Sophos Firewall version 21 has been the most rapidly embraced release so far, yet many of our users are still to make the transition.
The process of updating your firewall is cost-free and is a critical task as it not only boosts your system’s performance, user experience, and feature collection but also provides crucial security enhancements to safeguard your organization against cyber threats.
Sophos Firewall version 21 is an unpaid upgrade for all authorized Sophos Firewall clients – covering XGS Series, cloud-based, virtual, and software firewalls. (Keep in mind: XG Series devices reaching their end-of-life and that require an immediate shift to XGS Series devices are not supported by version 21. (Link for more info) )
You can access the update for your firewall either by logging into Sophos Central or through the on-box management console. Upgrading is a simple process involving just a few clicks, and you can utilize Sophos Central to set up a convenient schedule for the update. Sophos Firewall version 21 is a fully supported upgrade from any previous firmware versions.
Watch the video below for an overview of the latest features, download the Comprehensive Features Guide, or continue reading for detailed information.
Proactive Response to Threats via external threat feeds:
- The Active Threat Response now supports third-party threat feeds to facilitate easier integration with SoC providers, MSPs, and various industry-specific or geographically-focused threat intelligence sources
- Synchronized Security’s automated response to active threats is extended to encompass third-party threat feeds to isolate breached devices and hinder lateral movement
Improved Scalability:
- High-availability (HA) setups now have increased resilience and smoother transitions for reduced downtime
- IPsec VPN has enhanced manageability, configuration, and performance with up to 3X improvement using the new 2nd Generation XGS Desktop models
- Authentication and web enhancements also contribute to better performance and scalability
Seamless Updates:
- Any-to-any backup and restore for added flexibility when migrating to the latest XGS Series devices – including our new Generation 2 desktop models
- Port mapping support to simplify the migration to a device with a different port configuration
- Complete zero-touch deployment and configuration via Sophos Central
Efficient Management:
- Several user-experience enhancements, encompassing the overall appearance, Control Center cards, and optimization of VPN and static route configurations
- Integration of Let’s Encrypt certificate support across multiple areas of the firewall
- Enhanced network object visibility to pinpoint where objects are being used
- Dramatic reduction in SSO (single sign-on) duration for Sophos Central on-box management
Delve deeper with in-depth articles and demonstration videos:
One additional feature – Ansible Collection:
I’d like to highlight one more aspect: Sophos recently introduced our new Ansible Collection for Sophos Firewall.
If you’re unfamiliar, Ansible is an open-source IT automation engine allowing for provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, orchestration, and various other IT processes.
This tool is free to use, and it benefits from the expertise and insights of its vast pool of contributors – now including Sophos Firewall.
New to Sophos Firewall?
If you are new to Sophos Firewall, learn how it can address your primary network security concerns by visiting Sophos.com/Firewall today.
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