Sophos XGS
Best-in-class TLS 1.3 inspection with single-pane operations
Sophos XGS combines Astaro's German UTM heritage with Cyberoam's identity-aware policy engine and Sophos's Synchronized Security automation. The Xstream architecture inspects TLS 1.3 traffic at line rate without crippling throughput, a problem that catches most other vendors at decryption scale. For UAE mid-market and enterprise environments, XGS regularly delivers the best balance of prevention, manageability, and total cost of ownership.
Founded
1985, Oxford UK
Heritage
Astaro + Cyberoam + Sophos
Management
Sophos Central (single pane)
Standout tech
Xstream TLS, Synchronized Security, RED Appliances, NDR Essentials included in firewall & unlimited free VPN.
Sophos Firewall Highlights
A firewall built for how threats actually move today
Most firewalls force you to choose between full inspection and full speed. The XGS does both, and then closes the gap between your firewall and your endpoints automatically.
100%
HTTPS traffic inspected without throughput penalty
Seconds
to automatic host isolation on endpoint compromise
1 console
for firewall, endpoint, email, MDR, Wi-Fi and workspace
TLS 1.3 inspection at line rate
Most NGFWs drop 60-80% of throughput the moment TLS inspection is enabled. Sophos offloads decryption into hardware-accelerated streams, so you inspect 100% of HTTPS traffic without needing a unit two sizes larger.
Synchronized security automation
When a Sophos endpoint detects a compromise, the firewall isolates that host from the network automatically, no SOAR playbook, no manual ticket. Lateral movement is closed in seconds, not hours.
Policies that follow the user, not the IP
Inherited from Cyberoam, every policy decision is tied to a user identity. Policies follow people across BYOD, VPN, and remote work, no rewrites when someone changes desks, devices, or locations.
One console for your entire security stack
Firewall, endpoints, email, MDR, Wi-Fi and workspace protection, managed from a single cloud console with one credential and one alert pipeline. For lean IT teams, this replaces three or four vendor portals overnight.
Branch sites with zero on-site IT
Sophos RED devices ship pre-configured and tunnel all branch traffic to your central XGS. Plug it in, and the same identity-based policies as HQ are instantly enforced, no local IT, no per-site licensing, no extra console.
Network detection built in, at no extra cost
NDR Essentials is included with every XGS. It monitors east-west and outbound traffic for lateral movement, C2 beacons, and slow-burn data exfiltration, the threats perimeter rules never catch, and surfaces them directly in Sophos Central.
Who should put Sophos Firewall on the shortlist
UAE mid-market companies (10–5,000 staff) that want enterprise NGFW capability without enterprise complexity
Existing Sophos endpoint customers who want to activate Synchronized Security automation
Lean IT teams that benefit from a single cloud console rather than four vendor portals
Organisations with high TLS-inspection requirements (compliance, DLP, ransomware C2 detection)
SMBs and branch offices needing zero-touch deployment via Sophos Central
Organizations having small branches looking for one time site-to-site VPN solutions can consider RED Appliances
Organizations that require extra visibility of the network and basic NDR functionality
Organizations who have multiple IPSEC or SSL VPN requirement
Organizations who require free in-depth and detailed reporting within appliances itself
Sizing guide
Models we deploy and manage
Sizing the right SKU is as important as choosing the right vendor. We size from inspected throughput at your specific feature mix, not from headline brochure numbers.
Why Artiflex IT
Delivering Sophos Firewall across the UAE
Artiflex IT is a Sophos Platinum Partner, the highest tier in Sophos's UAE channel. We deliver XGS deployments end-to-end across the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia: assessment, sizing, HA cluster design, identity integration with Active Directory or Azure AD, SD-WAN setup, and ongoing managed firewall services. Platinum status means escalations land directly with Sophos engineering and we have access to advance product roadmaps.
What to consider
The honest watch-outs
Every platform has trade-offs. We would rather raise these now than have you discover them three months into a deployment.
Hyperscale ceiling
Above ~10K concurrent users or 100 Gbps of east-west inspection, Check Point Quantum or Palo Alto's PA-7000 series have more headroom. XGS is best in mid-market and standard enterprise; not the right tool for hyperscale data centres.
Smaller third-party integration ecosystem
Sophos's strength is its own stack. If you're standardised on Cisco ISE, Splunk Enterprise Security, or a complex multi-vendor SOAR, validate the integrations before assuming parity with Palo Alto or Fortinet.
Frequently asked
Sophos XGS questions we hear from UAE buyers
XGS is a hardware refresh with the Xstream FastPath architecture, purpose-built for TLS 1.3 inspection at line rate. If you're on XG hardware approaching end-of-support, the migration path is direct: configurations port forward, and Sophos Central manages both during cutover. Expect 2 to 4 times the inspected-throughput at the same price point.
Yes. Every UTM capability (firewall, IPS, antivirus, web filtering, application control, VPN, anti-spam) is built into XGS, plus modern NGFW additions like App Control, User-ID, Layer 7 inspection, and integrated Sandstorm sandboxing. A 5+ year old UTM migration to XGS typically pays back within 18 months.
Standard deployments (assessment, design, deployment, cutover) run 2 to 4 weeks for single-site mid-market environments. Multi-site HA pairs with SD-WAN integration typically run 4 to 8 weeks. Hardware is in stock locally with our Sophos distribution; no 12-week APAC lead times.
Yes. XGS speaks RADIUS, SAML, and SCIM and supports STAS/Heartbeat for live identity. AD, Azure AD, Okta, and Intune integrations are standard. We've deployed XGS into mixed-vendor environments across UAE banking, healthcare, and retail without identity-layer compromises.
Ready to evaluate Sophos XGS?
Free network assessment, vendor-neutral sizing, and a written recommendation. We will tell you when another vendor is the better fit.