Cloud-focused cybersecurity firm Barracuda Networks Inc. is taking artificial intelligence to the world of phishing protection with a new product that promises to provide real-time spear phishing and cyberfraud defense.

Called Barracuda Sentinel, the cloud service uses AI to protect people, businesses and brands from spear phishing, a method of sending emails that appear to be from a known source to extract confidential information, as well as impersonation attempts, business email compromise and cyber fraud. The platform combines three layers — artificial intelligence, domain fraud visibility and antifraud training — into a solution that connects into existing communication platforms such as Microsoft Office 365 to prevent impersonation attempts.

The platform examines historical data from multiple points across to a network to learn the unique communications patterns of each company and to analyze the content of the messages for sensitive information. Using this machine learning process, Barracuda Sentinel can determine with high accuracy whether an email is part of a spear phishing attack or just a normal intra-office email, according to the company.

Although it’s promising to protect users against spear phishing attacks, Barracuda conceded that no solution is 100 percent effective. Sentinel also includes a module that can identify high-risk individuals within an organization. Once those individuals are identified, the platform offers a number of tools that can be used to periodically train and test the security awareness of employees through the use of simulated spear phishing attacks.

“It’s no longer just the large enterprises or C-suite that need to be on high alert — everyone is a target,” Asaf Cidon, vice president of content security services at Barracuda Networks, said in a statement. “We see novel combinations of highly personalized tactics — spoofing your domain, impersonating your CEO, engaging in convincing conversations with your employees. In today’s dynamic threat environment, the best defense includes a combination of people and technology.”

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