Sophos, a leading security solutions provider, has launched the Sophos Cloud Web Gateway, a cloud-based secure web gateway that delivers advanced protection for users, devices and data across multiple operating systems, regardless of their location.

The addition of secure web gateway to Sophos Cloud integrates technology from Mojave Networks, which Sophos acquired in October last year, said a statement.

The gateway will provide protection from the latest malware and phishing threats, granular policy management, advanced content filtering and big-data web traffic analytics – all without the need for physical appliances, it said.

Access to a global network of data centres will make the comprehensive analysis of data traffic for content and security compliance fast and transparent for the end user.

IT managers will be able to pinpoint ‘at risk’ users or devices through activity, behaviors and usage monitoring with advanced alerts, warnings and notifications.  

Granular policies can be set by device, by user or by group, and tamper protection prevents the accidental or intentional changing of settings, keeping even rogue users compliant.  

Bill Lucchini, senior vice president and general manager for Sophos Cloud Security business unit, said: “In today’s world employees are mobile and work across multiple devices.  Securing the perimeter or a single device is no longer sufficient.  Sophos Cloud Endpoint and Mobile products cover employees wherever they work and on whatever device they are using.  

“Now, with the addition of a powerful web gateway Sophos Cloud provides a full suite of enterprise-grade security solutions designed for the mid-market.”

Rob Westervelt, research manager at IDC, said: “Sophos' unified defense vision and the benefits that the cloud managed offering gives to SMBs with limited IT resources, will be well received in the marketplace. Ease of use is also a primary focus for Sophos, and one that customers and partners both attest is well-received.”

With the introduction of the new Sophos Cloud Web Gateway and the Sophos Web Appliance, IT managers can get great web security from Sophos whether they choose an appliance or cloud model for their business, said the statement.

The latest version of Sophos Web Appliance was recently released with a new proxy engine with up-to seven times the scanning performance on the same hardware and improved granular controls over features like chat, games and comments to manage the use of popular social media apps like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, it said.

In addition, it will now provide enhanced user reporting including snap-shot and detailed reports which show a chronological list of every website a user has visited over a day, week, month or longer, it added. - TradeArabia News Service