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Barracuda Networks chomps up contract with reseller Quadsys

Severs ties after Quadsys Five hacking case concludes

Barracuda, a security, networking and storage vendor, has terminated its relationship with security reseller Quadsys.

Five staff from Quadsys managed to avoid prison in September when they were handed either suspended sentences or community orders after pleading guilty in July to the charge of securing unauthorised access to computer material, contrary to section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Vendors have taken their time in terminating their dealings with Quadsys. Kaspersky Labs was the first to publicly rip up its contract in September, while Sophos said it was discontinuing its relationship with the business earlier this month.

Barracuda's Chris Ross, VP International, today told The Register: “We are a business that is committed to the highest level of transparency & integrity and ensuring our customers and partners value their collaboration with us, for this reason we terminated our business relation with Quadsys after the conviction.”

The Register first contacted Barracuda two weeks ago regarding the termination of its relationship with Quadsys.

Three of the Quadsys Five (Alistair Barnard, Paul Cox, and Paul Streeter) were directors at the company and have now been disqualified from holding directorships for 12 months. This came with 10 months' imprisonment each, suspended for two years, as well as being placed under curfew for three months, completing 150 hours of unpaid work, and paying victim surcharge of £100.

Steve Davies was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, while Jon Townsend received a 12-month community order.

In the three-count indictment, the Quadsys Five pleaded not guilty to a count of a Computer Misuse Act offence "with intent", while the third count was a charge of blackmail directed at Cox only, to which he also pleaded not guilty. These charges will remain on file.

The Register contacted Paul Cox, however the former director refused to speak to us. Quadsys's main office told us somebody would be in touch. We will update this article with their comment if they do so. ®

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