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SOPHOS Web Appliance Overview
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Efficient web gateway protection

The Sophos Web Appliance provides maximum protection for your web gateway with minimum administrative effort.
The WS1000 Web Appliance is a secure web gateway solution providing fully integrated protection against spyware, viruses, Trojans, worms, phishing, and unwanted or offensive web content. The WS1000 is built on a robust hardware platform, delivering high-capacity, high-availability security with unrivaled simplicity and control. Staying ahead of the rapid evolution of threats, the WS1000 keeps networks free of web-based threats and helps maintain network performance and employee productivity.


The core components of the WS1000 include:
Advanced threat discovery and protection: The WS1000 is powered by SophosLabs, a global network of threat detection and analysis centers. The network proactively scans billions of web pages a day, discovering more than 17,000 new sources of malware and over 15,000 new phishing sites each week. New threat definitions and malicious URLs are automatically downloaded to the appliance every five minutes, ensuring the most up-to-date protection available. Genotype® technology blocks families of viruses, providing protection against previously unseen threats even before specific signature-based detection is available. Behavioral Genotype Protection provides pre-execution host intrusion prevention (HIPS) without the need to install and manage a separate system. Genotype and Behavioral Genotype definitions are also downloaded automatically every five minutes.


Single-engine, risk-sensitive scanning for greater performance and no latency: Sophos’s award-winning scanning technology delivers complete protection against all web-based threats with a single engine, resulting in faster scans, no latency, and only one engine to update. Having just one point of policy enforcement also means you spend less time managing web gateway security.


Application filtering: The WS1000 enables greater control over costly bandwidth by blocking downloads of potentially unwanted applications, including dialers, remote administration tools, and system monitors. It also allows control over file types such as executables, streaming media, and ActiveX controls.


URL filtering: You can also easily implement category-based acceptable web-use policies that further reduce the risk of compromising your organization’s customer privacy, intellectual property, and compliance with regulations.


Monitoring and alerting: As a Managed Appliance, the WS1000 features built-in monitoring and alerting for easier management, quicker issue resolution, and enhanced peace of mind. More than 40 different settings and conditions are constantly monitored for peak performance. Alerts are sent both to the system administrator and to Sophos, so that corrective action can be executed and web security maintained. If further assistance is required, administrators can also take advantage of on-demand remote assistance and let Sophos support troubleshoot the appliance directly.


"Three clicks to anywhere" management console: Complementing these powerful technologies is a web-based management console that simplifies administrative tasks and provides better insight and control over web security. The management console is designed to provide instant access to relevant, actionable information so that administrators can make informed decisions about traffic levels, system performance, and browsing behavior.


Three clicks to anywhere

Built on a strict discipline of minimal navigation, every feature of the management console is no more than three clicks away, and command-line access is never required.
Management highlights

The Sophos Web Appliance offers a range of features that simplifies the management of secure web browsing:
  • A fully web-based console for quick and easy system management
  • Definable policies for controlling access by category and risk level
  • Powerful, relevant reporting on traffic, suspect computers, and malware trends
  • Microsoft Active Directory® integration for easy setup, policy enforcement, and authentication
  • Built-in hardware and software maintenance and alerting
  • Proactive "heartbeat" monitoring by Sophos to ensure uptime and security integrity
  • On-demand remote assistance available 24x7x365 for quicker issueresolution.

Core features and benefits

Feature Benefit
Platform-independent Easily fits into any existing network infrastructure
Unrivaled visibility into web-based threats The SophosLabs security network scans billions of web pages a day, looking for malware in more places than any other security vendor
Complete malware detection Blocks spyware, phishing, viruses, Trojans, worms, adware, and other malware, including "call-home" traffic from infected machines
Genotype and Behavioral Genotype proactive protection Blocks evolving malware variants and unknown threats before they can execute or install
High capacity Easily handles web traffic of up to 200 concurrent users on a single appliance
High performance Single-engine scanning detects and blocks threats faster and more efficiently than multiple-engine solutions
Regulatory compliance and productivity filtering Blocks access to offensive and illegal web content, and allows control over access to a wide range of other categories
Global protection Protects global organizations from web-based threats in multiple language message streams
Sophos Managed Appliance Reduces administrative burden, automates security and software updates, and provides remote system health monitoring for reliable, round-the-clock protection
Comprehensive support Includes 24x7x365 support for the duration of the software license, and Sophos can be contacted for one-to-one assistance at any time


Software components

The WS1000’s built-in software includes the following major components:
  • ophos full-spectrum scanning engine, protecting against spyware, viruses, and unwanted applications
  • Sophos URL filter
  • Management console and dashboard
  • System alerting and notification
  • Active Directory integration.
The WS1000 is built on a hardened Linux operating system (OS), optimized for the hardware platform and for the embedded Sophos software. Linux is an extremely stable and reliable OS, and offers excellent speed and performance for network security appliances. The Linux kernel has been optimized for maximum security and hacking prevention, with the absolute minimum number of ports kept open.


Hardware components

The WS1000 is engineered for small to mid-sized networks, built on a robust hardware platform that can handle up to 200 concurrent users. The appliance features the following hardware components on a dedicated 1U server:
  • ntel Pentium D Dual core 3.4 GHz processor
  • Two 160 GB, 7200 rpm SATA hard drives
  • 4 GB memory
  • 260 W, 110-240 V power supply.

To download the full Product Guide click here


Sophos is a world leader in IT security and control. We offer complete protection and control to business, education and government organisations - defending against known and unknown malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, and policy abuse, and providing comprehensive network access control (NAC). Our reliably engineered, easy-to-operate products protect over 100 million users in more than 150 countries. With over 20 years’ experience and a global network of threat analysis centres, the company responds rapidly to emerging threats and achieves the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry. Sophos is a global company with headquarters in Boston, MA, and Oxford, UK.


For further information on Sophos products, please speak to one of our sales representatives.
Telephone 0800 777-001 or e-mail Sales@sss.co.nz to request advice, brochures or pricing information.

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