What characterizes a next-gen firewall in Sophos products?

A next-gen firewall in Sophos products is characterized by its ability to integrate both traditional firewall capabilities and advanced security functions. This integration allows the firewall to not only filter traffic based on predefined rules but also to analyze and respond to more sophisticated threats leveraging features such as intrusion prevention, deep packet inspection, application control, and threat intelligence integration.

This multi-layered approach enhances security by providing a more comprehensive defense against a variety of cyber threats, making it essential in modern network environments where threats are continually evolving. The traditional model, which typically relies only on packet filtering and stateful inspection, is insufficient against today’s complex attack vectors. Hence, the integration of advanced capabilities is a defining feature of next-gen firewalls, enabling organizations to maintain robust security postures.