IBM is to boost its research and marketing spending on security products to $1.5 billion, as it looks to push into the security market.
The company is hoping to boost revenue by selling its security services alongside its traditional technology offerings, instead of losing sales to specialist vendors such as Symantec and MacAfee.
IBM is touting an end-to-end solution which integrates its security into every aspect of its technology systems operations.
However, security firms like Symantec and MacAfee argue that their focus gives them a cutting edge which will be difficult for companies like IBM to claw back.
IBM spent more than $5 billion in 2006 on acquisitions, mainly for software companies in a drive to expand its most profitable business. Among these, it paid $1.23 billion for security company Internet Security Systems.
Big Blue would not confirm its old budget for security research, however, reports have suggested it may have been half of the recently announced figure.
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