Cyfer Tech Blog

Celebrating Sophos’ Leadership: Cyfer Tech’s Pride as a Gold Partner 

We are thrilled to announce that Sophos has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Modern Endpoint Security for Small Businesses 2024! This recognition underscores Sophos’ commitment to providing top-tier endpoint security solutions, and we at Cyfer Tech are proud to be a Gold Partner with such an esteemed industry leader. 

Sophos: A Trusted Solution for Small Businesses 

Sophos’ achievement in the IDC MarketScape acknowledges its dedication to addressing the unique security needs of small businesses. The report emphasizes the challenges these organizations face in maintaining robust cybersecurity, often due to limited resources and a lack of in-house security expertise. As IDC’s research vice president, Michael Suby, points out, Sophos is an excellent choice for small businesses looking for comprehensive security without the need for extensive internal resources. 

Why Sophos Stands Out 

Sophos’ Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service is one of the standout offerings that contribute to this recognition. With over 20,000 customers already using Sophos MDR, small businesses can rely on 24/7 monitoring, incident response, and expert guidance to ensure they stay protected from evolving threats. This proactive approach helps reduce the risk of security incidents and data breaches that could be devastating for small businesses. 

Sophos’ innovative protection capabilities also play a key role in its leadership status. The IDC MarketScape highlights Sophos’ adaptive attack protection, critical attack warning, and data protection and recovery features. These advanced technologies ensure that even in the face of complex attacks, Sophos customers can maintain a strong security posture. 

Cyfer Tech: Partnering with Excellence 

As a Gold Partner with Sophos, Cyfer Tech is dedicated to bringing these cutting-edge security solutions to businesses of all sizes. We understand that cybersecurity can be overwhelming, especially for small businesses with limited resources. That’s why we are here to help. Our team is trained and certified to deploy and manage Sophos solutions, allowing your IT department to focus on core business activities without the burden of managing cybersecurity. 

Join the Sophos-Cyfer Tech Partnership 

If you’re looking to strengthen your business’s security and take the pressure off your IT department, contact Cyfer Tech today. We’re excited to share the benefits of our partnership with Sophos and demonstrate why it’s a trusted leader in the industry. From endpoint protection to advanced MDR services, we’ve got you covered. 

To learn more about Sophos’ leadership check out the 2024 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Modern Endpoint Security for Small Businesses. And if you’re ready to explore how Sophos and Cyfer Tech can help protect your business, reach out to us for a personalized consultation. 

Let’s secure your business’s future together! 

Our Tips for Hardening Your Sophos Firewall

Here are some recommendations to harden the overall security of your Sophos Firewall. 

Keep Your Firmware Updated and Hotfixes Enabled – Every update to Sophos Firewall OS includes important security enhancements and, in some cases, important Hotfixes are released between updates. Ensure you keep your firmware up to date and have Hotfixes enabled under Backup & Firmware > Firmware. 

Limit Firewall Device Access – It’s critically important that you disable non-essential services on the WAN interface. In particular, HTTPS and SSH admin services. To manage your Firewall remotely, Sophos Central offers a much more secure solution than enabling WAN admin access. If the User Portal is not being used, we also recommend deactivating this service on the WAN as well. 

Check your local services access control under Administration > Device Access and ensure no items are checked for the WAN Zone unless absolutely necessary: 

Lock Down Remote Access to Other Network Systems – Do NOT expose any systems directly to the internet using NAT or Firewall Rules that allow inbound connections. This includes IoT devices. Review all your NAT and Firewall Rules and ensure there are no WAN to LAN rules. Use VPN or ZTNA only for remote administration and access for internal systems. For IoT devices, shut down any devices that require direct access via NAT and do not offer a cloud proxy service. 

Use Multi-Factor Authentication and Strong Passwords – Enable Multi-Factor Authentication or One Time Password (OTP) and enforce strong passwords which will protect your Firewall from unauthorized access either from stolen credentials or brute force hacking attempts. 

Use Role-Based Administration – Take advantage of Sophos Firewall’s granular role-based administration profiles to limit access for administrators of the firewall. Provide read-only access to administrators that don’t absolutely need control over various firewall functions. 

Enable TLS Inspection and Intrusion Prevention – IPS can help protect against intrusions and Denial of Service attacks, but only if encrypted traffic is inspected. Enable TLS inspection and IPS and ensure it’s configured to automatically update, and DoS protection is applied. 

Enable Firewall System Notifications – Sophos Firewall can be configured to alert administrators of system-generated events. Administrators should review the list of events and ensure that key events are monitored to ensure that issues and events can be acted upon promptly. Sophos recommends that you adopt a regular triage and investigation routine to make sure that no events are missed or left to linger too long. Notifications are sent via either email and/or to SNMP traps. To configure Notifications, navigate to Configure > System services and select the Notifications list tab.

Configure Country Blocking – As a security best practice you can further narrow your attack surface area by limiting exposure to regions you don’t do business with using country blocking

Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Defense with Sophos Managed Risk Powered by Tenable

As our digital world becomes increasingly interconnected, the evolving threat landscape poses ongoing challenges for organizations seeking to safeguard their critical assets. With cyber adversaries becoming more sophisticated, proactive cybersecurity measures are paramount. Sophos Managed Risk, powered by Tenable, provides a comprehensive solution to mitigate cybersecurity risks and fortify your organization’s resilience against emerging threats. 

 Understanding Your External Attack Surface 

Nowadays organizations’ attack surfaces extend beyond traditional IT boundaries, encompassing internet-facing assets that may be overlooked. These assets serve as prime targets for threat actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities for malicious purposes. Shockingly, a third of ransomware attacks originate from exploited unpatched vulnerabilities, underscoring the critical importance of vulnerability management. 

Superior Cybersecurity Outcomes Delivered as a Service 

Sophos Managed Risk provides unparalleled visibility into your external attack surface, enabling you to identify high-priority vulnerabilities and potential attack vectors. By leveraging automated risk-based prioritization, you can focus your efforts on addressing the most critical threats, minimizing the risk of disruptive cyber attacks. Moreover, Sophos Managed Risk offers continuous monitoring and guidance from Sophos experts, empowering organizations to enhance their security posture without straining internal resources. 

A Managed Service by Vulnerability Experts 

With Sophos Managed Risk, organizations can free up resource-stretched IT and security teams to focus on strategic initiatives. Their fully managed service is delivered by a dedicated team of Sophos experts, including Tenable-certified vulnerability analysts. By entrusting your vulnerability management to Sophos experts, you can ensure comprehensive coverage and proactive threat mitigation. 

Collaboration with Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) 

Sophos Managed Risk seamlessly integrates with the Sophos MDR service, providing enhanced protection against emerging threats. In the event of a high-risk zero-day vulnerability discovery, Sophos Managed Risk conducts scans to identify potential exploits and promptly notifies you, enabling proactive response measures. 

Powered by Tenable Technology 

Sophos Managed Risk leverages Tenable’s industry-leading exposure management technology to deliver unparalleled cybersecurity capabilities. Tenable’s innovative products, powered by extensive research and AI-driven risk-based prioritization, empower organizations to effectively analyze external threats and safeguard their assets. 

In conclusion, Sophos Managed Risk offers organizations a proactive approach to cybersecurity risk management, enabling them to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors. By partnering with Sophos and leveraging Tenable’s cutting-edge technology, organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and safeguard their digital assets against evolving threats.