New XGS Series Desktop Firewalls and SFOS v21 – Sophos News

Sophos has announced the launch of two significant releases for its Firewall products aimed at enhancing network security for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and branch offices. The releases include the new XGS Series desktop models and Sophos Firewall OS v21, both designed to deliver improved performance, efficiency, and advanced threat protection.

The XGS Series introduces nine new desktop firewall models that incorporate a highly efficient architecture, claiming to provide up to two times better overall performance compared to previous iterations. These models utilize enhanced acceleration features from the newly launched Sophos Firewall OS v21, which results in a remarkable threefold increase in IPsec VPN throughput. This performance upgrade is crucial for safeguarding networks against emerging encrypted and zero-day threats.

In terms of power efficiency, the new XGS models achieve up to 50% lower power consumption than their predecessors, enhancing the total cost of ownership (TCO) while maintaining high performance. Furthermore, the introduction of four fanless models ensures quieter operation, catering to environments where noise reduction is essential.

The threat protection capabilities of the XGS Series have also seen significant advancement, with an improvement of 2.7 to 4 times in throughput tests, positioning Sophos as a leader in the competitive security landscape. Additionally, the new models enable high-speed connectivity, featuring 2.5 GE interfaces on all units, Wi-Fi 6 support on selected models, and optional 5G modules for added redundancy and failover in SD-WAN environments.

Accompanying the hardware improvements, Sophos Firewall OS v21 introduces several new features, including Active Threat Response capabilities enhanced with third-party threat feeds targeting specific sectors like healthcare and education. This allows for automated responses to threats using specialized intelligence, thus extending protection measures.

OS v21 also enhances scalability and performance for key functionalities such as IPsec VPN, high availability, authentication, and web protection. The upgrade process from existing XG or XGS Series devices has been streamlined, allowing for seamless migrations through any-to-any backup and restore functionalities and port mapping support.

Management improvements in OS v21 include a refreshed interface, easier network object management, and integrated support for Let’s Encrypt certificates. The zero-touch deployment feature, introduced in the previous release, is now included, facilitating easy setup in Sophos Central and enabling drop-ship deployments to branch locations.

For current users of the XG or SG Series appliances, transitioning to the XGS Series is necessary to utilize the advancements in OS v21. The upgrade is designed to be straightforward, ensuring continuity in service and security as clients evolve to the newer models.

Sophos maintains its reputation for excellence in customer service and satisfaction, continuously delivering value throughout the entire product lifecycle. For further details, customers are encouraged to consult their local Sophos partners or relevant resources on the Sophos website.