Sophos introduces 6th generation SG Series security gateway appliances

Sophos has announced a major refresh of its network security gateway hardware with the new Sophos SG Series of appliances in Singapore. The 6th generation of Sophos security gateways run 4th generation Intel Core processors, deliver up to four times the speed of the previous unified threat management (UTM) generation appliances, bringing simplicity to security for small and medium businesses (SMBs) and mid-market organisations*.

According to a Sophos survey conducted by Ponemon Institute, which surveyed 2,000 respondents globally, two main challenges SMBs face in maintaining their security posture are insufficient budgets (42%) and lack of in-house expertise (33%). Many SMBs also do not have a clear owner responsible for cybersecurity.

“SMBs in Singapore increasingly ride on technology trends such as bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and cloud computing for productivity, while mid-sized organisations struggle with data overload and not knowing what security solutions best fits their needs,” said Gerhard Eschelbeck, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President at Sophos. 

“Such technologies introduce new attack vectors and security risks for SMBs and mid-sized organisations, as their security management and awareness remain nascent. The new Sophos SG Series will prove to be a good return-on-investment, as it is not only affordable, makes up for their lack of IT expertise and saves time with easy and flexible deployment.”

The Sophos SG Series appliances feature the latest Sophos UTM 9.2 operating system, featuring over 150 enhancements including new advanced threat protection and SPX email encryption functionality. Version 9.2 can also be deployed on Intel compatible servers as virtual appliances and in the cloud using Amazon Web Services.

The 1U appliances are available in the mid-range 200, 300 and 400 models. They all deliver over 10 Gbps firewall throughput to handle the demands of multi-layered protection. They also include a multi-function LCD display for a quick status check and performing basic administrative tasks directly on the appliance. 

“The new SG Series appliances are the fastest and most flexible UTM and next-gen firewall (NGFW) devices we’ve ever produced, as proven in recent independent testing,” added Eschelbeck. “Sophos has been able to see dramatic performance improvements by unlocking Intel’s core processor capabilities to make fast, intelligent decisions.”

The 200, 300, 400 and 500 models of SG series are now available from Sophos authorised distributors and resellers. The 100 models will be available from October 2014.

*Sophos defines mid-market organisations as those with 100 to about 1,000 staff. Smaller organisations would have under 100 employees.