It was announced on Thursday by IBM that it intends to acquire the systems management software seller BigFix, but it did not provide any additional information, regarding the amount of acquisition.

The deal will probably end in the third quarter. BigFix’s combine proposal includes the patch management, security configurations and power management areas.

The website reveals that the software's workload is disseminated over all devices under management, and a query language developed by BigFix, reduces the problems in performance to the equipments under management.

With the IBM decision, the competitive stakes with other big opponents in data center automation including Hewlett-Packard, BMC and CA Technologies will get more intense. However, IBM's Tivoli IT management software line is already noticeable but with the addition of BigFix's technology, the situation will become more stable.

Redmonk analyst Michael Cot opined that it is possible that IBM “can have surprising holes in its portfolio” if taken into account, regarding the desktop management and automation.

He added that with monitoring and asset management, Tivoli can get benefitted with this “rather than partnering to get it". Also, he shared that the level of BigFix is what Tivoli has been looking for to manage.

It is known that the privately owned BigFix has 200 employees and presently caters to 700 customers. After the acquisition, it will come under the IBM's Software Group.