Four years. Thousands of students. One goal: build future cyber defenders

Some journeys begin with a spark — an idea fueled by purpose. And when the opportunity arises, that spark evolves into something truly impactful.

At Barracuda India, building cyber talent has been one such journey. What began as a vision has grown into a full-fledged launchpad for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.

Over the past four years, our academia engagement program has matured into a purpose-driven initiative, creating meaningful impact across campuses and the broader cyber community.

Building a program that lasts

As threats grow in complexity and scale, our mission goes beyond building great products. We’re committed to empowering the next generation of cyber defenders, opening doors to meaningful careers and strengthening the bridge between campus and corporate communities.

Starting a program is the easy part. Sustaining it — that’s where the real work begins. At Barracuda, we’ve learned that longevity comes from evolving with each cycle. That means refining our approach, deepening the value we deliver and keeping every stakeholder genuinely invested in the mission. When each phase is thoughtfully improvised and purposefully improved, the program doesn’t just survive — it thrives. That’s how momentum is built, and impact is multiplied.

I’d like to send a heartfelt shoutout to Rohit Aradhya, whose vision for academic engagement laid the foundation for this initiative, and to our mentors, recruiters (Jyothi A & Veera Kumar), Intern Program Manager (Kristin Gazzano), and leaders who make this program possible.

Here’s to continuing this journey with purpose and passion. Every student we meet is a spark for the future — and together, we’re lighting the path for the next generation of cyber defenders.