Sophos Endpoint Security and Control 10 – Sophos Beta

Sophos currently has their Sophos Endpoint Security and Control 10 offering in beta. Improvements in the product they’re promoting include:

Sophos Endpoint Security Endpoint and Control

• New technologies that will improve scanning performance and web-based malware detection rates. Provide the ability to filter inappropriate websites whether your users are on or off your network
• Boost performance, which results in faster boot-up scanning and improved malware detection accuracy
• Enhance web-based malware protection with browser independent scanning
• Identify computers missing patches for vulnerabilities being exploited by the latest threats

How Has Sophos Been Performing in Tests

They are 9/10 in the last Virus Bulletin VB100 Awards tests they have been participating g in http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archive/vendor?id=1

Scored just below 90% in Reactive Detection and about 80% for Proactive Detection in Virus Bulletin’s December 2010 – June 2011 RAP Test http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/rap-index.xml

Was certified in Q1 2011 on Windows 7 by AV-test.org http://www.av-test.org/certifications

Received an Advanced Rating (2 stars) in AV-comparatives.org On-demand Detection of Malicious Software in February http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/stories/test/ondret/avc_od_feb2011.pdf . This was out of 3 stars. They were not at the top among the two star recipients.

For more information or to download the beta, go to http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/beta.aspx

Sophos is a B2B focused company, though they do offer a free download for Mac products. They’ve invested internally in “the cloud” offering solutions for live antivirus, URL filtering, and spam filtering technologies.

Early in July, Sophos completed their acquisition of Astaro, which has allowed them to broaden their internet security portfolio and buy some market share. http://www.sophos.com/en-us/press-office/press-releases/2011/07/sophos-broadens-security-portfolio-with-completion-of-astaro-acquisition.aspx

Sophos had sold a majority stake of the company to Apax Partners for $830 million last year http://kensek.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-year-of-security-acquisitions.html Funds like this can help finance a lot of purchases. If you’re not going IPO (initial public offering), this is another way to get cash.

The usual suspects, McAfee, Panda, Avast, Avira, AVG Technologies, G Data, among others, will be announcing their betas over the coming months

Also in Beta (Consumer Products)

• Webroot has Webroot Cloud Antivirus in beta at http://www.webroot.com/customerSupport/betaRegistration.php
• F-Secure currently has F-Secure Internet Security 2012 in beta at http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA-Labs/beta-programs/home-users-beta/IS2012beta/
• Trend Micro Maximum Security 2012 and others at https://www.trendbeta.com/pages/main
• Norton Internet Security 2012 and Anti-Virus 2012 beta http://us.norton.com/beta/index.jsp
• BitDefender Total Security 2012 http://beta2012.bitdefender.com