A poll by the British Computer Society (BCS) has revealed that security remains one of the most pressing worries for IT managers.

Almost four out of five of those questioned indicated that an effective IT security infrastructure is key to the UK's competitiveness in the global market.

But justifying infrastructure investment to the board is also high on the list of concerns, and nearly half of those questioned believe that IT departments need more representation at board level to get things done.

There was cautious optimism on budgets in the survey, although barely a third of those questioned expect more money next year.

Top of the shopping list for BCS members is spending on security products, followed by application security software and mobile computing.

"British companies recognise the importance of leading-edge technology and strong technical and business skills in driving the UK IT industry forward," said David Clarke, chief executive at the BCS.

"In particular, we believe that mobile computing technology will play an increasingly bigger role in sharpening the UK's competitiveness in the global market."

The report also criticised the government, with 80 per cent of those questioned feeling that state spending is inadequate or misplaced.

This is particularly true in the case of skills training. Some 80 per cent of IT managers cited professional skills as the most important attribute of IT staff.