Sparc Group uses Barracuda to ensure security during rapid expansion

One of the challenges facing companies that expand their operations rapidly, especially if that expansion is driven by acquisitions, is maintaining consistent security as their attack surfaces grow. 

Sweden’s Sparc Group is a case in point. Founded in 2021, it has been acquiring smaller companies aggressively. In its first 17 months, Sparc acquired 47 new businesses, and the number now is well over 80. 

Its primary focus is on companies that provide industrial installation services including plumbing, electrical, IT infrastructure, and similar. It has also established a security company that coordinates IT security across its large and diverse operational base and delivers a variety of security services to outside customers.

Cuda blue from the get-go

From Sparc Group’s earliest days, CIO Daniel Ekroth had a clear understanding of the security challenges that the company would face, and a well-conceived plan to meet those challenges, using Barracuda solutions to deliver security that scales as fast as Sparc Group itself. 

Get the full story in this case study.

Daniel built Sparc Group’s security infrastructure from a variety of integrated, data-sharing solutions that include:

• Barracuda Email Protection ensures secure communications and comprehensive Microsoft 365 security and data protection, along with security awareness training and more.

• Barracuda Application Protection, to keep application and API-based threats at bay with minimal operational overhead—even as new acquisitions rapidly grow the application attack surface.

• Barracuda CloudGen Access, to leverage powerful zero trust access controls wherever employees and partners may be located and whichever digital resources they need to access.

• Barracuda Managed XDR, to provide proactive threat hunting, monitoring, detection, and response overseen by a fully staffed 24/7 SOC.

“Even though different parts of the platform as a whole were working during [several recent security] incidents, XDR is the only one that played a part in all of them. It played a huge role in helping us act as fast as we could. For me, it might even be the tip of the spear for Barracuda and the solutions it provides.” — Daniel Ekroth, CIO, Sparc Group

Looking ahead

“All of the solutions are doing their job. And we are, without any doubt, extending licenses and services to customers using them. In terms of the platform as a whole, it’s keeping its promise. We are more than delighted.”— Daniel Ekroth, CIO, Sparc Group

Sparc Group’s next step in maintaining and extending a robust security infrastructure is to implement Barracuda SecureEdge. This modern SASE solution brings together a variety of functions including zero trust access, firewall-as-a-service, and SD-WAN network optimization. 

In addition, Daniel wants to begin rolling out Barracuda Managed XDR as part of Sparc Group’s MSP offering to its own customers.

“Most customers don’t have that, and they can really use it in a good way regardless of what they are doing otherwise. So it’s a great way to ‘land and expand’ with a new customer.” — Daniel Ekroth, CIO, Sparc Group

To get all the details about how Sparc Group leverages Barracuda solutions to support and secure its rapid, ongoing expansion, download the case study now.