Sophos has announced the latest version of its unified threat management (UTM) solution, UTM Connected. This release introduces expanded UTM managed endpoint protection with Web in Endpoint functionality, broader wireless coverage for large scale wireless deployments and higher performance networking. 
As the complexities of securing all networks have grown, so have the struggles for businesses to fully optimise the many point security solutions they have purchased. A UTM is the proven solution to address this problem, however most simply put layers of protection on a single appliance.
The introduction of Web in Endpoint functionality lets Sophos UTM go a stage further and make security layers communicate and combine to deliver more effective protection. This approach simplifies user experience and delivers a higher level of overall protection on which customers can rely.
“Small businesses face many of the same security challenges as do large enterprises – a distributed workforce and doing more with fewer resources,” says Charles Kolodgy, research VP, IDC.
“With Sophos UTM Connected, these businesses have a single consolidated security solution, one that allows them to deploy an endpoint client that synchronises with their gateway Web policy. Web security becomes easier to configure and stronger as a result.”
Through the integration of gateway, endpoint and cloud technology, Sophos UTM now provides administrators with full Web protection and control for endpoints roaming outside of the corporate network. As systems roam the globe, this integration enables complete oversight and security for endpoints as though they are in the office.
Policies can be updated and reporting data accessed in near real-time for every protected endpoint.
Sophos Web protection is backed by SophosLabs, the company’s global network of threat intelligence centres that identifies and protects against tens of thousands of infected URLs and hundreds of thousands of new variants of malicious code daily. Web in Endpoint is available at no extra cost to UTM Endpoint and Web Protection customers.
New UTM wireless capabilities enable businesses to extend wireless and accelerate VPN access faster and more securely. With wireless bridging and repeating support, Sophos access points reach further – capable of extending wireless range without the need for Ethernet cables. Sophos VPN functionality now also makes load balancing and failover of traffic between IPsec VPN tunnels simple to set-up.
“Web in Endpoint is a great example of solving a complex problem with a simple solution. Because Sophos has proven endpoint protection and secure Web gateway expertise, it is uniquely positioned to help IT administrators secure their roaming workforces – and having a single solution also makes it easier for Sophos partners to deploy security,” says Brett Myroff, CEO of Sophos distributor, NetXactics.