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Sophos vs Symantec Endpoint Protection Comparison 2021

by Arthur Zuckerman

The connection of laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and other devices to corporate networks creates a high chance for security threats. This is why endpoint protection management is essential. Endpoint protection management helps identify and manage the user’s computer access over a corporate network. Also, it allows IT security teams to monitor and secure all connected devices from a centralized location to ensure consistent protection across the whole network.

Nowadays, superior protection is the utmost importance considering the advanced persistent threats and malicious attacks of hackers. To protect the confidential and sensitive information of your organization, you must find the best and most intelligent endpoint protection management. Stop risking your company’s data, invest in endpoint protection management.

To help you choose the best endpoint protection management, two of the most popular software will be comprehensively reviewed and compared. This software is Sophos and Symantec Endpoint Protection. Let’s begin the Sophos vs Symantec Endpoint Protection Comparison.

Sophos Endpoint Protection

Overview

Sophos Endpoint Protection is a simple and secure platform designed to detect and prevent threats. It protects endpoint devices through one management console, in the cloud, or on-premise. Aside from this, it automates the process of identifying malicious threats and isolates them to prevent them from spreading to other devices.

Moreover, Sophos Endpoint Protection uses deep learning systems to effectively look for threats or viruses that may attack the network. Their anti-virus platform is based on the Intercept X platform of Sophos that was acquired back in 2017. Sophos’ anti-virus platform allows them to specialize in deep machine learning algorithms and detect malicious threats to protect endpoint devices.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Provides up to date protection
  • Excellent reporting features
  • Automated removal of viruses

Cons:

  • The web console is outdated and needs improvement
  • Lacks migration tools for end-users to transfer from one server to another
  • Gives less positive alerts

Symantec Endpoint Protection

Overview

Symantec Endpoint Protection is a complete and integrated endpoint protection platform. By using artificial intelligence, Symantec optimizes security decisions to protect both traditional and mobile devices. Aside from that, it is a cloud-based management system that simplifies the protection, detection, and Prevention of advanced threats that are targeting your endpoint devices.

Besides, Symantec Endpoint Protection takes full control over detecting and terminating malware threats, so you will not have to bother of these anymore. It protects your information, endpoint users, data, and prevent breaches and attacks. With Symantec, you no longer have to worry about sharing your company’s information and data. Here is a list of the safest document management software you can try.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Minimal false positives
  • Excellent reporting features
  • Outstanding cloud version

Cons:

  • Migrating to another server can be quite difficult
  • Annual renewal price is expensive
  • Does not have a centralized management

Sophos Endpoint Protection Features

1. Intercept X

Sophos Intercept X is one of the most comprehensive endpoint protection that can detect and stop a wide range of viruses and threats. It is an all-in-one defense and solution against malware and ransomware threats. Intercept X provides several features.

  • Endpoint Detection and Response – also known as EDR, it has powerful queries and remote response capabilities which allows you to look for threats more effectively.
  • Anti-ransomware – with ransomware file protection, you can recover your files and data automatically. Additionally, it has behavioral analysis capabilities to prevent ransomware and record attacks.
  • Exploit Prevention – this feature allows you to block the exploit techniques of hackers. With this, you can avoid malware distribution and steal your company’s information and data.

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2. Synchronized Security

This simple yet effective feature provides endpoint users with better protection against advanced threats. These days, network attacks have become more advanced and coordinated. That is why Sophos Endpoint Protection also decided to level up their protection and firewall with the Security Heartbeat.

This feature allows you to determine threat indicators fastly and instantly share them to Next Generation Endpoint and Firewall to detect and prevent specific attacks from happening in the future. Then, an active identification and investigation of system users will be conducted to take action with the attack. Compromised endpoints are then isolated by the firewall to prevent the spreading of threats.

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3. Partner Dashboard

Sophos Endpoint Protection allows users to manage multiple installations through an intuitive interface. Along with its Partner Dashboard, you can access the Partner Portal as well as its three consoles. In a single sign-in, you can gain access to the following consoles: Sophos Central Partner, Sophos Central Admin, and Sophos Central Firewall Manager. You can manage customer licenses, customer security, and the customer’s firewall through the fore-mentioned consoles.

Sophos Dashboard shows you your most recent alerts, a detailed summary of your active and inactive protected devices, Web status to detect phishing attempts, and a news stream to keep you updated on new threats and how to prevent and terminate them.

4. Root Cause Analysis

This feature of Sophos Endpoint Protection determines how the attack originated and study as to how users can combat and prevent them. This process is composed of three parts: Overview, Artifacts, and Visualize.

  • Overview – Where you determine and describe the type of threat that you encountered, and where or when it was found.
  • Artifacts – Describes the effect or changes that the threat caused to the system.
  • Visualize – Gives you a diagram of how the threat interacted and affected the system.

Symantec Endpoint Protection Features

1. Scan Security Threats

Symantec provides a URL scanning and filtering process to ensure that endpoint users are free from any virus and malware threats. This feature is used to prevent the attempts of malicious threats to run the system.

Doing this is very simple. First, you should head to the system tray and click Symantec’s logo. Then, you will see the option “scan for threats” in the Status Dialog box. You can either choose between Active scan, which checks only the infected areas of your network, or Full scan, which checks your entire network.

However, the Full scanning process may take quite some time. So it is best if you do the Active scan first if something unusual comes up and then do the Full scanning process after.

2. Advanced Machine Learning

Symantec’s advanced machine learning feature enables you to detect unauthorized malware based on static attributes. This engine is designed to work in real-time with Symantec’s cloud-based threat intelligence. In other words, advanced machine learning helps you determine whether a file is good or bad.

Moreover, Symantec Endpoint Protection can train and test the engine of advanced management learning by following certain processes. First, the AML model will be downloaded to the client’s device and will let it run for a couple of days. During this period, AML’s engine will determine which of the client’s applications are exploiting its data. The information gathered will be forwarded to Symantec which allows them to adjust their AML model. Then, this will be modified to block and remove the applications that are exploiting the client’s data.

3. Management Console

This is the primary interface that IT and security experts use to view the security and overall status of their network. It also provides a detailed view of the network’s mobile devices and how they are highly at risk of threats and viruses.

Additionally, the management console has several sections where you can view specific status and details of your network’s security.

  • The Dashboard – this is the section where you can see a summary of information about your network’s mobile devices.
  • Mobile Security Headlines – this section provides real examples of mobile risk and reiterates the importance of why you should invest in Symantec Endpoint Protection.
  • Incidents section – this section gives you information about the risks and threats that Symantec Endpoint Protection has detected.

Pricing and Licenses

Sophos Endpoint Protection offers a free thirty-day trial for first-time users. This free trial is fully functional, which means users can make use of all its features for the time being. Meanwhile, the cost for Sophos Endpoint Protection’s licenses is charged per user, not per device. The price per user ranges from $30 to $60.

Symantec Endpoint Protection offers three-tier plans to its users. The Endpoint Protection Cloud product can either be purchased per device at $2.50 for a month or per user model at $4.50 for a month. Meanwhile, the top tier plan is available at $9 per user for a month, which provides more mobile device management features.

Sophos vs Symantec Endpoint Protection: Which software provides the best endpoint protection?

This Sophos vs Symantec Endpoint Protection comparison showed the excellent features and wide capabilities of each software. However, each of them provides different capabilities depending on the size of your business. Some functionalities work best for small enterprises, while some can be more effective in huge businesses.

Hopefully, this Sophos vs Symantec Endpoint Protection Comparison has helped you decide which of the two software can provide superior security protection for your company and end-users.

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