VMworld: VMware scoops up Integrien and TriCipher

VMware has finalised the purchases of systems monitoring and control provider Integrien and access management specialist TriCipher.

Integrien will add to reporting functions in VMware's portfolio, while TriCipher's tools will be used to provide single sign-on and security functions for a range of the company's products.

"These acquisitions are more technology oriented than based on financial results," Paul Maritz, chief executive of VMware, told a press conference at VMworld 2010.

"We have a view about how this new stack needs to come together, and we are looking to fill pieces of technology. These acquisitions are driven by strategy rather than near-term financial gain."

Financial details of the deals were not discussed, but both will be wrapped up by the end of the year.

"TriCipher has been a pioneer in the field of identity and access management as a service, providing secure authentication and seamless single sign-on access to over 3,000 public and private web and SaaS applications," said John De Santis, chairman of TriCipher.

"We are excited to join the VMware family and further build on our foundational technology to fulfil VMware's cloud and end user computing vision. "

The announcement could spark a price war for virtualisation companies that specialise in vertical sectors. After the Citrix acquisition of VMLogix, analysts will be looking for other technology buyout targets.

"VMware has good reasons for the purchase, including building out its cloud portfolio. But I wonder if TriCipher belongs with RSA [another subsidiary of EMC]," said Mark Diodati, a research director at Gartner.

"Its products are security- and identity-based, and are complementary to RSA's enterprise authentication, consumer authentication and web access management offerings."