While the UK remains in recession according to the latest Office for National Statistics data, the US is expecting a financial lift for IT next year, claim analysts. While IT spending was flat in North America in 2009, IT managers are expecting budgets to rise by 2 per cent next year, according to figures from Computer Economics. The study also claimed that 52 per cent would boost their IT budgets in 2010, 16 per cent expected to make cuts, and 32 per cent said they would stay the same. The story follows similar predictions from earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Imperva believes that data will be the real battleground in 2010, according to CTO Amichai Shulman: “Organisations will need to address the application level and also the source of data. This could mean adopting new technologies including a Database Firewalls, File Activity Monitoring, and the next generation of DLP products”, he told the media.

F-Secure, however, believes that at least one nation state will experience another grand-scale DDoS attack, and that the iPhone botnet is only the beginning of attacks on mobile devices. The anti-virus vendor also believes that proof-of-concept attacks on Android and Maemo mobile platforms may materialise within the year.

Zscaler agrees with the Apple learning curve, but believes that it is at the OS X level that Steve Jobs and co have the work to do. The company also wisely points to the increasing corporate interest in the cloud as a spur to attackers, but also offers up a prayer to marketing departments to “give the term 'cloud computing' a well-deserved break” in 2010.

Other inevitable key trends include a rise in SEO poisoning (especially around the World Cup), a continued rise in attacks on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, as well as the continued domination of botnet activity. Similarly, the likely adoption of Windows 7 makes several predictions lists, with Trend Micro pointing to lower default UAC controls as a potential cause of rising infections.

One thing is sure for the coming year – attacks will become more aggressive at the automated end, and more ingenious at the higher end. In spite of growing governmental attention, legislation will be slow in the making, and the underworld will continue to thrive. However, potentially growing IT security budgets, increased understanding and user education should serve as potent tools.

What do you see as the key issues facing your organisation in 2010? Discuss it here…