Survey participants were also asked whether cloud computing was likely to impact demand for information security professionals. The results revealed significant optimism, with less than 10 per cent believing that the cloud would reduce demand and about half believing the trend towards the cloud would increase demand for security professionals.

Frost & Sullivan lead analyst Robert Ayoub, CISSP, said it was surprising to see such an emphasis on technology and detail, looking at a trend involving outsourcing management.

"Professionals, the majority of whom have a technical background, appear to be focusing on the familiar," Ayoub said. "The instinct to develop skills for the new operational dynamic introduced by cloud computing may still be elusive for many."