Sophos is the cybersecurity brand of choice for Dubai SMBs requiring comprehensive network protection that goes beyond firewall packet filtering to integrate endpoint security, email security, and mobile device management under a single cloud management console. The defining Sophos capability is Synchronized Security — the automatic, real-time communication between the Sophos XGS firewall and Sophos Intercept X endpoint agents on every PC and server, enabling the network and endpoint to share threat intelligence and automatically isolate compromised devices without requiring manual IT intervention. We supply, deploy, and manage Sophos XGS firewalls, Intercept X endpoint protection, and the full Sophos Central product family across Dubai and the UAE.
Traditional network security treats the firewall and endpoint protection as independent systems: the firewall inspects and blocks traffic at the network perimeter, and the antivirus/EDR agent on each endpoint detects and blocks malware on the device. These two systems typically have no communication — when an endpoint becomes infected, the firewall continues to allow that device's network traffic because it has no information that the device is now a threat source. Sophos Synchronized Security changes this architecture. Sophos Intercept X agents on Windows PCs and servers continuously report their security health status to the Sophos XGS firewall through the Security Heartbeat mechanism. If an endpoint is compromised — ransomware begins encrypting files, a script executes malicious code, or a C2 connection is established — the Intercept X agent immediately changes its Security Heartbeat from green to red. The Sophos XGS firewall sees this status change and automatically isolates the compromised device from the rest of the corporate network within seconds, preventing lateral movement while the endpoint is cleaned.
This automated incident containment response — which would typically require 30 to 90 minutes of manual investigation and firewall rule changes by a security analyst — happens in under 10 seconds through Synchronized Security. For Dubai SMBs without a dedicated security operations team, Synchronized Security effectively automates the most time-critical phase of ransomware containment without requiring 24/7 security analyst staffing.
Sophos XGS 107 and XGS 107W (with built-in WiFi) for SOHO and small office environments up to 25 users. XGS 207 and XGS 310 for SMB offices of 25–150 users, featuring Xstream TLS inspection — hardware-accelerated TLS 1.3 decryption for full HTTPS traffic inspection without performance degradation. XGS 430, XGS 530, and XGS 750 for mid-enterprise environments of 150–500+ users with multi-gigabit throughput and high-availability failover support. All XGS series appliances run SFOS (Sophos Firewall OS) and are managed through both local web console and Sophos Central cloud firewall management with multi-site Central Firewall Management for MSPs and multi-site organisations.
Sophos Intercept X Advanced is the endpoint protection component of the Synchronized Security ecosystem, deploying on Windows PCs, laptops, and servers. Intercept X uses a deep learning neural network (trained on hundreds of millions of malware samples) for static file analysis that detects malicious files without relying on signature updates — including zero-day malware and novel ransomware variants. CryptoGuard anti-ransomware technology detects and reverses file encryption by ransomware on the endpoint before it spreads. DeepLearning detection does not require an internet connection to function — endpoints remain protected when offline or remote. The Security Heartbeat mechanism integrates Intercept X with Sophos XGS firewalls for Synchronized Security automated isolation.
Sophos Central is the single-pane-of-glass cloud management platform for the entire Sophos product portfolio. From Sophos Central, IT administrators manage Sophos XGS firewall policies, Intercept X endpoint agent deployments, Sophos Email, Sophos Mobile MDM, and Sophos Cloud Optix security posture — all in a unified console accessible from any browser without VPN. Sophos Central's multi-tenancy architecture supports a single MSP partner managing multiple customer accounts from one login, with tenant-level isolation and independent policy management per customer. Alert and incident management is centralised — when Synchronized Security isolates a compromised device, the alert appears in Sophos Central with full incident context for the IT administrator to review and remediate.
Sophos SD-RED (Remote Ethernet Device) devices provide secure site-to-site connectivity for branch offices and remote worker home offices without requiring technical VPN configuration at the remote end. The SD-RED 20 is a small plug-and-play device that connects to the internet at the remote site, automatically establishes an encrypted RED tunnel to the headquarters Sophos XGS firewall, and extends the corporate network to the branch as if the branch were directly connected — including all firewall, IPS, and content filtering policies of the headquarters XGS. SD-RED is ideal for small retail branches, construction site offices, and remote worker home setups where the remote user cannot configure a VPN but requires full corporate security policy enforcement.
Sophos Email provides advanced email threat protection for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace through MX-record-based routing — all inbound email is delivered to Sophos Email for anti-spam, anti-phishing, impersonation protection, and attachment sandboxing before delivery to the end user's mailbox. Sophos Email's Time-of-Click URL protection rewrites links in delivered emails and checks the link's destination at the moment the user clicks — catching URLs that become malicious after initial delivery. Integrated with Sophos Central, Sophos Email threat alerts correlate with endpoint and firewall security events for a unified threat picture.
Sophos Mobile is an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution for iOS, Android, Windows 10/11, and macOS devices managed from Sophos Central — enabling unified endpoint management of corporate and BYOD mobile devices alongside Windows endpoints. Enrolment is user self-service via QR code. Intercept X for Server extends the Synchronized Security deep learning and CryptoGuard capabilities to Windows Server and Linux server environments, protecting on-premise servers from server-targeted ransomware and fileless attacks. Server Lockdown (whitelisting) prevents any unauthorised application from running on production servers — a critical protection for file servers and ERP systems.
Sophos XGS and Intercept X licensing is subscription-based with multiple protection tiers (Standard, Advanced, Advanced with XDR). The correct license tier depends on the organisation's security posture requirements, industry compliance requirements (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, DIFC Data Protection), and whether the IT team will manage the Sophos environment independently or require managed detection and response (MDR) from a service provider. We assess the environment size (user count, server count, internet bandwidth, number of sites) to select the correct XGS appliance model with appropriate headroom for growth and recommend the appropriate license tier.
Sophos XGS firewall deployment begins with a network topology review and IP addressing documentation. We configure WAN interface(s) with the ISP connection, create internal LAN/VLAN zones and the corresponding DHCP/DNS services, configure Sophos's Xstream SD-WAN with primary and failover WAN links, set up IPS, application control, web content filtering, and TLS inspection policies matched to the organisation's acceptable use requirements. For organisations replacing an existing firewall (Cisco ASA, Fortinet, SonicWall), we minimise change-window downtime by pre-staging the Sophos XGS with the new configuration before the cutover evening.
Intercept X endpoint agent deployment is managed through Sophos Central. We create the Sophos Central account, configure the endpoint protection policy, and deploy the Intercept X installer via Group Policy (for domain-joined Windows environments) or manual installation. We then activate the Security Heartbeat between the Intercept X agents and the Sophos XGS firewall in Sophos Central — configuring the firewall's Security Heartbeat enforcement rules to restrict network access for devices with red heartbeat status. Post-deployment, we review the Sophos Central dashboard to confirm all endpoints are visible, healthy, and reporting correct heartbeat status.
Sophos has exceptionally strong distributor and reseller presence in the UAE — Mindware and Redington UAE are both major Sophos distributors, meaning XGS appliances and subscription licenses are readily available in-country for fast deployment. Sophos Intercept X's deep learning malware detection has consistently ranked at or near the top in AV-Comparatives and SE Labs independent endpoint protection evaluations — giving IT managers in Dubai objective third-party evidence to present to management when justifying the Sophos investment. The combination of a well-priced UAE-stocked firewall appliance, a best-in-class endpoint agent, and the unique Synchronized Security automation between them makes Sophos the strongest value proposition in the Dubai SMB cybersecurity market for organisations that want enterprise-level protection without enterprise complexity.
Sophos XGS 207 or XGS 310 for Dubai SMB offices of 25–150 users. IPS, web filtering, and application control as a complete UTM appliance. Synchronized Security with Intercept X endpoint for automated ransomware containment — no dedicated security analyst required for basic incident response.
Sophos SD-RED devices for each remote outlet or branch office connecting back to a headquarters Sophos XGS firewall. All remote sites enforce headquarters firewall policy. Central Firewall Management in Sophos Central for IT management of all branch firewalls from one console without site visits.
Sophos XGS firewall with patient data network segmentation (clinical VLAN isolated from guest WiFi). Intercept X for Server protecting electronic health record servers with Server Lockdown whitelisting. Sophos Email for incoming patient communication email gateway threat filtering.
Sophos XGS with TLS inspection for HTTPS traffic visibility required by financial services compliance frameworks. Intercept X Advanced with XDR (Extended Detection and Response) for full endpoint activity timeline logging required by DFSA and DIFC Data Protection Law incident investigation obligations.
Sophos XGS web filtering with age-appropriate content categories for school environments. Student VLAN isolation with restricted internet access policies. Staff VLAN with full access. Mobile Device Management via Sophos Mobile for school-issued student tablets and staff laptops.
Sophos Central MSP multi-tenant console for IT service providers managing Sophos security for multiple Dubai SMB customers from a single login. Per-customer licensing, reporting, and alert management with customer isolation. Sophos MDR (Managed Detection and Response) available as an escalation tier for MSPs requiring 24/7 SOC behind their Sophos deployments.
Tell us your user count, number of sites, and current security setup. We'll recommend the right Sophos XGS model and Intercept X license tier and provide a full supply, deployment, and configuration quote.
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