What is Barracuda?
Cybersecurity platform for email, data, applications, networks, and managed XDR.
- Category
- Cybersecurity
- Headquarters
- Campbell, CA
- Founded
- 2003
- Employees
- Private under KKR; exact current headcount not disclosed
- Total funding
- Public/acquired company capital history; $130M 2012 recap plus IPO/take-private history
- Status
- Private under KKR; acquired from Thoma Bravo in 2022
What is Barracuda?
Barracuda is a cybersecurity platform for email, data, applications, networks, and managed XDR.
Barracuda is a cybersecurity company selling email protection, data protection, managed XDR, network security, application protection, and the BarracudaONE platform. It serves hundreds of thousands of organizations and partners worldwide through a partner-first security model.
The company went public in 2013, was taken private by Thoma Bravo for $1.6B in 2017, and was acquired by KKR from Thoma Bravo in 2022. As a mature private-equity-owned company, its profile should be read through product portfolio, channel reach, and acquisition history rather than fake VC round updates.
What does Barracuda offer?
Barracuda offers the product areas and capabilities below.
- BarracudaONE· Platform
- Email Protection· Email security
- Data Protection· Backup
- Managed XDR· Security operations
- Application Protection· App security
- Network Protection / SecureEdge· Network security
- Ransomware protection· Security
How does Barracuda make money?
Barracuda's business model is based on enterprise or commercial offerings; public pricing is included only where disclosed.
Barracuda makes money through subscription cybersecurity products, partner-led managed services, support, and cloud/appliance offerings. Public list pricing exists for some product families: Barracuda Email Protection starts at $5 per user/month MSRP, while many enterprise, MSP, XDR, and platform purchases are quoted.
Growth is driven by cross-selling through BarracudaONE, email-security demand, managed XDR, channel partners, and private-equity-backed portfolio expansion. Unit economics are not public after the company went private.
Who leads Barracuda?
Barracuda is led by the public executives and founders listed below.
- Rohit GhaiChief Executive OfficerAppointed 2025Former RSA CEO appointed after Hatem Naguib stepped down.
- Fleming ShiChief Technology OfficerExecutive teamLongtime Barracuda technology leader.
- Diane HondaChief Administrative Officer, General Counsel & SecretaryExecutive teamLegal and administrative leader.
- Michelle HodgesSVP, Global Channels and AlliancesAppointed 2025Channel leader supporting partner-first sales motion.
How do you contact Barracuda's leadership?
Use Barracuda's official published aliases or contact forms; unverified personal emails are not listed as verified.
Use support@barracuda.com and regional support aliases; personal executive format not verifiedHow much funding has Barracuda raised?
Barracuda's public capital history is summarized from disclosed rounds, public filings, or acquisition records.
Barracuda raised venture and growth capital before its IPO, including a 2012 $130M financing and recapitalization in which Francisco Partners and Sequoia increased ownership. Sequoia lists Barracuda as partnered in 2005 and IPO in 2013.
Barracuda then moved through public and private-equity ownership: Thoma Bravo took it private for $1.6B in 2017, and KKR completed its acquisition from Thoma Bravo in 2022 for undisclosed terms. Current valuation is not public.
How did Barracuda get here?
Barracuda's path is defined by the public milestones below.
- 2003FoundedBarracuda Networks was founded by Dean Drako, Zach Levow, and Michael Perone.
- 2005Sequoia partnershipSequoia lists its early partnership with Barracuda.
- 2012RecapitalizationFrancisco Partners and Sequoia increased ownership with a $130M investment.
- 2013IPOBarracuda went public.
- 2017Thoma Bravo take-privateThoma Bravo agreed to buy Barracuda for $1.6B.
- 2022KKR acquisitionKKR completed acquisition of Barracuda from Thoma Bravo.
Who are Barracuda's competitors?
Barracuda competes with the companies listed below depending on buyer segment and use case.
- ProofpointEnterprise-focused email security and human-centric risk platform.
- MimecastEmail and collaboration security vendor with archiving strength.
- Palo Alto NetworksBroad platform cybersecurity vendor with larger enterprise scope.
- FortinetNetwork security and SASE competitor with appliance and platform reach.
- Check PointSecurity platform vendor competing in network, cloud, and email-adjacent protection.
Barracuda — frequently asked questions
