Sophos Offers Partners New Complete Security Suites

Sophos   introduced new Complete Security Suites on Tuesday: Web Protection, Data Protection, and Complete Security.  According to Sophos, these suites offer Sophos partners the solutions   required to help their clients address the "evolving security challenges IT departments are facing due the “consumerization” of IT, the rise of advanced persistent threats, and the increase in malware."

“We recognize that partners are operating in a competitive environment, so they need tools that will help them meet their clients’ demands for stronger security systems,” said John Shaw, vice president product management Sophos.  "With our suites, customers know it’s always Sophos securing them, and they can be confident that they will be backed by both our industry-leading support and our excellent partners.”

Reasons for a Suite

• Supposedly everything will work together
• Ease of licensing
• Simplified management
• Usually provides substantial cost savings over purchasing functionality separately 
• One stop shopping 
• A con – companies will usually not get “best of breed” for some of the components

The Sophos Complete Security Suite  is their Uber Suite, combining: endpoint protection (including Macs), email protection (spam, viruses and to control sensitive date), encryption (full-disk, email, file, and folder), web protection at the gateway and endpoint, and mobile controls (IOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows mobile devices).  A virtual appliance is included.  

Sophos Data protection Suite - Take out the web and mobile control from the Complete Security Suite.  A virtual appliance is included. 

Sophos Web Protection Suite - Take out email, encryption, and mobile control from the Complete Protection Suite. 

The suites also include support, free security updates, and software upgrades.

To view a comparison of the suites:

http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/complete/comparison.aspx

Companies evaluating the Web Protection and Data Protection Suites may want to consider licensing the Complete Security Suite, instead.  At the 200-seat level, the premium is just a little over 21% on a 3-year contract.

About Some of  the Other Major Vendors

• McAfee has ½ dozen endpoint business solutions, nothing   as comprehensive as Sophos, three for SaaS and only one offers encryption.  http://shop.mcafee.com/ProductRecommender.aspx
• Symantec – doesn’t offer a comprehensive suite for SMB’s – though they do offer a cloud endpoint as well as the r standard endpoint solution http://www.symantec.com/solutions/smallbusiness/
• Trend Micro offers three flavors of internet security suites for SMB’s – including a hosted one http://buyonline.trendmicro.com/store/trendsb/en_US/home
• Kaspersky offers three flavors of suite protection for businesses – none seems to be as comprehensive as Sophos’ new offering http://usa.kaspersky.com/store/kaspersky-business-software/compare-products
• ESET   has an ESET Smart Security solution for that includes Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange server.  Not  as comprehensive as the Sophos solution.  http://www.eset.com/us/business/smb/
• Check Point doesn’t usually come to mind when people talk about internet security.  They offer a couple of cloud based services for SMBs.  The   thing about these though is that you need to license their premium package to get antivirus, antispam, application control, and URL filtering protection.  http://www.checkpoint.com/smb/check-point-cloud/index.html

Sophos also offers a trio of solutions for businesses with less than 50 employees.  Nonetheless, their Complete Security Suite raises the bar versus their competitors. 

But what about home users?  Sophos is more of a business play.  They do offer a free endpoint product for Mac home users - Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition.

Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK.  www.sophos.com