Barracuda Web Application Firewall now available in Azure Gallery

Barracuda Networks, Inc. has announced the latest release of the Barracuda Web Application Firewall, version 7.9. This new version extends Microsoft Azure support with automated provisioning and configuration, enabling customers to take advantage of the dynamic, elastic nature of the cloud. The Barracuda Web Application Firewall version 7.9 is available in the Azure Gallery as part of the new Microsoft Azure Certified programme. Barracuda is presenting this new functionality at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference this week in Washington, DC.

According to Gartner, nearly 50 percent of large enterprises likely will have hybrid cloud deployments by the end of 2017. Further, IDC predicts by 2017, nearly $1 of every $5 spent on applications will be consumed via the cloud. Migrating applications or workloads to the cloud presents new opportunities and new challenges, and security prioritisation is critical. The Barracuda Web Application Firewall for Microsoft Azure is the first integrated, fully scalable security solution available on Microsoft Azure. With predefined security templates for web applications and third-party packaged applications like Microsoft SharePoint, organisations can enjoy total application security with no need to learn, configure, and manage complex technology. It is fully integrated with Microsoft Azure and can scale dynamically to meet application performance and workload requirements.

“Customers today are looking to reduce time and costs associated with bringing applications online, and having our solutions available as part of the Azure Gallery simplifies the process of migrating those applications to the cloud in a secure fashion,” said Michael Hughes, SVP worldwide sales at Barracuda. “For many of our customers, these applications are their business, meaning they have to be available, secure, and provide a great user experience. As one of the first Microsoft Azure Certified partners, we see tremendous opportunity with Microsoft Azure to be able to seamlessly deliver the security, value, and peace of mind to our enterprise customers.”

The Barracuda Web Application Firewall version 7.9 provides a robust set of functionality accessible through the RESTful API interface. This new functionality helps improve the automation process for configuration and provisioning, and it enables customers to leverage tools like Systems Center and Powershell in their automation processes.

In addition to the enhanced public cloud support, the new Barracuda Web Application Firewall version 7.9 includes improved reporting and notification, increased application security, and a new infrastructure for templates. Highlights include:
· Robust reporting – offers more than 40 ready-to-use reports, including geographical breakdown, and allows administrators to filter reports by security and traffic events, or by timeframe, services and Top Count
· URL encryption – encrypts every URL within the response body before sending to clients, never exposing those URLs externally, and provides a strong mechanism for forceful browsing prevention
· SSL enhancements – supports Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) associated ciphers
· New templates module – includes a new, powerful wizard-based UI for creating and using configuration templates for virtually any object or policy in the system
· User access control – allows for user authentication across multiple domains and dual authentication against LDAP and RSA SecurID / Radius with OTP

Barracuda is participating in the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, July 14-17, 2014, in Washington DC, and is keynoting the session Transformation to the Cloud: Security Risks, Challenges & Best Practices on Wednesday, July 16, at 4pm EST, in Room 103B of Walter E. Washington Convention Centre. Attendees to the session will be entered to win one of two Barracuda bundles:
· Barracuda NG Firewall 280 Appliance + Barracuda NG Firewall Vx Level 2 with one-year subscription
· Barracuda Web Application Firewall 660 Appliance + Barracuda Web Application Firewall Vx Level 1 with one-year subscription

Lastly, Barracuda recently announced virtual license portability, which give customers investment protection and greater deployment flexibility. Virtual license portability offers customers the ability to transfer virtual solutions from a public cloud to their private cloud environment, or between public cloud services – at no additional cost. This new virtual license portability further simplifies an organisation’s migration by enabling hybrid cloud deployments across private and public cloud environments.