IBM is acquiring identity management software developer Access360, whose technology IBM plans to merge into its Tivoli portfolio of systems management software, the companies said Tuesday. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Access360's flagship product is enRole, enterprise software that regulates employee access rights to corporate data in accordance with role-based rules. IBM plans to integrate enRole into existing Tivoli products, notably Tivoli Identity Manager, according to IBM spokesman John Crowe.

While Access360 as a brand will disappear once that software integration is completed next year, IBM plans to continue supporting current Access360 products as long as needed, Crowe said.

Three-year-old Access360, based in Irvine, California, has a staff of around 130, essentially all of whom will be offered employment at IBM, Crowe said. While Access360 will be integrated into IBM's Tivoli unit, based in Austin, IBM plans to continue operating Access360's headquarters in Irvine. Access360 Chief Executive Officer Paul Gigg plans to join IBM as Tivoli's vice president of security management.

The directors of privately held Access360 have already signed off on the acquisition, which remains subject to regulatory approvals. IBM anticipates that the acquisition will close near the beginning of October.