Check Point's Australia-New Zealand manager, Scott McKinnel, paints a different picture regarding security competence to that described by the Employers and Manufacturers Association in its recent computer security survey.

While the survey found smaller users are better protected than larger ones when it comes to security, McKinnel believes the real drop-out is in the middle.

Small, medium and large companies are three different markets, he says.

The largest companies are, generally, quite competent at looking after their own security and the smallest tend to outsource the problem to an independent integrator or to their ISP. The "second tier" is the problem. These firms are big enough to need in-house security, but often lack the skills, staff numbers or awareness of security issues that larger organizations have, McKinnel says.

Check Point has been studying this part of the industry in Australia and New Zealand and has plans to address its needs. Historically, Check Point has specialized in meeting the needs of large enterprises.