FEBRUARY 16, 2010 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM) says it has acquired privately held Intelliden Inc., a provider of intelligent network automation software designed to enable organizations such as telecommunications companies to configure, manage, and scale their networks. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Analysts estimate that more than 60 percent of network outages are caused by manual configuration errors, according to IBM. By acquiring this automation technology, IBM aims to help clients improve network service availability, decrease risk through compliance reporting, and improve staff efficiency.
Intelliden customers include Cbeyond, Scotia Capital, Telecom Italia, and TELUS.
IBM expects the acquisition to further strengthen its service management portfolio by offering comprehensive products for automation and optimization of digital and physical assets. This includes full-service lifecycle management of network devices, IT, data center, and physical assets as diverse as water mains, railway cars, and “even door locks,” according to the company.
"The typical company is managing a more complex and ever-changing infrastructure - stretched across digital and physical assets," said Al Zollar, general manager, IBM Tivoli software. "Companies are managing a virtualized computing layer that more than ever relies on the network. Intelliden's intelligent network automation is an important addition to IBM's portfolio to extend automation across all business and IT assets."
Intelliden’s technology will be integrated into IBM Tivoli Software, which produced revenue growth of 7 percent for 2009, according to the company. IBM Tivoli software is designed to help clients integrate service delivery across organizational boundaries.