Watch: Barracuda Networks’ Hatem Naguib on email still posing many risks to cybersecurity

California-based Barracuda Networks started operations in 2003 with a simple firewall and anti-spam software. Today, it deals in security, networking and storage products based on network appliances and cloud services.

In March 2019, Barracuda signed an agreement with information technology distribution and solutions company Tech Data Corporation to distribute among local partners across the country its email protection, network and application security, as well as data protection solutions.

In February 2019, reports said that Barracuda had acquired Managed Workplace, a managed service provider (MSP) software platform, from Avast Software, maker of a popular computer antivirus programme. In November 2017, Barracuda agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, LLC. for $1.6 billion.

Providing protection against hackers, spyware, Trojans and viruses, Barracuda claims to be one of the first security agencies to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) service to counter spear-phishing and cyber fraud. Called the Barracuda Sentinel, the service was released to the public in July 2017.

With over 1,500 employees globally, the company says it leads the race in the burgeoning market for Firewall as a Service (FWaaS).

Talking exclusively to TechCircle, the company’s chief operating officer Hatem Naguib speaks about how the most of the risks are still posed by emails. The company’s email security solution, Barracuda Essentials, witnessed 232% growth in sales bookings year-over-year in 2018 and the firm currently has over 50,000 email security customers.

An ex-VMware network security expert, Naguib is now responsible for Barracuda’s solutions in email, web applications, remote access, web browsing, mobile Internet, and network perimeters. In this talk, Naguib delves into aspects of security in the age of the cloud and digital transformation. He also talks about the need for companies to keep their data protected even when there are multiple layers, locations and methods of data storage, and how enterprises can mitigate risks associated with the ever-growing and evolving global threat landscape.