Eying its competition with Oracle in the Java space, Azul has acquired Payara, a provider of enterprise solutions for Jakarta EE Java-based applications and microservices for cloud-native and hybrid cloud deployments.

Announced December 10, the deal enables Java platform provider Azul to offer faster, more efficient, more secure, and more cost-effective deployments in the Java application stack, Azul said. The company said the combination of Azul and Payara addresses pressing challenges enterprises face today: accelerating application modernization, achieving cloud-native agility, and reducing dependencies on proprietary platforms. With an integrated offering, users are provided with a unified, enterprise-grade Java platform based on open-source that can support an organization’s full Java fleet – from business-critical applications to IoT, microservices, and modern Java frameworks, Azul said.

The acquisition marks a moment in enterprise Java innovation and builds on nearly eight years of collaboration between Azul and Payara, according to Azul. This collaboration between with the two began in 2018 with the introduction of Azul Platform Core embedded into Payara Server Enterprise. Payara adds engineering expertise and experience in Java Enterprise Edition, thus strengthening the Azul Java platform with complementary products and enhanced market reach, said Azul.