Where will the IT dollar be spent in 2003? Predicted upturn in tech spending provokes a big question. (Final Thoughts).

Analysts and suppliers are all predicting a big upturn in tech spending during 2003, which is good news for the industry as a whole. It is certainly welcome news for software vendors and developers, who have been hit hard over the past year. It's also good news for the economy as a whole because new tech spending should spur jobs and thus spur spending. However there is still a huge question that is in need of an answer: Where will those IT dollars be spent, and who will control the purse strings?

Clearly services addressing security will be high on the list, but what about more pure infrastructure plays? In the wake of September 11th, IT spending beyond whatever is absolutely necessary has come to a …