Posting its better-than-expected first quarter results on Thursday, the Santa Clara-based security software maker McAfee Inc. reported a $51.8 million net income, or 34 cents per share, as against the last year same-quarter figures of $30.2 million or 18 cents per year.

The 21 percent increase in the company’s first quarter revenue resulted in record figures of $448 million, vis-à-vis last year’s $369.6 million. Excluding items, the 57 cents per share earnings for the quarter surpassed Reuters’ average analyst estimates of 48 cents.

With the defense mechanism gaining priority for companies, the sales of security products are faring comparatively much better than other types of software, since, as an ITIC analyst put it, “Companies consider security spending to be sacrosanct.”

No wonder McAfee’s two business units are experiencing notable growth cycles. While its corporate sales jumped 28 percent, with customers expanding their security software modules; the consumer sales increased 12 percent.

The McAfee shares leaped 3.9 percent in Thursday’s after-hours trading, as the company projected higher second quarter earnings than market expectations, thanks to its new software modules and affiliations with PC vendors.

Talking about the McAfee growth, analyst Daniel Ives, of FBR Capital Markets, said: ‘They've done a good job in scaling the model. This year, you are starting to see them reap the benefits!”