Naturally, vendors are more than ready to step in with a solution that will capitalize on that demand so virtually every enterprise management software vendor has thrown its hat into the BSM ring. Of course, what constitutes a solution varies widely from sophisticated, very pragmatic real-time applications that map application dependencies so that IT has an immediate understanding of the immediate impact of a network change to more generalized frameworks comprised of components that are closer to traditional enterprise management applications than what most organizations probably need to institute real BSM.

But whether it is a traditional enterprise management vendor using BSM as a marketing tool for its products or a less conventional upstart trying to build a product portfolio to help companies implement BSM, there appears to be some real momentum behind the concept. Look no further than Hewlett-Packard’s decision to acquire asset management and service desk vendor Peregrine Systems a month ago. There is no more dominant traditional management vendor than HP, yet the company clearly saw a gap in its capabilities with regard to the critical asset and service components of BSM which it is attempting to fill with the Peregrine acquisition.

Siki Giunta, president and CEO of BSM vendor Managed Objects, sees the Peregrine acquisition as mostly positive for the industry – and for HP. Giunta calls the merger a pretty good move that gives HP both the technology and the customer set it needs to pursue the pent up demand for software that can help businesses make BSM work for them in a production environment. And if HP makes real inroads into BSM, its customer base is likely to catch the wave too.

Giunta acknowledges that HP faces some formidable migration and integration challenges with respect to both Peregrine customers. One of the bigger challenges there will be keeping Peregrine business which comes through IBM Global Services. This is no small number either: Market research firm IDC estimates that 16% of Peregrine’s sales come through the integrator.

Whatever happens over the long term, at least in the short term the acquisition further corroborates the argument that BSM is much more than just a marketing concept. And this adds more momentum to a market that is expected to continue to build as companies look for help making BSM a reality.