Hewlett-Packard has announced that it is to acquire IT security and compliance business Fortify Software for an undisclosed sum.

Privately-held Fortify specialises in software that helps organisations protect themselves from malicious application attacks, manage compliance and reduce business risk.

The two companies have a history of collaboration. In June 2009, they jointly announced the integration of Fortify’s application security testing technology with HP’s Application Security Centre and Quality Centre products. This partnership was extended in February this year when Fortify agreed to integrate its security analysis technology into the same HP products.

HP says that it will initially run California-based Fortify as a standalone entity, before eventually absorbing its new subsidiary into its Software and Solutions business.

“With Fortify’s leadership in static application security analysis combined with HP’s expertise in dynamic application security analysis, organizations will have a best-in-class solution to improve the security of their applications and services,” said Bill Veghte, HP’s executive vice president of Software and Solutions.