Improving security is the number one reason for companies to switch to open source software in several major IT markets in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a new survey.

The results indicate that organisations perceive open source as providing better security compared to proprietary products, according to Prianka Srinivasan, a software market analyst with IDC Asia-Pacific, which organised the survey.

Respondents also favoured open source for a number of other perceived advantages, including lower cost, better support, better functionality, open standards and better management tools and utilities.

"Although cost-efficiency remains a key decision factor, the results also suggest that organisations look to open source technology to fulfil their requirements for specific functionalities instead of widespread deployment," said Srinivasan.

The survey was answered by 1,000 IT executives in China, Korea, India and Australia.

The results also suggest that small and medium-sized businesses are installing open source software more rapidly than larger firms.

However, IDC analysts predict that challenges lie ahead for open source vendors as a variety of platforms gain a foothold in the region.

"IDC believes that open source technology and software will appear in the higher end of the application stack in the coming years," said Srinivasan.

"Commercial vendors of open source software will need to provide extensive support and training services, as well as address issues of interoperability, in order to take advantage of the addressable market for open source technology in the region."