Business analytics software and services provider SAS announced on Friday it has acquired technology and hired key staff members

from cloud platform as a service provider rPath for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition is the second major deal for SAS following its purchase of online advertising manager provider aiMatch in February.

The acquisition will enable SAS to more effectively automate the set-up and management of SAS solutions in any virtual environment.

The deal will also enable SAS to boost the “cloud and on-demand domain expertise needed to support customers tapping into these areas.”

rPath was founded in 2005 by former Red Hat executives who have since left the company. The start-up provides solutions for enterprises

that automate the assembly, provisioning and updating of different operating systems and middleware platforms and application stacks.

SAS has more than 14,000 employees across its 400 offices around the world, with more than 6,600 of its staff based in the US.

Nineteen rPath employees involved with the technology have joined the Platform Deployment Technologies group within SAS Research

and Development.

rPath is in the process of shutting down its operations, according to a SAS spokesperson. Meanwhile, a SAS spokesperson stressed that the company did not acquire all assets of rPath.