In brief: Quest to buy Vintela

Management vendor Quest Software last week said it would spend $56.5 million in cash to acquire privately held Vintela, which develops software to integrate Microsoft management tools with other platforms. The acquisition brings together two companies focused on managing and extending Windows resources, most notably Active Directory. Quest plans to use Vintela’s integration technology to push itself into the identity management arena, including support for cross-platform user provisioning, password management and end-user self-service applications. The company says its long-term strategy is to extend Active Directory so companies can use it to manage and secure their Unix, Linux, Macintosh and Java platforms. Quest has been acquiring companies over the past few years to build its management and Active Directory business, including Fastlane Technologies in 2000 for its directory management tools, and Aelita in 2004 for its directory and Exchange management software. The acquisition leaves Centrify as the lone independent company developing integration software focused on marrying Active Directory with other platforms.