Business iQ works with other parts of the company's App iQ platform that map an application environment in terms of business transactions, and establish baseline performance and warn of deviations, provide deep visibility (eg to a specific line of code) when something goes wrong.

Other parts of the family handle the massive amounts of data collected by AppDynamics software and provide a user interface designed for enterprise-scale deployments.

"The modern CIO needs a tighter partnership with the business," AppDynamics head of product marketing Matt Chotin told iTWire, adding that shared KPIs are one way this can be achieved.

Business iQ can provide such information in real time, revealing issues as they occur.

Log management alone can't do the job, Chotin suggested, as it would require applications to be modified to generate the right messages, and rules must be developed in advance to recognise particular messages.

Traditional BI tools are backward-looking, and web analytics can spot problems but are unable to identify their causes.

"We're operating in real time," he said, without the need for any code changes. Data from multiple sources at the business, application and user levels is intelligently correlated so that IT can see what has gone wrong and the effect it has on the business.

That allows groups within the IT function such as operations have a different conversation with their colleagues in line of business units, Chotin said. With Business iQ, "these guys have access to the data that's running the business." In addition to firefighting issues, it also allows IT to describe the business impact of not investing in infrastructure improvements.

Line of business managers and CIOs are most excited by this capability, he said, but it also means IT practitioners have an opportunity to become partners with their line of business colleagues. After all, "IT is going to be responsible for delivering these customer experiences."

Business iQ is available with the Peak editions of AppDynamics' Application Performance Management, End-User Monitoring and Infrastructure Visibility products.

AppDynamics customers in Australia include Allianz (insurance), Bravura Solutions (superannuation and wealth management service provider), ME Bank (banking) and Veda (credit reporting). Overseas, the list includes Kraft, MTV Networks, Progressive Insurance and Sephora.