HP has announced it is to acquire web application security assessment software specialist SPI Dynamics for an undisclosed sum. The move is part the company’s attempt to beef up its management software capabilities.

HP said SPI Dynamics’ technology allows customers to assess security vulnerabilities across the lifecycle of web applications, including through development, testing and deployment, and to validate application security in line with regulatory requirements.

Jonathan Rende, vice president of products for HP's Quality Management Software unit, said that there is a growing demand for software capable of assessing the security of web applications. “The number of vulnerabilities to business-critical applications has gone up exponentially with the rise of web-based applications,” he said.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter, at which point SPI Dynamics will be integrated into HP Software. HP added that it expects few integration problems because SPI's software is already integrated with HP's Quality Center software suite.

The announcement comes as HP also unveiled a range of security offerings at its Technology Forum in Las Vegas that are designed to help firms better meet regulatory requirements.

The new Secure Advantage portfolio brings together a raft of HP security products and services intended to help firms integrate security more tightly with their IT infrastructure. The portfolio includes HP identity and access management products, encryption capabilities, a new set of standards-based security services, and a new Compliance LogWarehouse appliance that collects and analyses log data to ensure regulatory requirements are met.