Sophos Central Reviews

I've been involved in installing and supporting Sophos Central for customers, particularly focusing on server security.

I have experience using Sophos Central for endpoint security management, particularly in two major companies: Dunkin' Brothers and Shop Up Limited. Dunkin' Brothers has approximately 500 support center users, while Shop Up Limited has around 700 users. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate my experience with Sophos Central as a six or seven at most, with six being the average.

We've observed significant improvements in threat detection and response capabilities since implementing Sophos Central, especially when compared to other endpoint solutions like Fortinet. This enhanced capability has made Sophos Central a highly sought-after solution in Bangladesh. Customers appreciate the effectiveness and efficiency of Sophos Central's threat response compared to other options in the market. One notable example is a client of ours who experienced attempted hacking. Sophos Central promptly detected and blocked the intrusion, alerting our client to the potential threat. Our client appreciated the proactive response and effective blocking of the hacker, highlighting the superior quality of support provided by Sophos Central.

Sophos Central's automated threat response played a crucial role in mitigating security risks, as exemplified in a recent case at Popular Pharmaceutical Limited. With nearly 300 users relying on endpoint security with threat response and managed detection, they detected suspicious activity indicating potential hacking attempts from external networks. Thanks to Sophos Central's automated response, the malicious traffic was promptly blocked, and the IT team was alerted to the suspicious behavior. Additionally, when a ransomware attack occurred on one system, Sophos Central's support center swiftly isolated the affected system, preventing the further spread of the attack.

Sophos Central's reporting and analytics capabilities greatly contribute to providing actionable insights to our customers. I genuinely appreciate the effectiveness of Sophos in generating comprehensive reports, which cover all aspects efficiently. I would rate this feature as an eight out of ten for its robustness and usability.

The interface of Sophos Central has significantly contributed to the ease of managing security policies and procedures. In my experience, I've found it to be highly efficient, especially when compared to other solutions like Fortinet. The features such as system heartbeat and automatic system updates are particularly commendable.

One of the significant advantages of Sophos is its affordability compared to other technologies like Check Point and Fortinet. This makes it a preferred choice for businesses, especially government and smaller operations.

The most popular features of Sophos Central are its heartbeat functionality, threat response and detection capabilities, and its rule management system. Notably, the rule management system is not limited to servers but extends to client systems as well. These three components are highly valued for their effectiveness. Additionally, the ability to manage rules through a drag-and-drop system adds further convenience to our administration tasks.

One feature that I find particularly valuable for maintaining our cybersecurity posture is the automatic update functionality. This feature ensures that our systems are consistently up to date with the latest security patches and enhancements. Additionally, the ability to push updates to every software center by default is highly convenient and efficient in ensuring that all endpoints are properly secured.

Although Sophos Central is well-established, there's a shortage of engineers available locally, which has hindered our ability to effectively support and implement solutions. I believe there's room for improvement, especially in terms of traffic monitoring. If Sophos Central could provide detailed traffic monitoring based on user counts, similar to what is available in Fortinet, it would enhance the overall value proposition for our customers. Sophos could potentially provide more detailed insights into user activity, such as the number of users currently logged into the system and those already under protection. Additionally, it would be beneficial to have visibility into network traffic, including guest networks, and identify any suspicious activities or attempts to access unauthorized resources. The main drawback lies in the weak after-sales support system.

I have been working with it for two years.

I find Sophos to be quite stable, especially considering its widespread usage in Bangladesh, with approximately 1.8 million devices currently relying on it. This stability is particularly beneficial for small businesses or offices seeking security solutions.

It provides good scalability capabilities.

The installation process in Sophos Central is significantly easier compared to other solutions. It's straightforward and hassle-free – we can simply download the necessary plugins from the Central warehouse and install them with ease.

The deployment time for Sophos Central varies depending on factors such as the number of users, desktops, or nodes being connected. For smaller deployments involving around ten or twenty users connecting to Sophos Central, the process typically takes a maximum of two to two and a half hours. During this time, the network may need to be disconnected temporarily. Once logged into Sophos, the license can be installed, and then the PCs will automatically receive installation prompts via email. Each computer usually requires around fifteen to twenty minutes to complete the installation of Sophos Central nodes. 

During our previous deployment, there were three of us, including myself, working as senior system engineers. Both of my colleagues had approximately two years of experience with Sophos. With such expertise within our team, deployment tasks were typically straightforward and didn't require much effort. However, when faced with customer requests for complex rules or configurations beyond our capabilities, we would engage with our local vendor and service partners for assistance.

The pricing of Sophos is quite reasonable and generally cheaper compared to competitors like Fortinet and Check Point. However, it's important to note that certain licenses may come with higher costs, which can be a drawback.

I believe incorporating Sophos Central into security infrastructure could further enhance the defenses. However, considering customers' perspectives and budget constraints, particularly for small and medium-sized organizations, it's essential to ensure cost-effectiveness. In Bangladesh, there's a growing preference for Sophos due to its suitability for various environments and budget scales. Therefore, I suggest focusing on improving sales and after-sales support to meet the increasing demand and effectively deploy Sophos solutions across Bangladesh. Overall, I would rate it six out of ten.

I use the solution in my company for endpoint security of our servers, especially in our workspaces where we have many devices, like laptops and PCs. Basically, my company's customer uses Sophos Central for endpoint security in their company, where I manage and install the tool to support around 1000 to 2000 laptop pieces in Indonesia.

I think that in Indonesia, many companies don't use cloud services because there are problems with the internet connections. Sophos Central is a product that is available on the cloud, so it is safer than the on-premises version. When it comes to the on-premises version of the product, users may have to face a lot of scenarios where they have to deal with damaged computers and server crashes. My company can shift access with the help of a phone or laptop from anywhere or any location with Sophos Central's cloud version, allowing everyone to access the servers centrally, but it is not something that is possible with the on-premises version. For me, the product is easy to use.

Sophos Central is not available in small packages in Indonesia. I think Sophos Central needs to be made available in a smaller package because the problem in Indonesia is that there is no good internet connectivity.

I have so much trouble with the tool in Indonesia since the internet connection is bad, so it is difficult to reach the Sophos Central server or get connected to the server. Sophos Central can give better features to help establish a better connection between the server and a client.

I have been using Sophos Central for around five years. My company has a partnership with Sophos. I work as a distributor of the product in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, Sophos Central is the first choice that comes to my mind if my customers need an endpoint security product.

The tool is deployed on 2000 devices.

I deal with my companies where the employee count ranges from 1000 to 4000

I have experience with the product support team in Indonesia. The solution's technical support was very good and communicative, which were factors that helped me resolve my problems.

The product's initial setup phase was easy.

In one of the cases where I had to take care of around 1000 installations, I initially built a dummy for the on-premises version, after which I collected updates on the on-premises version, post which the PCs and laptops can download or update it from the main server, which is an easy process.

The solution is deployed on a private cloud.

The solution can be deployed in an hour or two. The problem during the deployment phase can only arise due to some internet connectivity issues. If a company has a good internet connection, then the deployment process takes less time.

In my opinion, it is not a very pricey product. The product is not expensive.

The tool has improved our company's ability to monitor network health and security.

I recommend the solution to others who plan to use it because it is one of the best and the point security solutions available on the cloud for me. The product is also easy to use, install, control, and manage.

I have used the product's automated threat response feature. With the help of the automated threat response feature, I can get a report and track malware and services.

I rate the overall tool a nine out of ten.

My organization uses the solution because it is user-friendly, available at a low cost, and needs low-cost maintenance for the company's customers to use and modify a single console in different branch locations so that you can handle many branches with a single sign-in on the tool.

The product's best features are its antivirus scanning, vulnerability scanning, web filtering, and application control, including the tool's ability to offer characteristics like peripheral device control. The product has many features to protect our organization's sensitive details.

I did not find any particular area where improvements are required in the product. Improvements are needed in Sophos Central from the agent side, especially in the area of tokens when selling and uninstalling during a change of products owing to security reasons. The ability to randomly use the initial passcode provided by Sophos Central needs changes. The tamper protection password is an area with certain shortcomings where improvements are required. If users forget the tamper protection password, then it is not possible to uninstall the agent, after which they have to use the removal tool from the agent side, during which I do not have the ability to create another setup.

I have been using Sophos Central for five years. I am an end-user of the tool.

I haven't faced any issues with the product during the five years that I have used it. The product is good, and I would recommend it to my organization's customers or vendors. My company can synchronize the antivirus and firewall we use with Sophos Central and use it globally from wherever we want since it offers its users a centralized console and cloud console.

Previously, I worked in a product support company where we supported each product our clients preferred, starting from installation, organization, and implementation, and troubleshooting at an L1 and L2 level with the help of Sophos Central.

I contacted the product's technical support for some of the organization's issues. Once, a person who was taking care of the Sophos Central console completely changed the console's password, so I contacted the tool's technical team to change the administrator passcode, which took around three to four working days. When my company faced the aforementioned issue related to passwords, Sophos Central was not able to change the password immediately. As a customer, if someone has hacked my console's password, then I won't be able to log in to the cloud of Sophos Central, especially in cases where it shows a different email address and the registered user's email address is different. The priority has to be to ensure that my organization changes the email address and the phone number in the product to the ones that were used when we obtained the licenses, which can be re-registered later if needed. The main issue revolves around the fact that Sophos Central takes around three days to register the new email address and to create a new password ID at a channel account manager level.

I rate the technical support a ten out of ten.

Positive

The product's initial setup phase is easy and user-friendly. There is nothing difficult when it comes to Sophos Central because it is a completely user-friendly product with a user-centric GUI mode that allows users to configure anything in the solution easily.

The solution is deployed on the cloud and on an on-premises model.

Though I don't know the exact price of the product, I know that the tool is worth the money.

I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. The security part offered by the product is strong, especially when compared to other products like Trend Micro or CrowdStrike. Sophos Central is a very helpful tool since users can't delete or modify agents without administrator permission. With the product, when there are constant changes in the tamper protection password, some users are unable to uninstall the agent from the users' end. Sophos Central's console can be configured from anywhere, especially in the cloud. On an on-premises model or in the cloud, users can use the synchronization capabilities of the tool.

I have five years of experience with the product, and I haven't seen any compromises made in the product's quality.

I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.

Sophos Central serves as an integrated security management platform, providing centralized administration and oversight for a suite of Sophos security products. This comprehensive solution delivers advanced threat protection across desktops, laptops, and servers, encompassing proactive prevention, robust detection mechanisms, and efficient response protocols against diverse threats, including ransomware. Extending its security prowess to mobile devices, Sophos Central ensures a resilient defense against mobile-specific threats, safeguarding data privacy. The platform's seamless integration with web and email security solutions fortifies the organization's resilience against online threats. Notably, Sophos Intercept X augments the security posture with advanced features such as anti-ransomware and deep learning technologies for heightened threat detection capabilities. The inclusion of robust reporting and analytics tools, exemplified by Cloud Optix, furnishes valuable insights into security events. This strategic approach enables Sophos Central to execute a unified response strategy, harmonizing security measures across the entirety of the organizational landscape.

Sophos Central has significantly enhanced our organizational security posture by swiftly detecting and alerting on suspicious activities, accompanied by comprehensive logging of pertinent data. The expeditious identification of these potential security threats serves as a proactive mechanism, enabling our security analysts to promptly investigate and implement requisite measures to mitigate the identified risks. The frequency of such incidents underscores the efficacy of Sophos Endpoint Protection in consistently identifying and responding to security threats, thereby fortifying our overall security resilience.

A particularly noteworthy feature of Sophos Central is its emphasis on robust indexing capabilities, strategically crafted for the efficient management of reports and logs across a substantial range of endpoints, typically ranging from 500 to 1,000. This includes adept handling of Windows 10 hosts within our network.

The platform's meticulous focus on indexing plays a pivotal role in optimizing our reporting processes. By providing swift and granular access to critical data, it enables our security and IT teams to conduct thorough analyses of security events and operational activities. This, in turn, enhances our overall operational efficiency, facilitating timely responses to emerging security threats.

Moreover, the versatility of Sophos Central's indexing feature proves invaluable in our day-to-day operations. It allows us to navigate seamlessly through the extensive volume of endpoint data, empowering us to identify patterns, anomalies, and potential security risks efficiently. This level of visibility is paramount for maintaining a proactive security posture and ensuring the integrity of our network.

While Sophos Central has demonstrated commendable functionality, there is room for improvement in the realm of automation. Specifically, addressing ransomware attacks often requires leveraging external tools, deploying virtual machines, and utilizing supplementary tools like Caliper Analytics for operations and security communication. The integration of these essential functionalities directly into the software would represent a significant enhancement, streamlining the incident response process and bolstering the platform's comprehensive threat mitigation capabilities.

Furthermore, a valuable addition to future releases could involve augmenting the new screen component with advanced capabilities such as XML utilization and rule integration. This enhancement, especially pertinent to tools involved in sandboxing and virtual machines within the investigation process, would greatly streamline the analysis of logs and reports. This would prove particularly beneficial in the context of email analysis, spam attack detection, and other critical security aspects. By incorporating these features, Sophos Central could further elevate its utility in facilitating in-depth security analyses and response strategies.

I have been using it for one year.

It provides good stability capabilities and I would rate it eight out of ten.

We oversee the management of approximately 400 to 500 endpoint devices, leveraging Sophos Central's robust scalability features. In our assessment, we would rate the platform's scalability at seven out of ten. Additionally, the implementation of firewalls further contributes to our comprehensive network security strategy.

The effectiveness of technical support is contingent upon the internal capabilities of our organization. We rely on our proficient IT team for supplementary information and any physical interventions required for device maintenance.

The initial setup was straightforward.

Deployment is highly efficient, requiring only one person to identify all the endpoint systems.

The client benefits from cost-effective ROI as the firewall infrastructure is efficiently maintained with a small team managing 500 devices. This approach is valuable for management, optimizing resource use, and managing time.

The cost is quite affordable.

Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.

The Central manager oversees multiple client sites, with one of them being located in Colombo. Once accessed, this entry point enables management of both virtual and physical environments across all three sites from a single interface.

Utilizing Sophos Central for endpoint security management for our customers, we've installed it for a client with three sites. Within this client, there are four companies under the same group. With Sophos Central, we can seamlessly communicate between the separate locations of these companies, such as Company 1, Company 2, and so forth.

Sophos Central has enhanced our client's organization's threat detection and response capabilities significantly. The solution requires minimal resources, with very low data usage, ensuring minimal impact on daily operations. It swiftly identifies advanced threats, with zero data loss during testing, and enables easy deduction of other potential threats.\

The Central interface greatly simplifies the management of our security policies and procedures. It's remarkably straightforward and intuitive, making it easy to understand and navigate quickly. I've personally noticed this simplicity reflected in the ease with which others grasp it. Once guided through the initial steps, users can comfortably navigate and continue managing tasks with little to no difficulty.

I find the biggest advantage of Sophos Central is the absence of physical hardware requirements, which alleviates the headache associated with managing server rooms, PCs, and other hardware. This eliminates any potential issues related to maintenance and upkeep. Additionally, in terms of cost, Sophos Central is competitively priced compared to alternatives like CrowdStrike and SandBlast by Checkpoint.

Sophos Central Reporting and Analytics are highly effective in delivering quick and valuable insights. However, one area that requires improvement is in addressing the increasing frequency of yearly attacks. Apart from that, the signature detection methods and other aspects function seamlessly.

There's no need for any upfront hardware costs with Sophos Central. By leveraging cloud-based solutions, we can significantly reduce expenses.

One of the most valuable features of Sophos Central for maintaining our cybersecurity posture is its ease of use. In my experience, managing Central is simple and can be done from anywhere, at any time. This accessibility is crucial for administrators, as it facilitates seamless communication and control.

In terms of improvement, there are several areas to focus on. Firstly, addressing market perception issues is crucial. From a technical perspective, one key area for improvement is strengthening its defense against zero-day attacks. Having and option for endpoint security on mobile devices, it would be advantageous.

I have been working with it for three years.

It provides good stability capabilities.

It is scalable.

Regarding technical support in my region, there are two separate entities, one being Indian-based. Unfortunately, the quality of support from the Indian region is lacking, although I have worked with other providers such as Check Point. In comparison, the support provided by Check Point surpasses that of the Indian-based support. Locally, we have two distributors available, but we currently only collaborate with one. While we generally find satisfaction with their services at the local level, there are occasions when issues arise that they cannot resolve on their own, particularly with Sophos Central. During these times, we encounter significant challenges, often experiencing prolonged wait times for responses and resolution. I would rate it four out of ten.

Neutral

We used CheckPoint. When comparing Sophos with other solutions, one significant advantage is that they offer similar features for the same price.

The initial setup is straightforward.

Initially, we begin with a Proof of Concept phase, followed by a one-month trial period using the free license. If the results are satisfactory, we proceed to purchase the EDR solution from the distributor. Once purchased, we simply update the license using the provided link. Deployment time varies depending on the size of the company. For instance, in a company with a thousand users spread across three locations, deployment typically takes less than two hours if there are no issues with endpoint communication and the network has a high bandwidth internet connection. Maintenance is straightforward.

Our customers find Sophos Central to offer excellent value for money, and they are highly satisfied with the service it provides.

The price is reasonable.

Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.

We use the product to protect endpoints and emails. 

Sophos Central provides reports on downloads. It alerts the admin when users use their personal computers. The product is also flexible. 

The tool needs to improve its pricing. 

I have been using the product for one and a half years. 

Sophos Central is stable. It never breaks down. 

My company has 170 users for the product. 

The technical team is very flexible and responds fast. I encountered an issue when my CEO wanted me to have admin access with a simple, one-time, secure code. They needed to repair my account and provide a new secure code to achieve this. I contacted Sophos support in the UK, and they responded promptly. The entire process was completed within two hours. 

Sophos Central's deployment is easy. When you sign in with your domain, you create a user associated with your domain name. The license package is then purchased from Sophos under your domain name. If you install the application on your laptop, the organization can access it because the domain is for the organization.

The product is expensive. However, you can get discounts for over 100 users. 

For anyone looking to use the solution, I would first ask the desired level of security. Do you want high control over your users and employees, monitoring their downloads and internet access, or are you simply looking to scan files for malware? Depending on their security needs, I would recommend Sophos Central, especially if they want security, including email protection software.

I rate it a ten 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.

The solution is used to create intelligent policies and users, and to manage bandwidth. You can also use it to deploy wireless access points. I use it to deploy the access points and also control them, linking it with my active directory for authentication purposes.

The most valuable feature is that it protects my IT infrastructure from attacks.

SSID authentication has to be improved. 

I have been using Sophos Central since 2021. 

It is a highly stable solution. I rate the stability a nine out of ten. 

The scalability is good. Ninety users are using the solution. I rate the scalability a nine out of ten. 

The initial setup is easy. 

It is an affordable solution. 

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.