Work on networks by IT contractors may have contributed to the reduction in security budgets anticipated by Gartner.

The research firm estimates that enterprises will be able to reduce IT security spending because of the efficient approach many firms have taken to their network, which has helped to create very mature systems.

Commenting on the findings, Gartner research director Vic Wheatman suggested that companies are tending to spend money in other areas as economies emerge from the recession.

He added: " The average percentage of IT spending that security will comprise in 2010 is five per cent, down from six per cent in 2009.

"In 2009, in the face of a significant IT spending downturn, security spending grew slightly as a percentage of the IT budget, while many other IT spending areas were gutted."

Earlier this month, Gartner urged businesses to begin testing Windows 7, with a view to eliminating Windows XP from their network by the end of 2012. Flaws in XP, including those in security, have been widely criticised in the past.