Low expenditure on IT security is set to rise following changes in the law

Annually, Polish banks spend about $11 million on electronic safety systems and programs, according to International Data Corporation Polska (IDC). "Our market represents just one percent of the European one. This means that the average Polish company spends ten times less on IT security then their counterparts in Western Europe", said Andrzej Jarosz from IDC. Domestic firms try to save money by reducing their expenses on hardware and equipment to 11% of their expenditure, while virus protection programs, fire-walls and other software programs consume nearly 50% of sums spent on IT security. As specialists indicate, the pattern in the EU is reversed. In view of the rapid development of e-banking and the introduction of new safety regu lations, the market for these products is expected to enjoy rapid growth over the next few years. (Zycie, p. 8) M.K.