MetricsHub

Microsoft announced today that it had acquired MetricsHub, a cloud monitoring startup that automates cloud performance management.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based company, which was a participant in Microsoft's three-month-long Accelerator program, helps customers interpret application data points to determine how and when to scale their application. Financial details of the acquisition were not revealed.

Microsoft's program provides 10 startups developing in the cloud with a $20,000 investment, office space, technical training and support, and mentorship from entrepreneurs. At the conclusion of the program, participants have the opportunity to pitch their product to Microsoft executives, investors, and the media.

"Cloud solutions are compelling for a variety of reasons -- scale, flexibility, and value -- particularly for companies looking to do more with less," Bob Kelly, Microsoft's corporate vice president for strategy and business development, wrote in a company blog post today. "To get real value out of those data points you need to automate how your application and cloud platform intelligently respond."

In a correlating blog post, MetricsHub announced that its formerly paid service would now be available for free.

"MetricsHub will now offer all Windows Azure customers our premium product as a pre-release, no charge, service available through the Windows Azure Store," the company said in a statement. "We will also be converting all paying customers to this no-charge version of the service and MetricsHub technology will continue to keep your cloud applications running."