Sophos Challenges McAfee and Symantec with New Solution, Giving Companies Control and Security.

Single Agent, Single Automated Console for Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Firewall, Host Intrusion Prevention and Application Control

BOSTON -- Sophos, a world leader in IT security and control, today announced the availability of Sophos Endpoint Security and Control 7.0, which provides the latest malware protection with innovations to help improve end-user productivity and reduce recurring IT management costs. Sophos's integrated solution outperforms competing products from Symantec and McAfee by providing information about the health and compliance of endpoints, controlling what users can do on their desktops while protecting against security threats.

Sophos Endpoint Security and Control enables organizations to deploy a single agent and conduct just one scan to detect viruses, spyware and adware, suspicious behavior or files and unauthorized applications such as VoIP, IM, media players or gaming software - eliminating reliance on multiple scans from separate standalone products. It also allows enterprises to enforce security and control policies across tens of thousands of Windows, Mac and Linux computers from a single console. By synchronizing with Microsoft Active Directory, organizations can ensure that their security policies across the network are automatically enforced as new computers are installed.

To protect against zero-day Windows threats, Sophos Endpoint Security and Control offers proactive intrusion prevention technology, incorporating Sophos's unique Behavioral Genotype Protection and pre-execution suspicious file detection, runtime analysis and buffer overflow protection, as well as the Sophos Client Firewall.

"To keep up with constant change in both the business and the threat environments, security needs to be baked into every business and IT process," said John Pescatore, VP Distinguished Analyst at Gartner, Inc. "The security products businesses use on their networks, their servers and their PCs need to provide security platforms that each year become more effective at quickly dealing with new threats and more efficient at dealing with mature ones."

The solution also includes the latest version of Sophos Enterprise Console, designed to simplify management of Windows, Mac and Linux protection by enabling deployment, updating, reporting and security policy enforcement from a single point. The centralized console provides a security dashboard for monitoring network-wide outbreak risk, while enabling organizations to block or allow the use of potentially unwanted applications, which can cause security concerns, as well as lead to legal, support or productivity issues.

"Unlike competing products from McAfee and Symantec, Sophos Endpoint Security and Control ensures the highest level of security while also enabling efficiency improvements," said Steve Munford, CEO of Sophos. "Its single scan is a faster and more effective way to detect security or productivity threats - while other vendors force customers to rely on separate standalone products, we deliver a truly integrated solution that ensures businesses can stay secure and in control of their networks."

Sophos Endpoint Security and Control is supported by the company's unrivalled technical support, which is available 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. Customers can contact Sophos's globally managed support team for one-to-one assistance at any time.

More information about Sophos Endpoint Security and Control 7.0 can be found on the Sophos website at http://www.sophos.com

About Sophos

Sophos is a world leader in IT security and control. Sophos offers complete protection and control to business, education and government organizations - defending against known and unknown malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted applications, spam, policy abuse and uncontrolled network access (NAC). Sophos's reliably engineered, easy-to-operate products protect more than 100 million users in more than 150 countries and are procured exclusively through channel partners. Through over 20 years' experience and a global network of threat analysis centers, 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 more information on Sophos, visit www.sophos.com.