Barracuda Networks vs Fortra: MDR Comparison 2026

Barracuda Networks (MSP-channel) and Fortra (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Barracuda Networks works with your existing tools, while Fortra works with your existing tools. Barracuda Networks targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Fortra focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.

Key Differences at a Glance

Business Model

Barracuda Networks: MSP-channel

Fortra: Services firm

Autonomous Actions

Barracuda Networks: 6/6 (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment...)

Fortra: 5/6 (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment...)

SLA

Barracuda Networks: ≤1 hour

Fortra: ≤15 minutes

Attack Surfaces Included

Barracuda Networks: 5/6 (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network)

Fortra: 5/6 (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network)

Pricing

Barracuda Networks: ~$14.50/endpoint/year (3-year endpoint); ~$8–$20/user/month depending on coverage scope. Minimum 25 licenses. (25-seat minimum)

Fortra: Custom-quoted pricing

Winner by Category

Response Level

Tie

Same level

SLA Speed

Fortra

Faster response time

Coverage Breadth

Tie

Same coverage

Integrations

Barracuda Networks

More integration options

Criteria

Barracuda Networks

Purpose-built for the MSP channel. Multi-tenant management, SentinelOne-powered endpoint security, and a 24/7 SOC make it a natural fit for MSPs serving SMB clients. Won multiple 2025 industry awards. Less proven for direct enterprise buyers, and detection claims lack independent validation.

Fortra

Established MDR with strong cloud/compliance positioning and formalized SLAs. If LevelBlue delivers on its 'nothing changes' promise, customers may gain access to a larger global SOC footprint and broader threat intelligence. But the deal is pending close with no timeline, and LevelBlue is an unproven acquirer. Treat this as a transitional product.

Provider Model

Works with your tools

Requires Own Agent

Yes — platform-native

Response Type

Active Remediation

Approval Policy

Configurable

Auto-Isolate

✓

Kill Process

✓

IR Included

✓ Included

Response SLA

≤1 hour

≤15 minutes

24/7 Coverage

✓ Yes

Channels

EmailPortalPhone

Data Access

Dashboards

Model

Per-endpoint annually; volume discounts available; multi-year commitment discounts (1-year and 3-year options)

Subscription-based tiered (Essentials, Professional, Enterprise)

Price Range

~$14.50/endpoint/year (3-year endpoint); ~$8–$20/user/month depending on coverage scope. Minimum 25 licenses.

Not published

Minimum Seats

None

Threat Hunting

✓ Included

Overall

Mixed

Summary

Won multiple 2025 awards (Cybersecurity Excellence, MSP Today Product of the Year, Tech Ascension, CyberSecurity Breakthrough XDR Solution of the Year). Gartner Peer Insights has a listing but very few reviews — insufficient for meaningful community signal. No PeerSpot listing for Managed XDR specifically. Broader Barracuda product line gets mixed MSP feedback: support quality deterioration is a recurring complaint across the Barracuda portfolio. Managed XDR SOC team gets positive notes from Gartner reviewers, but sample size is too small to draw conclusions.

8.0/10 on PeerSpot with 92% willingness to recommend. G2 Grid Leader. Praised for cloud security and compliance coverage. Concerns about UI intuitiveness and limited geographic SOC coverage. LevelBlue acquisition (announced Jan 2026, deal pending close) creates material uncertainty — LevelBlue claims no disruption but has disclosed no timeline, no contract migration details, and no SLA commitments post-transition. LevelBlue itself is a relatively new entity (spun out of AT&T Cybersecurity mid-2024 via WillJam Ventures) that has made four acquisitions in its first year.

Barracuda Networks vs Fortra: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Barracuda Networks if:

•MSPs needing a white-label/managed XDR for SMB clients
•SMBs that don't have a security team and want turnkey coverage
•Organizations using Microsoft 365 and needing email + endpoint coverage

Choose Fortra if:

•Mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support
•Healthcare organizations requiring HIPAA compliance MDR
•Cloud-first companies on AWS, Azure, or hybrid environments

Bottom line: Barracuda Networks (MSP-channel) and Fortra (Services firm) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Barracuda Networks's purpose-built for the msp channel or Fortra's established mdr with strong cloud/compliance positioning and formalized slas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Barracuda Networks and Fortra?

Barracuda Networks is a MSP-channel that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Fortra is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Barracuda Networks offers ≤1 hour, Fortra offers ≤15 minutes.

How do Barracuda Networks and Fortra differ in response capabilities?

Barracuda Networks supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Fortra supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.

How does Barracuda Networks pricing compare to Fortra?

Barracuda Networks pricing: ~$14.50/endpoint/year (3-year endpoint); ~$8–$20/user/month depending on coverage scope. Minimum 25 licenses. (25-seat minimum). Fortra pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Watch for with Barracuda Networks: Security logs not available for download — limits forensic independence; MSP-focused pricing may differ from direct enterprise pricing. Watch for with Fortra: Managed services being acquired by LevelBlue (announced Jan 2026, deal pending close — no timeline disclosed); Post-transition contract terms, SLAs, and pricing under LevelBlue are unconfirmed.

Should I choose Barracuda Networks or Fortra?

Choose Barracuda Networks if: mSPs needing a white-label/managed XDR for SMB clients. Choose Fortra if: mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support. Barracuda Networks is not ideal for enterprises wanting full data access and log export capabilities. Fortra is not ideal for organizations wanting long-term vendor stability — managed services transferring to LevelBlue (deal pending, no timeline disclosed).

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