IBM Acquires Collation

Software Helps Protect Companies From “Domino Effect” of IT Problems

ARMONK, NY -- Nov 16, 2005 -- IBM today announced it has acquired Collation, a privately held company based in Redwood City, Calif. Financial details were not disclosed.

Collation software automatically captures information about IT resources, such as servers, applications and databases, and displays it on a detailed map. This enables IT staffs to better understand the impact of changes to an IT environment -- such as how a security patch can trigger a “domino effect” of unexpected problems that can bring down an online business. It also helps shrink the time it takes to discover and correct a problem.

“Without a solid understanding of how different pieces of the IT puzzle fit together, a single change can slow down or halt an entire system,” said Al Zollar, general manager, IBM Tivoli Software. “Collation software allows companies to visualize different change scenarios so they can analyze the implications before problems occur.”

In today’s world of complex software applications, understanding the relationship between technology and the business it supports can greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of IT operations. Collation software helps IT professionals manage the availability of their systems when making changes, which can ensure that applications remain up-and-running around the clock. IT professionals can also see how technology supports business processes, such as order entry, supply chain and enterprise resource management.

Using IBM Tivoli systems management software, customers can take the information captured by Collation software and model what will happen when a change is made. They can also test the environment for unauthorized changes and share a common view of how different pieces of an infrastructure work together to deliver IT services. This helps companies better manage their software deployments, making them more responsive to new business requirements by shortening the time it takes to release new applications or update existing ones.

The acquisition of Collation strengthens IBM’s IT service management software portfolio and expands its capabilities for automating and simplifying the way companies manage their infrastructures. With IT service management, companies can handle IT processes the same way they manage business processes, which helps improve efficiency, effectiveness, and agility. Collation technology will become part of the IBM Tivoli Change and Configuration Management Database, a service management platform that provides a single view across multiple sources of IT information.

Collation products will be available direct from IBM, through IBM Global Services, and through IBM Business Partners.

About IBM
IBM is the world’s largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com.

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Laurie Friedman

IBM Media Relations

IBM

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