Barracuda swims away from Avnet

Wick Hill and Commtech to continue as Barracuda's UK distributors after Avnet is cut from line-up

Barracuda Networks and Avnet have agreed to part ways following a distributor review by the security vendor, it has been confirmed to CRN.

Barracuda said it launched the review following its new partner programme in April.

"As part of this review, together with Avnet, we have mutually decided to end our contract," Barracuda's senior vice president for global channels, Chris Ross, said in a statement sent to CRN.

This is not the first vendor to part company with Avnet in recent weeks, with Juniper spin-off Pulse Secure dropping the broadliner earlier this month.

Ross claimed that Barracuda's other distributors, Wick Hill and Commtech – which are remaining on the line-up – will prevent any disruption to resellers.

"Avnet will continue to supply our products over the next couple of months, during this transition. In the meantime, we will continue to distribute products through Wick Hill and Commtech, ensuring our reseller partners do not experience any interruption to their supply during the transition with Avnet," he said.

Avnet has been working with Barracuda in the UK and Netherlands, and the contract termination will apply to both regions.

Ross said Barracuda will sign a new distributor "in due course", but no contracts have been agreed yet.

"We would like to thank Avnet for the support they have given us over the years and wish them success for the future," he added.

This is not the first distributor review Barracuda has undertaken in recent times, having cut e92plus in 2010.

Miriam Murphy, senior vice president of Avent Technology Solutions for EMEA, said: "I can confirm that Avnet and Barracuda have agreed to part company, and over the coming weeks we will be working closely with Barracuda to ensure a smooth transition for our partners.

"In the last few years, Avnet has successfully invested in leading partnerships in the security and networking area and remains committed to the growth of this strategic segment."