BMC Software is looking to head off problems before they stymie business processes, agreeing to acquire software maker ProactiveNet for an undisclosed sum.

Privately held ProactiveNet makes analytics software that determines normal operating behavior of IT services across corporate computer systems.

The software creates filters and correlation rules that detect and determine probable cause on the fly, eliminating the need for IT administrators to look into and manually address problems. This automated approach also eliminates false-positive alerts and reduces alert activity.

Automating problem detection and correction technology is also important, because it helps businesses head off downtime, which can cost companies millions of dollars in lost transactions.

Forrester Research analyst Evelyn Hubbert said ProactiveNet's specialty is "correlating massive volumes of performance data across computer infrastructure and narrowing the potential causes of a problem to a potential few problems."

ProactiveNet also employs a self-learning capability to reduce the scripting and necessity of rule creation by IT, Hubbert said, adding that such technology enables great improvement for IT in the reduction of manual scripting and rule creation.

BMC, which expects to close the deal in 30 days, said in a statement ProactiveNet's software will boost its business service management portfolio for helping businesses align IT with business processes.

BMC's new buy will also help the Houston-based company gain a step on HP, IBM and CA in the multi-billion-dollar management software market.

While none of those vendors have acquired specialists in what Hubbert calls the "analytical performance management space," HP and IBM are not without similar software and services.

Hubbert said HP has an "excellent" correlation engine today with the Operations Center solution, which includes agentless monitoring capabilities it acquired when it bought Mercury Interactive. IBM offers the Netcool OmniBus product from its Micromuse purchase for real-time monitoring of networks.

CA could be in the hunt for similar technology.

"I believe this is just another beginning of a series of acquisitions happening in this space," Hubbert said.

There is no doubt infrastructure software vendors are trying to make their products smarter to meet customer needs. Last month Tibco Software landed on Spotfire for $195 million.