However, the company noted a dip in some areas at the end of the quarter and expects trouble ahead for the industry.

"We are seeing some signs of a slowdown in IT spending in many parts of the world, and I believe the slowdown will continue into 2009," said EMC Chairman, President and CEO Joe Tucci, on a conference call following the results announcement. Tucci said he expects IT spending overall to grow between 1 percent and 3 percent in 2009.

The company's revenue grew 13 percent from last year's third quarter to US$3.7 billion, with 11 percent gains in both its information storage business and its RSA security division.

Net income according to GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) was $411 million, or $0.20 per share, down from $492 million, or $0.23 per share, a year earlier. But not counting a special income-tax benefit and other one-time items, EMC had net income of $528 million, or $0.25 per share, up 14 percent from last year's third quarter.

The non-GAAP profit figure beat analysts' estimates of $0.19 per share, while revenue essentially matched the analysts' forecasts.