Today, Dell announced definitive plans to acquire end-to-end IT software provider Quest Software.

The deal is all part of Dell’s most recent initiative to grow their enterprise solution portfolio and further distinguish their capabilities from those of their largest competitors.

The acquisition will cost Dell $2.4 billion, and is expected to close by the end of Dell’s third fiscal quarter. Dell will pay $28.00 per share in cash for each share of Quest.

Here’s a few examples of what Dell is inheriting with the acquisition of Quest:

* The Quest One Identity and Access Management solution family adds to Dell’s very strong set of security assets with SonicWALL and Secureworks, creating a comprehensive set of security solutions to address important customer needs.

* Quest’s Performance Monitoring solutions for applications, networks and databases address a rapidly growing need for our customers. Industry analysts have consistently ranked Quest Foglight as a leading application performance monitoring solution. Businesses of all sizes are looking to reduce their IT complexity and automate workloads for their IT departments. Customers worldwide leverage Foglight to continually monitor their IT environments, proactively identifying and remedying performance issues before they become bigger problems.

* Quest’s Windows Server Management solutions complement Dell Services’ rapidly growing application modernization practice with recently acquired Clerity Solutions and Make Technologies.

* Effective database management is critical to the successful operation of most organizations. Quest’s Database Management capabilities offer a strong complement to Dell’s enterprise offering. Today, millions of DBAs, developers, and analysts around the world rely on Quest’s database management tools to simplify their work.

John Swainson, president of Dell’s Software Group comments on the acquisition of Quest Software:

“The addition of Quest will enable Dell to deliver more competitive server, storage, networking and end user computing solutions and services to customers,”

“Quest’s suite of industry-leading software products, highly-talented team members and unique intellectual property will position us well in the largest and fastest growing areas of the software industry. We intend to build upon the strong momentum Quest brings to Dell.”

Vinny Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Quest Software comments on joining the Dell team:

“Clearly, Dell’s distribution, reach and brand are well recognized in the industry. Combine that with Quest’s software expertise and award-winning systems management products and you have a very powerful combination for our customers and partners,”

“With this transaction, Quest’s products and employees become the foundation for Dell’s critical software business.”

Quest was established in 1987, and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. The company serves more than 100,000 customers around the World. They currently employ about 3,000 employees and operate 60 offices in 23 countries.