Sophos Central Reviews

For me, it's a great solution for endpoint management features like responding to threats and monitoring.

When I worked with large call centers, the most important thing was the device control feature. It provided reports on which devices were being used in the company area, and it prevented unauthorized devices from connecting to the computers. This was especially helpful because certain devices could be dangerous.

The most important feature is definitely the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) tool. It allows us to track malware and other incidents in our environment.

The product feels very complete in terms of providing information and functionality.

Maybe the license pricing could be improved.

I have been using it for a year and a half. 

I would rate the stability a ten out of ten. 

I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten.

I started with the on-premise version, then I switched to the cloud version when it became available. I've been using the cloud version for a year and a half now, and I much prefer it.

The cloud version is definitely easier to set up. The documentation online is also helpful, so we didn't have any trouble getting it up and running.

It was my first product tested in terms of antivirus and firewall. 

I strongly recommend the usage of this product. Have proper licenses in place. Sophos XG Firewall and Sophos Central because those are good products to use.

Overall, I would rate this solution a ten 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 Sophos Central to manage Sophos Endpoint integration and Sophos Firewall.

The platform provides smart integration between Sophos Endpoint and Firewall. It is easy to manage and configure. We do not require any technical assistance for integration. We can execute the process with the help of activation code.

There could be more integration included in the product.

I rate Sophos Central's stability a ten out of ten.

Sophos has a helpful support team. However, we have never contacted them.

The initial setup process of the cloud solution is easy. It is a two to three-step implementation and takes an hour to complete.

I rate Sophos Central a ten out of ten. I recommend it to others as it enables users to work with Sophos Endpoint and Firewall. We can manage the operation through one dashboard.

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.

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.

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. 

It acts as a central management platform that connects to all our mobile devices and laptops.

One of the standout features is its highly detailed and user-friendly graphical interface. In comparison to other device control software I've used, it provides a comprehensive and intuitive dashboard, and I can easily locate the information I need within the software by accessing the built-in help feature. Even users who are not familiar with Sophos can navigate the dashboard with ease.

Having a mobile app for Sophos Central would be a highly valuable addition. With the current hybrid work environment and travel requirements, having a mobile solution would greatly improve our ability to access and navigate Sophos Central on the go, enhancing the overall user experience and making it a more portable solution.

I've been working as an infrastructure engineer at my current organization for the past two years, but the organization has been using Sophos Central for about three to four years now.

Overall, it's a reliable and stable product.

It is indeed a scalable product. Whenever we required specific features or solutions, we engaged with Sophos sales and our trusted third-party provider. They have been instrumental in helping us scale up our existing solutions, whether it's related to firewalls, networking, or other technical aspects. The ease of scalability has been a notable benefit, allowing us to adapt to our evolving needs effectively. We have approximately two hundred users working with it.

The support service has been of good quality in my experience.

Our company primarily focuses on providing training services, with a specialization in firewall training. Our journey with Sophos began when we initially acquired Sophos firewalls. Subsequently, as we sought a comprehensive solution for managing various devices, including laptops, computers, and mobile devices used by our employees, we discovered Sophos Central Dashboards. This product offered the device control and management features we needed, complementing our existing use of Sophos UTM and firewalls.

The initial setup was relatively straightforward, and I found it to be less challenging compared to configuring other server software. I attribute this ease of setup to the well-structured and easy-to-follow documentation provided.

It's not considered a cheap solution and falls more in the moderate pricing category.

I would recommend exploring alternative solutions and assessing them to determine if Sophos Central is the right fit for your needs. While there may be other options available that could potentially be simpler, I still believe that Sophos is a strong choice. It has proven to be relatively easy to both install and configure, making it a viable and convenient option. Overall, I would rate it six 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.