September 19, 2007 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Web application security provider Barracuda Networks (barracudanetworks.com) announced on Tuesday it has acquired Web firewall appliances provider NetContinuum (netcontinuum.com). Though Barracuda currently sells Web filtering devices that stop Web surfers from visiting malicious sites, the NetContinuum products can be used to protect Web sites themselves.

NetContinuum had been operating since 1999 selling pre-configured security servers, or appliances, that help protect sites from Web-based threats such as cross site scripting or SQL injection attacks. While Barracuda completed the purchase in mid-August, it did not publicly disclose the acquisition at the time, says company president and CEO Dean Drako, who did not say what Barracuda paid for NetContinuum.

Drako says the deal gives Barracuda a new appliance to sell along side its existing range of appliances, as well as an opportunity to expand its Web site protection to a broader audience. The company plans to improve the NetContinuum user interface and ultimately sell the appliances as the Barracuda Web App Controller, says Drako.

NetContinuum had offices in Santa Clara and India, however, the Santa Clara team was recently moved to Barracuda's Campbell, California headquarters. Barracuda says it is expanding the India staff and anticipates that it will only make "one or two" layoffs as a result of the acquisition. The Web App Controller line is priced the same as NetContinuum's existing products, which sell from $30,000 to $50,000, depending on the capabilities.

Copyright © 2007 Web Host Industry Review, Inc. All rights reserved.