Microsoft Adds Avicode To Cloud Computing Toolbox

As Microsoft moves more of its applications to the cloud, it's going to need a way to ensure that these apps are running smoothly and not making end users tear out their hair in frustration. With its Wednesday acquisition of AVIcode, Microsoft has added this important capability.

Microsoft plans to run AVIcode, a Baltimore-based that specializes in performance monitoring technology for .NET applications, as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but according to the blog TechFlash, the purchase price is under $50 million.

AVIcode, a longtime Microsoft Gold partner, enables companies keep track of the performance and availability of their cloud applications, and to quickly pinpoint the cause of latency issues when they arise. This is important for Microsoft, which currently has a handful of cloud apps but will be migrating many more in its "all-in" push into cloud computing.

AVIcode is integrated with System Center Operations Manager and Microsoft has been using this combination in its data centers to run services like Xbox Live "for a number of years," Brad Anderson, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Management and Security Division, said in a blog post.

Microsoft will integrate AVIcode into the System Center roadmap "over time" and AVIcode will continue fulfilling its current obligations to its customers, according to Anderson. "For Microsoft customers this acquisition will provide access to a new set of capabilities to help you keep those business-critical datacenter applications and services up and running," he said in the blog post.

Next: What The Future Holds For AVIcode

It's unclear how many AVIcode employees will be coming to Microsoft as part of the deal, as the software giant offered a vague indication of its plans in this regard.

"We're excited about the caliber of employees at AVIcode and are working closely with AVIcode's management team to bring a number of AVIcode employees to Microsoft across most functions of the company," according to a Microsoft Avicode FAQ.

In 2008, AVIcode was named a CRN Emerging Tech Vendor on the strength of its Intercept Studio application monitoring offering. More recently, AVIcode sent out a bizarre press kit to media members that included a lollipop with a dead scorpion embedded inside, to its product mission to "lick the bugs" in .Net apps.