Microsoft Corp. has acquired application management and transaction monitoring startup Blue Stripe Software, Inc. (BlueStripe.)

Founded in 2007, BlueStripe’s solutions help map, monitor and troubleshoot distributed applications across heterogeneous operating systems and multiple data center and cloud environments.

Software from the company is said to be used by customers to extend the value of Microsoft System Center by adding application-aware infrastructure performance monitoring.

Their main product is called FactFinder, and as we’ve covered previously it enables companies to have end-to-end monitoring of server, application, and performance across both platforms.  With FactFinder in place, applications can be visualized across data centers, across cloud environments, regardless of what components form the underlying architecture, whether Linux, Windows, Solaris, mainframe, and so on.

“BlueStripe’s enterprise-class solution enables IT professionals to move from monitoring IT at the infrastructure level to gaining visibility into applications at the transaction level,” Microsoft’s General Manager, Enterprise Cloud, Mike Neil said in a post on the Official Microsoft Blog.

“The technology discovers and maps applications and dependencies, pinpoints problems for faster resolution, and helps maintain SLAs across complex underlying infrastructure. By mapping the structure of distributed applications, BlueStripe also helps in the process of updating applications to more modern platforms and migrating to the cloud.”

Microsoft and BlueStripe had worked together previously, as a customer, a technology supporter, and IT management partner, a base from which Bluestripe says makes the acquisition even more appealing.

“Going forward, you will see BlueStripe’s technology play an even more important role as new data center and cloud solutions come to market. We are thrilled with the opportunity to be part of the next wave of IT innovation” an unnamed Bluestripe employee said in a statement.

BlueStripe’s addition to Microsoft will strength the latters offering in terms of Hybrid Cloud management, with a one-stop shop of discovery, mapping, and monitoring all together in the one tool.

Microsoft added that they would be ceasing sales of BlueStripe’s FactFinder software, and would be integrating the package into their management products and services, like System Center and Operations Management Suite (OMS).

Prior to acquisition, BlueStripe had raised $13.5 million over 3 rounds. The company had only 2 investors: Valhalla Partners and Trinity Ventures.

The price of the acquisition was not disclosed.