My customers choose to use Sophos Central for centralized management of their cybersecurity. A key scenario is combining Sophos Endpoint and Sophos Firewall, using features like Synchronized Security. This ensures that if an endpoint is compromised, the information is quickly shared with the firewall, allowing for automatic protection of both endpoints and the network. The convenience of managing these security aspects together is a major benefit for organizations.

I have noticed a significant improvement in how Sophos Central functions for our organization. With recent upgrades, the automatic synchronization of licenses in firewalls stands out. This eliminates the manual hassle of entering license renewal details, making the process seamless and worry-free for our customers.

One of the most valuable features of Sophos Central is its Synchronized Security.

One area I would like to see improvement in Sophos Central is the multi-factor authentication process. Currently, it involves multiple steps with email, phone, and Sophos Authenticator, which can be cumbersome. I faced issues when I lost my phone, making it challenging to log in. Finding a more user-friendly MFA solution would be great. Overall, apart from that, Sophos Central has made significant improvements in the past year and is now a competitive and reliable product.

I have been working with Sophos Central for a year.

We have not had any stability issues so far.

I find Sophos' technical support to be very good. I would rate it as an eight out of ten.

Positive

Besides Sophos, I have worked with Zoho, Check Point, Kaspersky, ESET, and CrowdStrike.

The initial setup process for Sophos Central is straightforward. You sign up at Central.Sophos.com, confirm via email, and provide the required information. It is a quick and simple process, typically taking about 10 to 15 minutes for the initial account creation. One person is sufficient for deployment, and it doesn't require a lot of time or resources. Maintaining Sophos Central is generally straightforward, requiring about 5% maintenance. This includes monitoring events and addressing issues flagged by Sophos Endpoint. The IT admin may need to manually intervene in cases where the endpoint detects a file it cannot remove independently. Overall, maintenance is minimal but involves occasional attention to ensure optimal security.

No, there are no additional fees for creating a Sophos Central account. It depends on the services needed. We can connect a limited number of firewalls to Sophos Central without extra charges. However, for managed endpoint centers with Cisco, there may be auto-query license fees in some scenarios.

My advice for new users would be that for those managing both endpoints and firewalls, especially in scenarios where comprehensive security is crucial, I strongly recommend Sophos Central. The use of Synchronized Security provides data visibility and protection, ensuring that malicious activities on endpoints are promptly detected and isolated by Sophos firewalls. This significantly reduces the burden on IT admins and enhances overall network security. Overall, I would rate Sophos Central as a seven out of ten.

While the platform offers a comprehensive suite of security features, its central role in our scenario revolves around safeguarding our extensive network of endpoints.

It is a cloud-based security solution with a flexible deployment that accommodates local servers and updates caches for minimized internet traffic. The user-friendly interface simplifies tasks like configuring exclusions and root cause analysis. The product goes beyond antivirus, offering granular control over peripheral devices, application management, data loss prevention, web filtering, and updates. It ensures a phased update rollout and provides Extended Detection and Response functionality, including a cloud-based data lake for threat hunting. Sophos Central also manages Sophos firewalls, aiming to be a comprehensive security solution with a single-pane-of-glass approach.

The level of protection offered by this antivirus product is highly commendable. One notable aspect is its innovative approach to file scanning, utilizing intelligent HTTPS mechanisms for real-time insights into files. This next-gen antivirus product stands out by eschewing reliance solely on static properties or files, a departure from traditional antivirus models that relied heavily on signatures. The product ensures constant communication with Sophos labs, providing the latest intelligence about files through a feature called "Live Protection." This real-time connection, coupled with the integration of artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning, enhances its effectiveness. Moreover, the ability to export this information into a CSV file, detailing all the relevant files, processes, and other executable-related information, adds a layer of sophistication.

I've encountered minor challenges in grouping endpoints for policy applications. It currently lacks synchronization with centralized identity management platforms, but users can request features, and integration is reportedly in progress. Additionally, Sophos Central can be resource-intensive, demanding servers with a minimum of eight gigabytes of RAM, which may pose considerations for larger organizations dealing with legacy applications tied to specific OS and hardware configurations.

I have been working with it for four years now.

It is generally stable, with very rare issues. In my four years of directly managing it, I can't recall a significant instance where we were unable to access the console or modify settings. If there were any such occurrences, they were likely brief, and Sophos provides a dedicated Sophos Central status page for users to check the infrastructure's status. However, I must be honest about recent experiences—we've encountered some bugs, particularly with threat alerts, such as unknown threats, and we've communicated these issues directly to Sophos. While these bugs are typically version-specific and resolved with upgrades, there has been an uptick in such issues recently, which has been reported to the development team.

It is highly scalable, allowing easy expansion as needed. Creating different service states and consoles is straightforward, and establishing the relationship between a console and its assigned endpoints is simple. The ease of deployment ensures endpoints are efficiently placed in the correct groups, crucial for applying the right policies promptly.

When seeking technical support for Sophos Central, initial interactions typically involve level-one engineers, and may sometimes take time to reach the right experts. There are instances where I proactively provide comprehensive details, yet initial responses request information already shared. Despite such minor issues, specifying the priority of the problem helps streamline the process. If you can connect with the right people promptly, support is generally good. To refine the rating, considering level-one engineers, I would rate the support experience at around seven out of ten.

Deployment in our environment is streamlined through a single source using a compact file. This file is shared with our deployment team for execution. The deployment team requires either internet access, access to the Sophos portal, or an in-house setup for update caching, also known as message relay in certain network configurations. In cases where the network is restricted and lacks internet access, the deployment team utilizes message relay, functioning as a proxy between the endpoints and the Sophos cloud. This deployment approach is flexible, accommodating both on-premises and cloud components. Essentially, we initiate the installation with a small local installer file, and the subsequent files are retrieved either from an update cache or directly from the internet, making it a seamless process for our large-scale deployments. The process is adaptable and caters to various business functions through dedicated consoles. Using a scripted "blank installation" method, deployment is tailored to specific service states, ensuring endpoints align with the correct policies. Policy management during deployment is efficient, allowing for seamless assignment to relevant groups. The maintenance is straightforward due to its cloud-based nature, minimizing on-premises infrastructure needs. Periodic checks and verifications within the console simplify the process, making it hassle-free, especially when no specific network architectures require on-premises components.

Meticulous planning is essential before onboarding devices onto Sophos Central, involving careful grouping and allocation to dedicated consoles or sub-states. Migration from another product requires precise policy migration, facilitated by Sophos's CRT. Mass deployment is streamlined, especially if the old product's central protection is disabled. Sophos Central extends beyond antivirus, offering cloud security and XDR functionalities, seamlessly integrating with SOC teams for effective EDR and XDR. The platform, known for scalability and user-friendliness, supports advanced features like threat hunting and live response. Continuously evolving, it consistently introduces new features through ongoing development. Overall, I would rare it eight out of ten.

We incorporate it into our demo for its cloud-based security solution, similar to Trend Micro Logistics, ensuring robust security for both client machines and servers. The inclusion of features enhances the user experience, providing a friendly and intuitive interface.

It's highly valuable as it ensures that no unauthorized installations occur without the IT team's permission, maintaining a secure environment. This allows for precise application of security measures, similar to a firewall, where connectivity and application definitions are meticulously managed. The protection and enterprise-level features are commendable, offering robust control and firewall management for designated machines. Additionally, encryption can be applied seamlessly through the support center, providing comprehensive control over all aspects of security. The backend protection further enhances the overall security posture.

Vulnerability protection and monitoring any changes are crucial aspects that require attention. Considering the specific requirements of the banking sector where constant internet usage may not be permissible, it might be worthwhile for the company to reconsider offering an on-premises solution. This would cater to users who prefer or require an in-house solution due to security and permission concerns associated with internet networks. The DLP feature is present, but it may not be considered a comprehensive DLP solution and it should be improved.

I would rate its stability capabilities seven out of ten.

It caters to a wide range of customers, including small and medium enterprises. It is versatile and adaptable, working effectively in various scenarios and meeting the diverse needs of its user base, regardless of the size or type of business.

I would rate its customer service and support eight out of ten.

Positive

The initial setup posed some complexities in the process.

Being a cloud solution eliminates the need to set up client-server arrangements for databases as everything is readily available. You just need to create a login account, sign in, download or deploy the agent on servers, and apply policies. However, a lightweight agent is essential to prevent any adverse impact on machine performance during evaluation. The deployment process can be completed in five minutes.

The price is relatively affordable. When compared to other vendors, it is a more cost-effective option. I would rate it six out of ten.

If you're focused on client security, I recommend opting for Sophos Central. Overall, I would rate it seven out of ten.

We use it to centralize, manage, and upgrade our security infrastructure. This includes applying policies, revoking access, and working within established guidelines, all without the need for physical access.

It streamlines our operations, allowing us to remotely handle tasks, saving time and eliminating the need for running around to different locations.

The primary benefits include complete control over hardware devices and the valuable assistance provided in log shipment. Additionally, the analytics tools proved instrumental in effectively utilizing and interpreting data related to these aspects.

There were challenges we faced with generating reports for the physical firewall in certain instances. Despite escalating the issue through tickets, we haven't received a fully satisfactory resolution. Additionally, accessing user logs on the central platform is not as straightforward as we'd prefer.

I have been working with it for approximately five years.

I haven't encountered any significant downtime while working, ensuring a stable experience.

I would rate its scalability capabilities nine out of ten. Currently, there are five individuals responsible for overseeing and managing approximately twenty-five to twenty-eight firewalls.

The technical support in India is somewhat slow. They often require a considerable amount of time, and contacting them sometimes involves odd hours, which can be challenging, especially when it falls outside regular business hours.

We collaborate with two other vendors, Fortinet and Palo Alto. We recently adopted Palo Alto about a year ago, and while they make promising claims, we are still in the process of familiarizing ourselves with their offerings. Fortinet, on the other hand, has been part of our operations for the past two years, with our team gaining experience and expertise. Among the three, Sophos is the longest-standing partner.

The initial setup was straightforward and user-friendly.

It offers the most competitive pricing compared to other vendors. When considering security effectiveness, Sophos stands out as a cost-effective choice, especially in comparison to other prominent solutions available in the Indian market. It provides a comprehensive package that includes most features, making it more scalable and accessible for security needs in smaller organizations like ours. I would rate it one out of ten.

Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

We are a vendor. In the last company, we were a platinum partner of Sophos. So we provided services to other businesses, like corporate businesses or many businesses.

I have deployed it in many scenarios. Many customer days come to us, and they're migrating their services, like, services to Sophos, like the other firewall to Sophos. They deploy a new one. So we tried different scenarios, like an active firewall with central services, central with active-active firewall, and the support central endpoint services. There are so many scenarios.

Sophos Central is good. It's also free for all those firewalls because, from Sophos Central, we manage the firewalls and push the policies to the firewall. 

Also, we manage the Endpoint with the endpoint and firewall, with Sophos Central in view, monitoring all the policies, logs, and various features in the Sophos Central orchestration features. 

We can push templates to all the firewalls, and they are updated automatically with the Central. It syncs automatically, and all the firewalls appear in Sophos firewall in our environment. So we can manage all firewalls, push policies, log our endpoint to endpoints, and update endpoints. Also, see the protection policy and all the various features.

There are areas of improvement because there are license restrictions.

In future releases, I would like to see more awareness about this product. Most customers don't know about Sophos Central. Sometimes, I have to ask customers to use Sophos Central because they don't know it exists. 

It's not well-marketed, so many customers don't know about this feature. Many vendors use firewalls, but they don't use Sophos Central. For example, if you have five firewalls, the reporting limit might be reached. So, many customers don't know about Sophos Central, and I sometimes have to force them to use it.

The stability of Sophos Central is generally good. Sometimes, issues arise due to server distribution, particularly from my region in Pakistan. There are two data centers, which can cause browsing delays. Overall, most of the time, it functions well, but there are occasional lapses due to these data center issues. Overall, I would rate the stability as seven out of ten.

I've noticed regional difficulties, such as high latency from the vendor's server. Generally, it's about eighty percent effective, but there are times when it's problematic.

I would rate its scalability an eight out of ten. As a partner, we handle multiple scenarios. Sometimes it's hundreds of end users, sometimes thousands, and sometimes it's even more. The number of end users varies from time to time.

The support is good. Initially, they escalate issues through the L1 and L2 engines. Often, the first few emails or days can be less productive, but after that, the L2 team becomes more engaged. For partners, I suggest a different support channel, which should allow direct quality reporting.

Neutral

We worked with Kaspersky and other key solutions. Each has its strengths, but for robust security and support features, Sophos Central is preferable. I find its antivirus software and firewall solutions to be highly effective.

The initial setup is easy. It's very user-friendly. We can push policies through the GUI, like threat protection and file protection. Scanning protection begins with the GUI. It's no problem. 

But for deployment, it's difficult, just like deployment purposes. If you're going to deploy the endpoint, it is difficult to deploy the central. We can go through the systems or through the active directory or something, but there are no other features like this.

There's no need to deploy. It's on the cloud. We have to create an account and sync our antivirus. It takes about three to five minutes to sync.

The pricing is very competitive. When compared to other vendors like Fortinet, Sophos stands out, especially in terms of firewall and endpoint pricing. It's more affordable than other American brands, and while not as cheap as Chinese brands, the quality and pricing balance is excellent.

On a scale, I would rate it a ten out of ten.  I would emphasize the range of features like DLP, file label protection, and user policies that align with your organizational needs. Sophos Central offers comprehensive protection and a variety of policy-based solutions that are highly beneficial for any organization.

We use the product as a management console to manage Sophos products such as firewalls and WAP. It is a reporting tool that offers centralized reporting for your products. 

Sophos Central is cloud-based, which allows the administrator to control everything from anywhere. It is free for most of the products except the firewall. 

The tool is slow in the Middle East region. It should also integrate custom reporting. 

I have been working with the product for four years. 

Sophos Central is mature and effective in capturing malware. 

The product is scalable. 

Sophos Central is good and available 24/7. 

Sophos Central's deployment is easy if you have the internet. It takes two to three minutes to complete. You can schedule the maintenance updates. 

The tool's pricing is good. 

I rate Sophos Central an eight out of ten. 

I mainly use Sophos Central to keep our clients' digital world safe. I focus on three main things: making sure emails are protected, managing the firewall, and handling endpoint protection to stop viruses and other threats on devices. These are my key areas, but I'm also familiar with other parts of Sophos' tech to ensure our clients have solid overall security.

Sophos Central made it easier to manage the multitude of Sophos Solutions currently in the market. It easy to switch between different products to quickly address alerts or make policy changes.

The best thing about Sophos Central is how it brings all its security solutions together in one place. It is like having a control center for everything. Since Sophos has been doing this for a while and has many tools, having them all in one platform makes my job a lot simpler. It beats jumping around different tools all the time. Having it all in one spot is a game-changer.

One area that could use some work in Sophos Central is the user experience. Despite the continuous improvements, the user interface could be more intuitive and user-friendly. It feels like there is still room to make it smoother and simpler for users to navigate and manage security settings.

I have been using Sophos Central for ten months.

In terms of stability, Sophos is generally solid and robust. However, during significant system updates or internal migrations by the Sophos team, there can be some shakiness. Overall, the solution has been reliable with minimal downtime or performance issues. I would rate its stability at a nine out of ten.

I would rate the scalability of Sophos Central as an eight out of ten. In my experience, if a client needs to scale up, like adding more licenses to protect additional devices, it is a relatively smooth process. Communication with the Sophos team and getting things in order doesn't take too long. So, in terms of scalability, it has been quite effective in adapting to changing needs. There are eight to ten users within our organization.

I would rate the support as a six out of ten. They do respond when necessary, but it seems like they are often busy. While they are continuously improving their technology, there are times when they don't respond promptly. If they don't reply immediately, it usually takes them until the next day to get back to you. There is room for improvement in terms of responsiveness, but they eventually address the issues.

Neutral

We previously used IBM Reaqta now formally known as IBM Security QRadar EDR for our endpoint protection and response. We always had Sophos Central but made the switch not too long ago.

The initial setup of Sophos Central depends on the specific technology being implemented. For software-based solutions like Intercept X or email protection, it is generally straightforward, with the bulk of the work handled by the software agents. However, if something goes unplanned, it may require a bit more technical know-how to troubleshoot. On the other hand, setting up hardware like firewalls varies based on deployment methods, each with its own challenges. It can be more complex, requiring a good understanding of deployment methods to navigate through the setup process. All in all, the ease or difficulty of the setup depends on the specific technology and deployment approach. The deployment time for Sophos solutions varies based on the type of technology. In my experience, it usually takes about three to five days to complete the installation and configuration for a hardware-based solution.

Sophos solutions are generally affordable, especially considering that we manage them in South Africa and Africa at large. The pricing is particularly favorable for software-based solutions, while the hardware side can be a bit more challenging. Overall, for software-based Sophos solutions, the pricing is reasonable and not overly expensive.

My advice for those looking into using Sophos Central for the first time would be to invest time in training. Sophos, particularly through its partner program, offers training courses for most of its solutions. From my experience, these courses are comprehensive, self-explanatory, and often include practical labs. Some are free, and some may have a cost, but they provide valuable material and hands-on experience. For newcomers, I highly recommend going through these training sessions to navigate the maze of Sophos solutions effectively. Overall, I would rate Sophos Central as an eight out of ten.

We use Sophos Central to ensure compliance activity.

Sophos Central is a user-friendly solution, and its configuration is very easy. The most valuable features of Sophos Central are total threat hunting and detection response.

Sophos Central must incorporate a diagrammatic graphical user interface for its practices and compliances.

I have been using Sophos Central for two years.

I rate Sophos Central a nine out of ten for stability.

Sophos Central is a scalable solution. Around 1,500 users are using the solution in our organization.

I rate Sophos Central a nine out of ten for scalability.

The solution’s technical support is very good.

Positive

The solution’s initial deployment is very easy.

One engineer can deploy the solution in around three days.

We have seen a return on investment with Sophos Central because its threat-hunting detection is very good. The solution has saved around 60% of our organization’s money.

Sophos Central is moderately priced. We have to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate Sophos Central's pricing a six to seven out of ten.

Before choosing Sophos Central, we evaluated other options like SonicWall, Juniper, and WatchGuard. We chose Sophos Central because of the cost and better endpoint detection.

Sophos Central is deployed on-cloud in our organization. The solution’s maintenance is easy and can be done by one person.

As the endpoint and applications increase in an organization, Sophos Central can detect and protect from Trojans, viruses, and spyware.

Overall, I rate Sophos Central an eight out of ten.

Our primary focus at this site is on enhancing security measures through the acquisition of a firewall. We are specifically addressing security needs at the moment, with other aspects being managed using existing solutions.

It is highly effective because it operates in real-time, swiftly detecting malware and viruses on both endpoints and firewalls. The synchronization between endpoint detection and firewall response is a key advantage. For instance, if malware is identified on an endpoint, the information is seamlessly synchronized and applied to the firewall, allowing for immediate group-level blocking. This integrated approach is immensely beneficial as it eliminates the need for separate management of endpoints and firewalls, streamlining our security operations.

There is considerable room for service improvement, especially based on a recent experience with the RMX. The device we requested took seven to ten days to be delivered, and the inconvenience continued as we had to travel over thirty kilometers to pick it up. The current service level is not as efficient as desired, but we acknowledge that it presents an area for improvement, particularly in terms of support concentration. Occasionally, the firewall seems to cause a complete traffic halt, even though the system indicates that traffic is flowing. To resolve this, we have to restart the Sophos firewall. It would be beneficial if Sophos could provide options for shorter-term licenses, such as one or two months, allowing for more adaptability in licensing and cost management.

I have been using it for three years.

The stability of the system has been a concern as we had to reboot Sophos in random scenarios. Instances of traffic getting stuck and load-balancing issues have been observed. It's worth noting that load-balancing is not automated in my current device; instead, I have to configure it manually.

I would rate its scalability abilities seven out of ten. 

The technical support provided is commendable, even though it might take some time. The support team demonstrates a high level of expertise and foundation, earning them a score of nine out of ten in terms of skill level.

Positive

In comparison to our previous use of CyberArk, the current system proves to be significantly better. CyberArk is excellent, especially in an enterprise context. While I won't make direct comparisons with other solutions like Tabidoo, FortiGate, or Cisco, FortiGate stands out as a strong and competitive option.

The initial setup was straightforward.

The deployment process may take more than three to four hours, but it's relatively straightforward. A single engineer should be able to configure the firewall model without encountering any issues.

Apart from the mentioned licensing issue, Sophos has proven to be a very effective and cost-saving solution. The dashboard provides a wealth of reports, including customer reports, at almost no additional cost. The integration between the endpoint and CyberArk through the support center has resulted in significant cost savings. The return on investment is impressive, especially considering the quick access to comprehensive reports on malware attacks and other issues within our virtual settings. It has provided substantial benefits and streamlined our operations effectively.

Sophos is more cost-effective than other vendors. However, we've encountered an issue regarding license flexibility. For our corporate offices and multiple sites across India, we sometimes need short-term licenses due to the nature of our projects. While purchasing a new firewall solution, we requested a license for the next two months, but Sophos only offers licenses for one or two years. This lack of flexibility can be a hindrance, especially when considering the cost implications.

Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.

We use Sophos Central for endpoint solutions for our customers. We deploy the endpoint on all end machines and manage everything from Sophos Central.

Sophos Central is a good and easy-to-manage product. It is compatible with all the versions, like iOS and MacBook. Whenever we configure any kind of policy we are setting, it immediately takes effect on all end user's devices. Sophos Central is an easy-to-use and easy-to-deploy solution.

Whenever a customer installs a Sophos Central agent on the end-user system, their system becomes slow.

I have been using Sophos Central for more than four to five years.

I rate Sophos Central a six out of ten for stability.

I work with many customers and have deployed Sophos Central for 10 to 15 customers.

I rate Sophos Central a seven or eight out of ten for scalability.

The solution's technical support is good.

Other than Sophos Central, I work with other solutions like Kaspersky and McAfee.

The solution’s initial setup is very easy.

The solution was deployed within ten days for 3,000 users.

Sophos Central is an affordable solution that any mid-level customer can buy.

Sophos Central is deployed on the cloud infrastructure provided by Sophos.

Overall, I rate Sophos Central an eight out of ten.