IBM Buys Cloud-Based Software Testing Platform Green Hat

In its first acquisition of 2012, IBM has announced the purchase of cloud-based software testing platform Green Hat. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1996, Green Hat allows developers to test software applications prior to delivery in the cloud. Developers can test TIBCO, webMethods, IBM WebSphere MQ, SOA, BPM, SOAP, REST and Cloud applications with the company’s platform as well as Virtualize unavailable applications and test application performance.

Green Hat, says IBM, creates a virtual environment that simulates a wide range of IT infrastructure problems and issues, without the constraints of hardware or software services because the platform is based in the cloud. The virtual test environment can be set up in a matter of minutes versus weeks, and for a fraction of the cost for developers.

According to IBM, software testing represents more than 50 percent of overall development costs, and testing teams often spend upwards of 30 percent of their time managing the complexity of the test environment. Green Hat will join IBM’s Rational Software business, and will help Big Blue’s enterprise clients manage software development costs, test cycle times and risk.

Green Hat customers include British Airways, H&M, T-Mobile, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Virgin Mobile.