Microsoft Buys BlueStripe Software for App Management Technology

Microsoft (MSFT) said it has acquired BlueStripe Software, an eight-year old, Morrisville, NC-based developer of application management technology that works across multiple operating systems, data centers and cloud environments.

The vendor said it will merge BlueStripe’s FactFinder technology into its management products and services, including System Center and Operations Management Suite (OMS). Microsoft said it will stop selling BlueStripe solutions while it integrates the developer’s software into its portfolio but it will continue supporting existing BlueStripe customers.

Neither company disclosed financial terms of the transaction. Since opening its doors in 2007, BlueStripe raised $13.5 million in backing in three rounds from two investors, including a $525,000 debt financing round last July, according to Crunchbase. Trinity Ventures and Valhalla Partners participated in BlueStripe’s $5 million Series A and $8 million Series B rounds.

At this point, there’s no word about what roles, if any, BlueStripe founders John Bley and Vic Nyman will play or if the developer’s eight employees have been offered jobs at Microsoft.

“BlueStripe’s enterprise-class solution enables IT professionals to move from monitoring IT at the infrastructure level to gaining visibility into applications at the transaction level,” wrote Mike Neil, Microsoft Enterprise Cloud general manager, in a blog post.

Neil said the BlueStripe acquisition adds to earlier Microsoft moves to help enterprises operate and manage their hybrid clouds.

“Microsoft is committed to providing leading hybrid cloud solutions and support for our customers. Today’s acquisition furthers that promise, giving IT even more hybrid cloud flexibility to focus on what matters most – rapidly delivering business value to drive innovation,” Neil said.

Microsoft said that BlueStripe’s customers use the company’s technology to extend Microsoft’s OMS for better insight into their infrastructure’s performance.

“We are very excited to announce that Microsoft has acquired BlueStripe Software,” BlueStripe posted on its website. “We have worked with Microsoft for years–they’ve been a great customer, a technology supporter, and IT management partner. Going forward, you will see BlueStripe’s technology play an even more important role as new data center and cloud solutions come to market. We are thrilled with the opportunity to be part of the next wave of IT innovation.”