BMC Buy Nips ‘Behavior Problems’ in the Bud


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.

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