CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Akamai vs Barracuda Networks

Akamai sells cloud computing, security and content delivery products. Barracuda Networks sells the BarracudaONE cybersecurity platform, which covers email, data, applications and networks and is strengthened by a 24/7 managed XDR service. CISO Tribune files both under WAF and WAAP. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • Akamai
  • Barracuda Networks
Akamai vs Barracuda Networks: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
AkamaiAkamai sells cloud computing, security and content delivery products.akamai.comBarracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks sells the BarracudaONE cybersecurity platform, which covers email, data, applications and networks and is strengthened by a 24/7 managed XDR service.barracuda.com
What it sells
  • App & API Protector[1][4]A web application firewall solution that identifies vulnerabilities and mitigates threats across web and API architectures.
  • Bot Manager[3][5][6]Detects bot traffic and mitigates malicious bots at the edge.
  • Prolexic[9]Akamai's DDoS protection platform.
  • Firewall for AI[8]Protects enterprise AI apps and LLMs from prompt injection, data exfiltration and toxic output.
  • Edge DNS[9]A DNS service built on Akamai's edge network.
  • Account Protector[6]A security solution that protects against account abuse across the lifecycle of an account.
  • Akamai Functions[3]An edge native serverless platform that runs globally.
  • BarracudaONE[3][12]A cybersecurity platform for email, data, applications and networks.
  • Email Protection[3][6][14]A complete email security solution.
  • Data Protection[3][7][12]Backup and scanning for on-premises and cloud data.
  • Managed XDR[1][3][11]Extended detection and response with a 24/7 SOC.
  • Application Protection[3][9]Web application and API protection on one platform.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesOwned by KKR since 2022[2][3][4][7][16]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • October 27, 2026Akamai launched Akamai Inference and Akamai Agent Sandbox, two AI stack products for its cloud platform.[13]
  • July 2, 2026Akamai completed its acquisition of LayerX, a secure enterprise browser provider.[14]
  • October 28, 2026Barracuda Networks appointed Dan Fletcher as its Chief Financial Officer.[15]
  • July 7, 2026Barracuda acquired Evo Security, an identity and access management provider built for managed service providers.[16]
  • July 7, 2026Barracuda Networks announced it acquired Evo Security, an identity and access management provider built for managed service providers.[4]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen November 10, 2026[15]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, Akamai sells security for enterprise AI apps and LLMs through Firewall for AI. App & API Protector Hybrid is sold for on-prem, hybrid cloud and multi-CDN environments. Akamai describes organizations that keep some on-prem DNS nameservers and GSLBs for administrative or compliance requirements. Akamai Guardicore Segmentation is applied by an organization in the financial industry working toward Zero Trust. A water utility secured critical infrastructure with Akamai Guardicore Segmentation.From its own pages, Barracuda sells mainly to lean IT and security teams, small businesses and managed service providers. Barracuda describes easy-to-manage cybersecurity solutions for small business teams without dedicated IT resources. Barracuda sells channel-focused solutions to managed service providers. Barracuda Application Protection is described for applications deployed on-premises, in the cloud or hybrid, and Barracuda CloudGen Firewall is described for multi-site enterprises and managed service providers.
Last verified
November 6, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Akamai and Barracuda Networks are both filed under WAF and WAAP.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Akamai's primary category is WAF and WAAP; Barracuda Networks's is Email security.
  • Akamai is also filed under DDoS protection, Bot and abuse management and Microsegmentation. Barracuda Networks is also filed under Data loss prevention and MDR and managed SOC.
  • Akamai lists App & API Protector, Bot Manager, Prolexic, Firewall for AI, Edge DNS and 2 more. Barracuda Networks lists BarracudaONE, Email Protection, Data Protection, Managed XDR and Application Protection.
  • Barracuda Networks is owned by KKR, since 2022.

What it sells: Akamai

What App & API Protector does[1][4]
App & API Protector Hybrid extends security off the Akamai platform for on-prem, hybrid cloud and multi-CDN environments. Akamai's all-in-one approach consolidates WAF, API security, bot management and DDoS protection in a single solution. An open API is available for automating App & API Protector configuration changes in a CI/CD pipeline.
What Bot Manager does[3][5][6]
Bot Manager generates a score from 0 (human) to 100 (bot) and looks at all anomalies, starting with the very first request. Bot Manager provides visualization and reporting tools that show the impact various types of bots have on a business and its infrastructure.
What Prolexic does[9]
Prolexic is Akamai's DDoS protection platform. Edge DNS and Shield NS53 can be used with Prolexic to protect digital infrastructure across all layers, ports and protocols.
What Firewall for AI does[8]
Firewall for AI runs at the edge to inspect prompts and responses before they reach AI apps. Akamai Firewall for AI is model-agnostic and works with any LLM-based or AI-driven application. Incoming prompts are analyzed to detect and block threats like prompt injection attacks, jailbreaks and policy violations. Deployment options include the Akamai edge or a REST API.
What Edge DNS does[9]
Akamai Shield NS53 is a reverse proxy solution that protects on-prem and hybrid DNS infrastructure. Edge DNS provides an availability SLA with guaranteed 100% uptime.
What Account Protector does[6]
Account Protector uses a combination of user, device, IP, network, bot and reputation indicators to create a user risk score for each UUID. Block, alert and allow actions are performed based on the user risk score. Account Protector includes all of Akamai Bot Manager's capabilities. User information can be passed to a SIEM using the Akamai SIEM Integration connector.
What Akamai Functions does[3]
Rust, Go, JavaScript, Python and other languages that compile to WebAssembly can be used. Applications are packaged and deployed using open tooling like Spin and SpinKube, locally, in Kubernetes or directly to the edge. Bot Manager can be combined with Akamai Functions so that identified bots are routed to a function that generates bot-specific responses.

What it sells: Barracuda Networks

What BarracudaONE does[3][12]
BarracudaONE unifies cybersecurity solutions in a centralized dashboard. The platform is strengthened by a 24/7 managed XDR service. Bailey is powered by Barracuda IQ, which Barracuda describes as the AI engine and intelligence layer behind BarracudaONE.
What Email Protection does[3][6][14]
Barracuda Email Protection delivers AI-enhanced defenses, automated response and easy deployment. Barracuda Email Protection connects to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace with no mail exchange changes.
What Data Protection does[3][7][12]
Barracuda says data can be backed up to any location including the public cloud. Microsoft 365 data such as emails can be backed up. Backed up data is replicated to the Barracuda cloud with unlimited storage.
What Managed XDR does[1][3][11]
Barracuda Managed XDR is described as able to detect threats earlier and help organizations respond to threats faster. Barracuda says its XDR detects events from 40+ integrated data sources. Barracuda runs a multi-tiered global SOC that provides 24x7x365 service.
What Application Protection does[3][9]
Barracuda Application Protection is an integrated platform that brings a comprehensive set of interoperable capabilities together to ensure complete application security. Barracuda Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solutions are available as hardware or virtual appliances, as a container and through a SaaS solution.

Questions about Akamai and Barracuda Networks

What do Akamai and Barracuda Networks sell?
Akamai sells App & API Protector, Bot Manager, Prolexic, Firewall for AI, Edge DNS and 2 more. Barracuda Networks sells BarracudaONE, Email Protection, Data Protection, Managed XDR and Application Protection.
Are Akamai and Barracuda Networks in the same category?
They share WAF and WAAP. Akamai's primary category is WAF and WAAP and Barracuda Networks's is Email security.
Who owns Akamai and Barracuda Networks?
Barracuda Networks is owned by KKR, since 2022.
Who are Akamai and Barracuda Networks sold to?
From its own pages, Akamai sells security for enterprise AI apps and LLMs through Firewall for AI. From its own pages, Barracuda sells mainly to lean IT and security teams, small businesses and managed service providers.
What have Akamai and Barracuda Networks announced recently?
October 27, 2026: Akamai launched Akamai Inference and Akamai Agent Sandbox, two AI stack products for its cloud platform. October 28, 2026: Barracuda Networks appointed Dan Fletcher as its Chief Financial Officer.

About Akamai

Akamai sells cloud computing, security and content delivery products. Akamai Cloud has added more GPU capacity, an in-memory database and Kubernetes updates. Akamai Inference and Akamai Agent Sandbox extend Akamai Cloud to serve, run and secure AI applications and agents from core to edge. Akamai Functions is an edge native serverless platform that runs globally.[2][3]

App & API Protector defends at the edge and blocks large-scale attacks, and App & API Protector Hybrid extends WAF defense to multicloud and on-prem environments. Akamai's all-in-one approach consolidates WAF, API security, bot management and DDoS protection in a single solution. Akamai Adaptive Security Engine delivers real-time, automated protection across edge, cloud and hybrid environments. The Behavioral DDoS Engine provides automated defense against volumetric attacks. An open API is available for automating App & API Protector configuration changes in a CI/CD pipeline. SMU turns to Akamai App & API Protector and Dynamic Site Accelerator for online shopping. Grupo Xcaret relies on Akamai for app and API protection, bot mitigation and site delivery.[4]

Akamai Bot Manager detects bot traffic, mitigates malicious bots at the edge and manages good bots. Bot Manager generates a score from 0 (human) to 100 (bot) and looks at all anomalies, starting with the very first request. Bot Manager provides visualization and reporting tools that show the impact various types of bots have on a business and its infrastructure. Account Protector is a security solution designed to protect against account abuse across the lifecycle of an account, using machine learning and a dataset of risk and trust indicators. Account Protector uses a combination of user, device, IP, network, bot and reputation indicators to create a user risk score for each UUID. Account Protector includes all of Akamai Bot Manager's capabilities.[5][6]

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation is used to gain visibility across an environment and limit lateral movement. SBI Holdings is working to achieve Zero Trust with Akamai Guardicore Segmentation. A water utility secured critical infrastructure and protected essential services for 1.6 million people with Akamai Guardicore Segmentation. Samsung Life Insurance protects hundreds of applications and thousands of workload servers with Akamai.[2][7]

Akamai Firewall for AI protects enterprise AI apps and LLMs from prompt injection, data exfiltration and toxic output. Firewall for AI runs at the edge to inspect prompts and responses before they reach AI apps. Akamai Firewall for AI is model-agnostic and works with any LLM-based or AI-driven application. Edge DNS is built on Akamai's edge network. Akamai Shield NS53 is a reverse proxy solution that protects on-prem and hybrid DNS infrastructure. Edge DNS provides an availability SLA with guaranteed 100% uptime. Prolexic is Akamai's DDoS protection platform.[4][8][9]

NodeBalancers is a fully managed load balancing solution. NodeBalancers support TCP, HTTP and HTTPS load balancing via HTTP/1.1. CloudTest is a load testing platform. CloudTest is offered as a fully managed or self-service solution and supports websites, apps, APIs and CI/CD processes. Akamai Inference is a fully managed inference service for running AI models in production. Pay-per-token Serverless Inference and Dedicated Inference with reserved GPUs are available, separately or together. AI models are called through an OpenAI-compatible API while Akamai handles GPUs, serving, autoscaling and model lifecycle management.[3][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Akamai on the record

Sources

Akamai full record

  1. [1]akamai.comAkamai · akamai.com · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Cloud Computing, Security, Content Delivery (CDN) | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Akamai Functions | Serverless | WebAssembly | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]App & API Protector — Website Application Protection | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Bot Manager | Bot Detection, Protection, and Management | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Account Takeover and Identity Theft Protection | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Akamai Guardicore Segmentation for Hybrid Cloud | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Protection and Security for AI and LLM Applications | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]DNS security | Edge DNS | Shield NS53 | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]NodeBalancers | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]CloudTest | Real-Time Load Testing Tool | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Akamai Inference | AI Inference | AkamaiAkamai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Akamai Launches AI Inference Service and Agent Execution Environment | AkamaiAkamai · published October 27, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Akamai Completes Acquisition of Secure Enterprise Browser Provider LayerX | AkamaiAkamai · published July 2, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Akamai Cloud Computing Reviews & Product DetailsG2 · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier C

Barracuda Networks full record

  1. [1]barracuda.comBarracuda Networks · barracuda.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]barracuda.comBarracuda Networks · barracuda.com · published March 10, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]BarracudaONE® AI-powered cybersecurity platform | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Barracuda Acquires Evo Security to Deliver Complete Identity ResilienceBusiness Wire · published July 7, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Cybersecurity Solutions: Email, Apps, Network, Data | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Email Security & Email Protection Services | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Data Protection Solutions | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Securing Collaboration Across Cloud Apps | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Application Protection & Security Solutions | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Network Security Solutions & Services | Barracuda Network Protection | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Managed XDR (MXDR) Solution | Barracuda Managed XDR | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]What’s New | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]AI Security Solutions for Generative AI | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Security for Managed Service Providers | Barracuda NetworksBarracuda Networks · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Barracuda Appoints Dan Fletcher as Chief Financial OfficerBarracuda Networks · published October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Barracuda Acquires Evo Security: Advancing Complete Identity-Driven Cyber Resilience for the AI EraBarracuda Networks Blog · published July 7, 2026 · Tier A

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