Sophos

Sophos is a global company that develops and sells security software itself. These include virus protection, data protection, encryption software, protection against spam, phishing, adware, spyware and malware for the corporate sector as well as universities and other public institutions.

History

Beginning of the 1980s developed the founders Jan Hruska and Peter Lammer first data encryption software for the British military. With the proliferation of computer viruses over the course of the 1980s focused both on this problem. They wanted to develop a virus scanner that works on all operating systems and only minor updates needed. From this idea the Virus Description Language (VDL ) on which up to now are based virus detection files for anti- virus products originated. In 1985 the two founded the company Sophos experts - the first anti- virus programs developed in Hruskas terraced house in Kidlington, UK.

In 2002, Sophos took over the Canadian company ActiveState and since then has solution for spam protection.

Since 2006, with the acquisition of the U.S. company ENDFORCE, Sophos has expanded its range of Network Access Control (NAC ), following to the areas of application control ( control of computer applications) and Device Management.

On 1 July 2009 Sophos completed the acquisition of the German IT security company Utimaco.

In July 2011, Sophos completed the acquisition of the Karlsruhe firewall specialist Astaro.

To date, the company Sophos is privately owned. Since 2007, there are two headquarters - in Abingdon near Oxford, UK and Boston, USA. There are also branches in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Hungary, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore. The German head office is located in Wiesbaden and directs the sales and technical support of the German DACH region.

Research

In Oxford, Boston, Vancouver and Sydney Sophos analyzes computer viruses and developed appropriate anti -malware programs.

Information on newly discovered malware are continuously published on the homepage. Sophos staff report and advised regularly blogs about IT security. The most famous among them is Graham Cluley.

Sphere of activity

Unlike other IT security companies like Kaspersky, McAfee or Symantec, the company has specialized in data protection, antivirus and antispam complete solutions for networks of businesses, universities and schools and government agencies.

Products

Main Products

• Sophos Unified Threat Management ( UTM): Complete protection in one product. Firewall and IPS, web application firewall, Mail Security, Web Security and Filtering, Wireless Management and Security, security for remote sites, Secure VPN Access for mobile workers, Endpointschutz
• Endpoint Protection: malware protection, firewall, application control, NAC and data encryption.
• Email Security and Data Protection: Anti- spam, malware protection and e-mail encryption.
• SafeGuard Enterprise: Encryption and DLP solution for protecting confidential data and compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
• Mobile Control: Mobile Device Management ( MDM) solution.

Free Tools

• Sophos Unified Threat Management (UTM ): For home users for free
• Schreckxikon ( as a PDF free, 120 pages): Viruses lexicon, the terms for computer and data security simply explained; with tips for IT protection, safe surfing and safe passwords.
• Sophos Anti -Rootkit: Detects existing Trojans, to hide the malware on the system, removes rootkits
• Sophos Free Encryption: Data encryption for mobile devices, PCs and e- mails.
• Endpoint Assessment Test: Review of the current security status
• Sophos Threat Detection Test: up to 30 days verify potential threats
• Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition: the world's first free antivirus solution with corporate quality for privately used Macintosh since November 2, 2010