The research - which forms part of ABI Research's Wireless Security Research Service - also includes research reports, research briefs, and analyst inquiry support. ABI vice president Stan Schatt said that the managed wireless security services growth rate is quite dramatic.

The growth, he explained, is due to the explosive growth of large wireless LAN deployments.

"As these grow, organisations in certain markets such as healthcare and hospitality are finding it more efficient to outsource their security management rather than to do it themselves. That's particularly true of institutions that have many smaller branches without trained IT personnel," he added.

There is also what Schatt calls an absolutely incredible opportunity among small and mid-sized businesses: as they increase their WiFi usage, they see great benefit in having their wireless security - especially wireless video surveillance - managed for them.

These managed services are being provided by a variety of companies: some WLAN equipment companies such as Cisco, and some resellers of intrusion protection systems from companies such as AirMagnet and Airtight Networks.

In the future, he said, these will be joined by the large professional services companies such as HP and IBM. Mobile operators and other telcos will also be giving this market a great deal of attention: AT&T is already active in this sphere.

Schatt concludes that managed service providers can address this market more effectively by including support for wireless video surveillance in their offerings, including portals for review of surveillance tapes, and activity reports.