Barracuda launches AI assistant to boost partner productivity

Barracuda Networks has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant to its Barracuda Partner Portal, enhancing search and enablement capabilities for its partners. The new tool aims to streamline the partner experience by offering real-time responses to various product-related queries, making Barracuda one of the pioneering security vendors to embed AI within a partner portal at this level of functionality.

The Barracuda AI Assistant is designed to empower partners by providing quick access to information about Barracuda solutions, the Barracuda Partner Success Program, and other resources available on the Partner Portal. This improvement is expected to save time and boost productivity, allowing partners to support their customers more efficiently and drive success.

Partners using the AI Assistant can receive real-time answers to their questions 24/7. This feature is particularly useful for addressing queries related to application security opportunities, the benefits of specific Barracuda products such as Barracuda XDR, and the supported virtualisation platforms for the CloudGen Firewall. The AI tool pulls information from various Barracuda resources, including the Partner Program Guide, sales playbooks, product data sheets, and e-books, providing detailed answers along with the sources of the information.

"We are excited to bring partners this cutting-edge tool, one of the first of its kind for channel partners, to elevate enablement and help them more quickly and easily find the most up-to-date information about Barracuda's solutions and services offerings, certifications, sales tools, and more," said Jason Beal, Vice President, Worldwide Partner Ecosystems at Barracuda.

The new tool has already garnered positive feedback from within the partner network. Michael Seele, Founder and CEO of Protea Networks GmbH, said, "Having Barracuda AI Assistant in the Barracuda Partner Portal is a game changer for us. It will save us time and help us to be more productive as we'll be able to find tools and content we haven't been aware of until now. I'm looking forward to using it to find answers and the sales tools I need to be successful, even faster."

The Barracuda Partner Success Program, launched in December 2023, aims to ensure partner success globally through its shared success model and partner agility. This programme supports reseller partners through multiple market routes, including resale, managed service provider (MSP), and marketplaces. It offers benefits and resources based on each reseller partner's total sales contribution. Participants can advance through Premier, Preferred, and Authorised levels, gaining a clear path to success.