Security firm Barracuda Networks Inc. said today it has acquired social engineering management platform provider PhishLine LLC for an undisclosed price.

Founded in 1996, PhishLine offers a software-as-a-service platform for social engineering simulation and training that specializes in assisting enterprises with combating security threats. As the company’s name suggests, it particularly focuses on phishing risks. In addition to its monitoring and reporting, PhishLine also offers a range of training solutions, including a library of courses directly that allow clients to educate their staff.

“Security awareness training is an important and quickly evolving area, particularly with increasingly targeted attacks making the human element a critical link in the security value chain,” Barracuda Chief Executive Officer and President BJ Jenkins said in a statement. “Combining the power of the Barracuda security technologies with PhishLine’s capabilities gives us the opportunity to deliver integrated, adaptive security training aimed at preventing email security threats.”

As part of the deal, Barracuda picks up PhishLine’s patent portfolio as well, which includes three issued and eight pending patents covering multivariable attack simulations across email, text message, voice and USB/mobile media; data capture, analytics and reporting; and continual analysis of employee performance.

Post-acquisition, PhishLine will be integrated into Barracuda’s existing email protection suite and security portfolio, with PhishLine’s aggregated data insights and training capabilities being added to the Barracuda’s artificial intelligence platform.

The deal comes after Barracuda announced in November that it was going private in a $1.6 billion buyout from Thoma Bravo LLC. That deal is expected to be finalized in March.

Photo: Phishline