, "For the quarter,
Cisco hit their network security revenue target, and even grew
revenue slightly, in what is historically a down quarter for
them."
He added, "Check Point grew their revenue as well, and Juniper
held steady. Looking forward, consolidation in the market should
create some strong and interesting competition among the top five
suppliers.
"McAfee is digesting Secure Computing, Check Point will fully
absorb Nokia's security appliance business by the first or second
quarter of 2009, and Nortel entered chapter 11 in November."
On future prospects for the industry sector, Wilson said,
"Virtually every supplier we talked to said their business remained
strong in the fourth quarter and expects 2009 to be an okay year.
While that is not great in a vacuum, many industries would be
ecstatic to experience an okay 2009."