New lateral movement protection exposes blind spots on network switches or LAN segments with innovative Sophos Synchronized Security technology
OXFORD, U.K. — November 28, 2018 —

by sharing intelligence between the firewall and endpoints and automatically isolating infected systems is critical for every organization today,” said Schiappa. “Unfortunately, many business environments could have blind spots on their network switches or LAN segments, and these can become secret launch pads for attacks. The new features in Sophos XG Firewall prevents threats from spreading, even where the firewall doesn’t have direct control over traffic.”

Lateral Movement Protection is enabled through synchronized security

The Sophos XG Firewall automatically interacts with Sophos’ endpoint products, including its new Intercept X Advanced with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), to deliver this new layer of protection. These essential security anchors connect via the Security Heartbeat in Sophos’ Synchronized Security technology. This creates an intelligent solution that can proactively predict and protect against threats, detect and prevent further infection by automatically isolating machines, and remediate the infection. Security Heartbeat technology enables the automatic isolation of high-risk endpoints from other endpoints on the same broadcast domain or network segment.

“Our ingenious and aggressive cybercriminal adversaries are vigilant in developing new threats, leveraging exploits or manually attacking organizations themselves; the breaching of a weak point in a network followed by lateral movement and credential elevation is an increasing common playbook of the day,” said Frank Dickson, research vice president, Security Products, IDC. “By connecting network and endpoint intelligence through Security Heartbeat, Sophos has implemented an innovative and significant feature to identify and mitigate lateral movement-centric cyberattacks within seconds, automating the prevention of a threat spreading by isolating the endpoint. Essentially, Intercept X is strengthened with Sophos XG Firewall network-based enforcement to create a more integrated and synergist approach to cyber defense for businesses, easing the administration burden for cyber security professionals."

“A few years ago, when everyone was talking about the need for best-in-breed point products to create a layered approach, Sophos was pioneering Synchronized Security and revolutionized the cybersecurity market with its Security Heartbeat solution. In today’s world of constant and changing cyberthreats, having endpoint and network products communicating with each other and sharing intelligence is more important than ever,” said Brandon Vancleeve, vice president, Pine Cove Consulting, a Sophos Partner in Bozeman, Montana. “The new lateral movement protection is a huge enhancement to what was already impressive in Sophos’ Synchronized Security. Now, the XG Firewalls and endpoint protection will be able to isolate machines within their own subnet. This is an important development that will only improve our customers’ security posture, allowing them instant visibility into threats beyond the network. Most of our customers have multiple LAN Segments, so the new detection adds to what we consider the best protection available on the market.”

Additional new and enhanced features in Sophos XG Firewall include:

  • Protection Enhancements
  • Deeper, broader IPS coverage with increased granularity in patterns
  • JavaScript cryptojacking protection
  • Sandstorm Sandboxing Enhancements
    • Intercept X integration to identify zero-day threats before they enter the network
    • Deep behavioural, network and memory analysis with machine learning, CryptoGuard, and exploit detection
  • Networking Enhancements
    • New Sophos Connect IPSec VPN client with support for Synchronized Security
  • Education Features
    • Chromebook client authentication support for user-based policy and reporting
    • User/group policy support for SafeSearch and YouTube restrictions

Availability

Sophos XG Firewall is available from registered Sophos partners worldwide. A free trial of XG Firewall is available today. The ability to manage XG Firewall from the cloud management platform Sophos Central will be available Dec. 8 through an Early Access Program. Additional information about the XG Firewall can be found on Sophos.com.

 

Über Sophos

Sophos ist ein weltweit führender und innovativer Anbieter fortschrittlicher Sicherheitslösungen zur Abwehr von Cyberangriffen. Das Unternehmen übernahm Secureworks im Februar 2025 und brachte damit zwei Pioniere zusammen, die die Cybersicherheitsbranche mit ihren innovativen, nativen und KI-optimierten Dienstleistungen, Technologien und Produkten neu definiert haben. Sophos ist der größte, reine Anbieter von Managed Detection and Response Services (MDR) und unterstützt mehr als 28.000 Organisationen. Zusätzlich zu MDR und anderen Dienstleistungen umfasst das komplette Portfolio von Sophos branchenführende Endpunkt-, Netzwerk-, E-Mail- und Cloud-Sicherheitslösungen, die über die Sophos-Central-Plattform zusammenarbeiten und sich für bestmöglichen Schutz kontinuierlich anpassen. Secureworks bietet das innovative, marktführende Taegis XDR/MDR, Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR), SIEM-Funktionen der nächsten Generation, Managed Risk und ein umfassendes Angebot an Beratungsdienstleistungen. Sophos vertreibt all diese Lösungen über Reseller-Partner, Managed Service Provider (MSPs) sowie Managed Security Service Provider (MSSPs) und schützt damit mehr als 600.000 Organisationen weltweit vor Phishing, Ransomware, Datendiebstahl sowie anderer alltäglicher und staatlich initiierter Cyberkriminalität. Die Lösungen stützen sich auf historische und Echtzeit-Bedrohungsdaten von Sophos X-Ops sowie der neu hinzugefügten Counter Threat Unit (CTU). Der Hauptsitz von Sophos befindet sich in Oxford, U.K. Weitere Informationen unter www.sophos.de.