Reliable products and good technical support rated as the most important and influencing factor in the vendor selection process.

Product quality and price shape purchasing decisions over and above any vendor sweeteners that are used to win sales.

The findings are part of the first Australian Information Security Satisfaction Monitor compiled by analyst firm Frost & Sullivan.

Respondents to the research, which covered some 270 local IT professionals, found reliability and service rated well above licensing simplicity, product range and vendor reputation when it came to purchasing IT security products.

The survey asked IT managers to rate satisfaction levels and spending intentions with nine security technologies including antispam, antispyware, antivirus, firewall, intrusion prevention systems, patch management and security information management. It also asked which factors are most important when dealing with security vendors.