SAP Buys Risk Management VendorSAP Buys Risk Management Vendor

SAP AG said Monday it will acquire privately-held Virsa Systems Inc. for an undisclosed all-cash sum to strengthen its position in corporate compliance and risk management software.

The acquisition expands on SAP's strategy to expand offerings by buying-up niche companies.

Virsa has been the "poster child for partner integration using the SAP NetWeaver technology stack," according to AMR Research Inc. Its products have been sold to more than 300 customers, with half delivered through the SAP channel.

Though Virsa addresses security concerns highlighted by Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance, the product fundamentally span a broader set of ongoing access- and process-monitoring requirements stipulated by <a = "http: www.techweb.com encyclopedia defineterm.jhtml?term="SOX"">Sarbanes-Oxley

and other compliance mandates based in process coordination, the AMR said.