Barracuda Exec: New BarracudaOne AI-Powered Platform Tackles Cybersecurity Tool Sprawl

‘We’re all in on MSPs, on the channel and on making cybersecurity simpler and stronger. BarracudaOne is just the beginning. We’re committed to helping partners not only deploy enterprise-grade security but do it in a way that’s easy to buy, deploy, manage and explain to customers,’ says Brian Downey , vice president of product management at Barracuda.

Barracuda Networks launched its AI-powered cybersecurity platform BarracudaOne earlier this month, aiming to unify security operations and address growing concerns over tool sprawl and operational complexity for MSPs. The platform also consolidates Barracuda’s extensive portfolio into a single, integrated system, making it easier for them to see all their security tools in one place.

“Tool sprawl isn’t just inconvenient; it’s dangerous,” Brian Downey , vice president of product management at Campbell, Calif.-based Barracuda, told CRN. “We’ve reached a point where MSPs are deploying more tools than they can manage, and it’s actually making them less secure. One MSP told me it was nearly a full-time job just checking different consoles every morning. That’s the real-world pain we set out to fix.”

BarracudaOne was built to streamline operations by centralizing management across layered defenses, using AI to deliver intelligent threat detection and automated response and insight. According to Downey, this focus on centralization is key.

“Once you pull everything together, AI and automation can finally start working in your favor, connecting the dots, retraining models across services and uncovering risks before they become problems,” he said.

With BarracudaOne, MSPs gain a holistic view of their clients’ security postures, enhanced reporting and guidance to address misconfigurations and gaps.

“We’re focused on helping MSPs have better conversations with their clients,” he said. “When security is working, it’s invisible so you need clear insight to show what’s being protected and why it matters.”

CRN spoke further to Downey about the platform, how it’s making a difference in tool sprawl for MSPs and what partners can expect from the AI-driven platform in the future.

What inspired the development of BarracudaOne?

Honestly, it started with a conversation. About a year ago, I was talking to one of our MSP partners and he laid it out plain and simple: He was spending hours every day just logging into different security tools and checking whether things ran properly overnight. And he had to do this for every client. It was getting to the point where he needed to dedicate someone full-time just to do tool monitoring. That was eye-opening for us. We kept hearing similar feedback from our advisory board. MSPs were overwhelmed—they were managing tons of disparate systems, none of which spoke to each other. We realized we were in a unique position to solve this because Barracuda already has breadth and offers a wide range of security tools. BarracudaOne grew out of that insight to unify the tools, cut through the noise and help MSPs and IT teams regain control.

So how does BarracudaOne align with the company’s broader cybersecurity strategy?

It’s central to it. Our core mission has always been to help MSPs secure their customers effectively. BarracudaOne is the ‘how’ behind that mission. Instead of focusing on individual products or security layers in silos, this platform gives a centralized view of where the risks are, how well you’re protected, and what actions you need to take next. It brings clarity and operational efficiency; that’s what MSPs need right now. It’s not just about deploying more tools, it’s about managing them better, providing value to clients and continuously improving their cybersecurity posture.

What sets BarracudaOne apart?

First, BarracudaOne is purpose-built for MSPs; that’s a big deal. Most platforms claim to unify but they’re often retrofitted enterprise solutions. We built this from the ground up with MSPs in mind. We understand the challenges of managing multiple client environments, juggling various vendor tools and needing to demonstrate ROI to nontechnical clients.

Secondly, it’s not just about centralizing management, it’s about enabling a more effective conversation. With BarracudaOne, MSPs can show their clients the value of security. Most of the time, when security is working it’s invisible. That’s a communication challenge. This platform gives clear, visual insight into threat activity, making it easier for MSPs to justify investments and demonstrate protection in real terms.

So how does AI factor into BarracudaOne? What role does it play?

AI is the engine under the hood. But before AI can do its job, you need centralized visibility; that’s step one. Once you have that, AI can analyze patterns across your ecosystem, detect anomalies faster and even take intelligent actions. For instance, if a threat is detected in your network security layer, BarracudaOne can push that insight across your email, application and endpoint security tools. That’s the kind of adaptive protection that static, unintegrated tools can’t offer. And the AI is not new; we’ve been refining it across our products for years. Now it’s integrated, smarter and more actionable than ever.

Looking ahead, how do you see BarracudaOne evolving over the next year?

We see it growing in two main directions: breadth and depth. On the breadth side, we’re going to integrate more of the Barracuda portfolio, and we’ll also look at third-party tool integrations where it makes sense. On the depth side, we want the platform to provide deeper insight like risk scoring, prioritization and guided remediation. AI will continue to be a driving force. We want to move from reactive to proactive security where the platform doesn’t just tell you what happened but what to fix first to reduce your risk the most.

Finally, what message do you want to leave with your channel partners? What can they expect from Barracuda going forward?

We’re all in on MSPs, on the channel, and on making cybersecurity simpler and stronger. BarracudaOne is just the beginning. We’re committed to helping partners not only deploy enterprise-grade security but do it in a way that’s easy to buy, deploy, manage and explain to customers.

You can expect continued innovation focused on the real-world challenges you face like tool overload, rising costs and pressure to prove value. Our mission is to be your go-to partner in navigating that complexity and helping you deliver exceptional protection for your clients.