Security software maker Oblix is acquiring Web services management
concern Confluent Software for an undisclosed amount of stock,
internetnews.com has learned.
The merger, expected to be announced Monday, would solidify the emergence of
the independent services oriented architecture (SOA) industry, or companies
that create software that makes XML-based
between applications and servers in a Web services
environment.
SOA is a term that’s been bandied about by tech leaders for some time, and
is
considered the linchpin
for the utility computing or on-demand strategies being touted by companies
such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM.
For Cupertino, Calif.-based Oblix, the purchase fits like a glove:
Confluent develops Web services management software — of which identity
management is an essential piece — for companies looking for a way to tie
together their networks and programs in a seamless and real-time manner.
Ken Sims, Oblix vice president of marketing, said the role performed by
applications and services within the infrastructure is going through an
evolution, from the active role of enforcement handled at the application
level to a federated, or centralized, area that handles security
throughout the network.
“This is one of those inflection points, where there is a shift in the
architecture within the enterprise as people move over to this
services-oriented architecture,” he told internetnews.com. “The
systems management guys have, in essence, been passively monitoring what’s
going on in the company and keeping track of things that happen. (Oblix and
Confluent) are much more active.”
A merger means the public can expect products showcasing
Confluent’s access, service level agreement (SLA) and
business process monitoring software and Oblix’ software to manage the
security of who does or doesn’t get on the network.
According to Rick Caccia, Oblix director of product management, because the
two companies have worked so closely in the past, there is already a working
model being used in the workplace. It’s just a matter now, he told
internetnews.com, of re-packaging the software.
Jason Bloomberg, a senior analyst at research outfit ZapThink, said Oblix’
acquisition of Confluent is a departure from the norm for companies in the
identity management and Web services management industries, though the
synergies between the two make it an ideal arrangement.
“Most companies in these two markets have been happy with partnerships to
complement one another’s strengths, but there’s no question the
Oblix/Confluent combination promises to offer a more comprehensive
management solution than any other one company might be able to offer,” he
told internetnews.com.
To date, most of the acquisitions in the Web services management arena have
been big-name companies bolstering their own utility computing offering. HP
last September scooped
up Web services management software developer Talking Blocks to beef up
its On Demand offering. In December, Computer Associates bought out
Adjoin, giving the software and services company its own management
solution.
But these larger companies don’t have the flexibility that Confluent
provides, said Paola Lubet, Confluent vice president of marketing.
Because most of the larger software vendors already provide active roles in
their applications, they are using Web services management software mainly
as a monitoring tool, or a glorified dashboard, for its own brand of
software.
It’s that homogeneous approach, Lubet told internetnews.com, that
makes Confluent’s offering much more attractive in a business world that is
dominated by heterogeneous, or multi-vendor, systems.
“Until the day everybody is using IBM, or BEA (Systems), or an HP OpenView,
etc., until that time heterogeneity and flexibility is going to be a key
aspect that people will be looking at,” she said.
With the departure of Confluent from the independent field, the field of
remaining Web services management companies has grown even smaller, and will
likely force larger Web services companies to speed up their acquisition
plans if they hope to buy up a ready-made management product.
David Bressler, principal architect at one of those independent Web services
management developers, Actional, said the deal between the two companies
makes sense, since Oblix bolsters Confluent’s software with better security.
The acquisition would also give his company breathing room in the industry.
“(The acquisition) is great news for us,” he told internetnews.com at
a recent conference in New York City. “Every time a company gets acquired,
it validates our space and cuts out a bit of the competition.”
Ed Horst, vice president of marketing for competitor AmberPoint, said it
seemed as though Confluent was having a hard time gaining customer traction.
“Even if you’re well funded, you have to work hard to get new customers, and
continue to execute on the basics,” Horst told internetnews.com.
“What exactly Oblix will do with this is not clear, but I wouldn’t be
surprised if they cherry pick ther security features to help them better
compete with Netgrity IBM products such as Tivoli Access Manager.”
Officials expect to close on the merger within the next couple weeks. Of
Confluent’s 50 employees about 15 — made up of engineers, sales team and
executives — will move to Oblix’ headquarters.
