Accounting Woes May Benefit VARs

If Enron is any indication, there will be a short-term negative ripple effect in IT spending, said Marv Richardson, managing director and CTO at Chicago-based solution provider Lante. However, Richardson said he also believes that after the initial shock wears off, companies will turn to outside consultants to improve internal controls and compliance reporting. "Interestingly, we are seeing heightened interest in compliance management," Richardson said. "Specifically, demand for the use of interactive dashboards for monitoring performance and reporting on regulatory and policy metrics."

Other solution providers said the accounting scandals shouldn't negatively impact IT spending. "It used to be IT was always a cost center, but now it's about, 'How can my business generate more income?' " said Dale Aychman, a director at Stirling Systems Group, a Boulder, Colo., solution provider.

JENNIFER FOLLETT contributed to this story.