Barracuda Announces Web Security Gateway Updates to Enhance Advanced Threat Protection and Network Performance, Adds New Chromebook Security Extension

• Barracuda announced updates to its Web Security Gateway product line to protect web users from advanced threats including ransomware and improve network performance with fast SSL Scanning.
• Barracuda Web Security Gateway models 610 and higher now feature dedicated SSL acceleration hardware, which doubles the SSL inspection performance on encrypted web traffic.
• Barracuda Web Security Gateway customers now have access to Barracuda Advanced Threat Detection, a cloud-based microservice that protects organizations against ransomware and other targeted attacks.
• Barracuda Chromebook Security Extension is now available, enabling web security policy enforcement needed in K-12 or other educational environments where Chromebooks are used in 1:1 initiatives.
• Barracuda Web Security Gateway can be deployed with Barracuda NextGen Firewalls, and now any existing third-party UTM or firewall, offering organizations the performance benefits of independently scaling fast packet inspection and full web proxy functions, each of which has a different latency profile.

Barracuda today announced Barracuda Web Security Gateway version 11.0, which offers customers advanced security protection and improved SSL scanning performance, as well as the ability to enforce policy configuration on Chromebooks. Barracuda Web Security Gateway is purpose built to enable organizations to benefit from online applications and tools, while preventing exposure to web-borne malware and viruses, and limiting lost user productivity and misused bandwidth. With version 11.0, Barracuda Web Security Gateway combines powerful web security functionality with next-generation firewall capabilities allowing for more robust, complementary security protection managed from a single pane of glass.

Accelerated SSL Scanning and Web Traffic Performance
Mozilla recently reported that for the first time ever, 50 percent of page loads in a day were HTTPS, or SSL encrypted. This encryption gives users peace of mind when sending sensitive information such as credit card data or passwords; however, it also presents a significant challenge to administrators now that it is increasingly being used to hide inappropriate or malicious content. At the same time, SSL Inspection is a resource intensive function, which puts strain on network performance. Barracuda Web Security Gateway version 11.0 includes built-in SSL acceleration hardware cards to models 610 and higher, doubling the performance. This SSL acceleration technology significantly improves the ability to inspect, secure, regulate and monitor SSL encrypted web traffic.

Security, policy enforcement and monitoring tasks that require detailed inspection of web traffic can be performance intensive and have an adverse impact on the performance of UTMs and firewalls. Barracuda Web Security Gateway can be deployed with Barracuda NextGen Firewalls and now, with any existing third-party UTM or firewall, which allows each device to perform the functions that it does best. When used with an existing UTM or firewall, the Barracuda Web Security Gateway provides the layered security, granular filtering and reporting that IT admins typically need, while also shouldering the burden required to do so, resulting in improved security, network performance gains, and increased visibility.

Advanced Threat Protection
Web browsing is one of the most commonly exploited threat vectors when users are exposed to malicious links and harmful downloads. According to Gartner, "Advanced threat defense is becoming increasingly important in the Secure Web Gateway market. Vendors must deliver on the promise that they are truly security products or services and not just web filtering solutions."¹

Barracuda Web Security Gateway now offers integration with Barracuda Advanced Threat Detection, a cloud-based microservice designed to detect and protect against ransomware or other targeted attacks. Customers can add this additional layer seamlessly – without requiring complex or expensive firewall upgrades – providing complete protection for users browsing online. The Barracuda Advanced Threat Detection microservice is integrated with multiple Barracuda product lines, including Barracuda NextGen Firewall, Barracuda Essentials, and now Barracuda Web Security Gateway.

Security for Chromebooks
According to Futuresource Consulting, Chromebooks now account for more than half of K-12 school market device sales. While these devices provide a cost effective way to implement online assessments and efficient device management, they also represent a significant security gap and need for mobile policy enforcement. The new Barracuda Chromebook Security Extension enables schools to enforce designated Barracuda Web Security Gateway policies on Chromebooks via an easy-to-use browser plugin. Policies can be enforced even when the devices are outside the network, providing security for students whether they are on campus or remote.

Quotes
"There is an increasing reliance on web-based applications like Office 365 for businesses and G Suite for schools. With web-borne threats at an all-time high and encrypted traffic becoming the norm, web security has shifted to a top priority for organizations of all sizes and especially for educational institutions supporting mobile devices and users. With the new updates announced today, Barracuda Web Security Gateway is positioned better than ever to provide solid protection against these advanced threats, and to help companies and schools make the most of their web access," said Hatem Naguib, senior vice president and general manager, Security Business, Barracuda.

"Barracuda provides the flexibility needed for today's diverse IT networks. For example, we recently moved to Microsoft Office 365 and with Barracuda, we were able to easily move our on-premises email security to the cloud with Barracuda Essentials for Office 365 Email Security edition," said Eric Powell, Network Administrator, Bauer Evans, Inc. "With that move, we also decided to add the Barracuda Web Security Gateway with the new ATD subscription to ensure that our web and email traffic remain secure, and that all of our users remain safe."

"As organizations increasingly rely on web-based applications for productivity, the advanced web-borne threats create serious security concerns," said Kevin Sena, CEO and Owner, Viperline Solutions, a Barracuda Premier Partner. "Barracuda is a trusted partner and we look forward to extending the latest Barracuda Web Security Gateway updates to our mutual customer base to help them protect against APTs and improve network performance."

Pricing and Availability
Barracuda Web Security Gateway version 11.0 is available immediately at no additional charge to existing customers on supported platforms with an active Energize Updates subscription. Barracuda Web Security Gateway list price starts at $1499 USD for the appliance and list price of $399 USD for Energize Update subscriptions. Optional Instant Replacement subscriptions are available starting at $349 USD.

Barracuda is currently offering a promotion for customers interested in purchasing Web Security Gateways with Barracuda NextGen Firewalls, for more information please contact, [email protected].

Barracuda Chromebook Security Extension and remote filtering agents are available at no additional charge to Barracuda Web Security Gateway customers on supported platforms with an active Energize Updates.

Barracuda Advanced Threat Detection is available for Barracuda Web Security Gateway customers as an annual subscription. For more information, please visit http://cuda.co/wsg.

International pricing varies by region.

Resources:
¹ Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Secure Web Gateways," by Lawrence Orans and Peter Firstbrook, June 6, 2013.

Barracuda Campus – Barracuda Web Security Gateway: cuda.co/cmpwsg

About Barracuda Networks, Inc. (NYSE: CUDA)
Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA) simplifies IT with cloud-enabled solutions that empower customers to protect their networks, applications, and data, regardless of where they reside. These powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions are trusted by more than 150,000 organizations worldwide and are delivered in appliance, virtual appliance, cloud and hybrid deployments. Barracuda's customer-centric business model focuses on delivering high-value, subscription-based IT solutions that provide end-to-end network and data security. For additional information, please visit https://www.barracuda.com.  

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential benefits and functionality available in the Web Security Gateway. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect the Company's business and financial results include, but are not limited to customer response to the Company's products, as well as those factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update the forward-looking information to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date of this press release.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161121/441945

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131113/SF16521LOGO

SOURCE Barracuda Networks, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.barracuda.com