Barracuda says that with this acquisition it has entered the fast-growing XDR market with a solution optimised for MSPs.

“Skout brings advanced technology and continues Barracuda’s strategic M&A momentum, which includes the recent acquisition of Zero Trust Access provider Fyde,” says Barracuda.

“Adding to Barracuda’s prior integrations with Open XDR platforms, Skout expands Barracuda’s portfolio with a powerful XDR platform for MSPs that is backed by a 24x7 SOC.”

“MSPs must be able to protect their customers’ end users, their devices, and the data they are accessing with these devices against increasingly sophisticated threats. To achieve this level of protection for their customers, and themselves, MSPs are transforming their businesses into "security centric" operations,” said Barracuda MSP senior vice president and general manager Brian Babineau.

“The addition of Skout enables Barracuda’s MSP partners to deploy security solutions across their environments, connecting their data feeds into a unified, 24x7 operation for swift analysis and response.”

Barracuda lists highlights of the acquisition as:

• Expands Barracuda’s solutions for MSPs with Skout, offering XDR platform for proactive real-time continuous security monitoring with response services for managed endpoints, networks, and cloud.
• Skout's offering includes an XDR platform that connects with critical security infrastructures such as email, firewall, identity and access, and a 24x7 SOC that aids the detection of and response to cyberattacks.
• Enables customers to address threats more efficiently with additional threat detection, threat analysis, and response capabilities.
• Eliminates customers’ expense of training and staffing for 24x7 service, instead utilizing Skout’s security professionals to handle the SOC operation. Provides MSPs with choice and flexibility when building out their cybersecurity practice, and features a powerful combination of solutions, enablement tools, and human security expertise.
• By integrating with existing security infrastructure, Skout offers investment protection for MSPs, making it easier to handle cyberattacks in diverse customer environments. 

The acquisition is anticipated to close in July.