Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Licenses	$ 69,983	$ 66,735
Services	142,213	121,422
Total revenues	212,196	188,157
Cost of revenues:
Licenses	2,883	1,784
Services	24,002	20,965
Amortization of purchased technology	6,968	4,650
Total cost of revenues	33,853	27,399
Gross profit	178,343	160,758
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	85,962	81,729
Research and development	46,375	41,723
General and administrative	32,462	28,193
Amortization of other purchased intangible assets	8,291	3,747
Total operating expenses	173,090	155,392
Income from operations	5,253	5,366
Other (expense) income, net	(874)	1,156
Income before income tax provision	4,379	6,522
Income tax provision	1,778	3,151
Net income	2,601	3,371
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	67
Net income attributable to Quest Software, Inc.	$ 2,668	$ 3,371
Net income per share attributable to Quest Software, Inc. stockholders:
Basic	$ 0.03	$ 0.04
Diluted	$ 0.03	$ 0.04
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	83,424	92,303
Diluted	85,102	95,112