Sophos Interview Questions and Answers

Sophos is a global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, protecting over 500,000 organizations and millions of customers across 150 countries from the most advanced cyber threats. Sophos offers a wide range of advanced solutions and services to protect users, networks, and endpoints from ransomware, malware, exploits, phishing, and other forms of cybercrime. Mindmajix has compiled a list of essential Sophos interview questions to assist you in preparing for the Sophos job role.

For ease of learning and understanding, we have divided these questions into 2 categories they are:

• Freshers  
• Experienced

Top 10 Frequently Asked Java Stream Interview Questions

1. What is Sophos known for?
2. What is Sophos Home?
3. What does Sophos do?
4. Is Sophos endpoint a good antivirus?
5. What is Sophos Security heartbeat?
6. Is Sophos a VPN?
7. List Sophos products?
8. What are the Companies using Sophos?
9. What is Sophos DLP?
10. What is Sophos ESG?

Sophos Interview Questions For Freshers

1. What is Sophos known for?

Ans: Sophos is a global pioneer in IT security. Data protection provides complete network access control and fights against known and undiscovered malware, spyware, intrusions, unwanted programmes, spam, policy abuse, and data leaks (NAC). Over 100 million consumers in over 150 countries are Protected by their well-engineered, simple-to-use solutions. Sophos' vision, devotion to research and development, and strict adherence to quality have allowed continuing solid growth and the industry's top levels of customer satisfaction.

2. What is Sophos Home?

Ans: Sophos has a long history of protecting some of the world's most well-known companies. Now your home PCs and Macs may benefit from the same sophisticated, business-grade protection that IT professionals rely upon. Sophos Home goes beyond traditional antivirus to provide robust, real-time protection against the latest ransomware, malicious software, and hacking Attempts – in other words, all types of evolving cybercrime. Both Windows and Mac PCs are protected with Sophos Home.

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3. What does Sophos do?

Ans: Sophos creates communication endpoint security, encryption, network security, email security, mobile security, and unified threat management solutions. Sophos focuses on offering security software to businesses with 100 to 5,000 employees.

4. Is Sophos endpoint a good antivirus?

Ans: Sophos has a 97.8% protection rate in AV-Comparatives' 2021 real-world protection test. It's worth emphasising that the end-user was responsible for the success of the infection in two of the 16 cases.

5. What is Sophos Security heartbeat?

Ans: The Sophos Security Heartbeat exchanges data in real time between your endpoints and your firewall over a secure link. This simple process of coordinating security products that had previously worked independently improves protection against advanced malware and targeted attacks.

6. Is Sophos a VPN?

Ans: Sophos Connect is a VPN client for Microsoft Windows 7 SP2 and Mac OS 10.12. It creates encrypted VPN tunnels for off-site personnel that are highly safe.

7. List Sophos products?

Ans: Below listed are the products of Sophos:

• Sophos Endpoint
• Sophos Firewall
• Sophos MTR

8. What are the Companies using Sophos?

Ans: The majority of Sophos users are from the United States and work in the Computer Software business. The following companies use Sophos:

• Federal Emergency Management  Agency
• Zendesk Inc
• PROTEGE PARTNERS L L C
• CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS, INC
• VMware Inc

9.  What is Sophos DLP?

Ans: Sophos DlP provides a one-of-a-kind and straightforward data loss prevention solution (DLP). To enable immediate protection of your sensitive data, integrate content scanning into the threat detection engine and include a comprehensive set of sensitive data type definitions. This DLP technology is available in both Sophos Endpoint and Email Appliance products, allowing you to safeguard your data simply and effectively while staying within your security budget.

10. What is Sophos ESG?

Ans: The Sophos ESG is a next-generation firewall that combines classic firewall functionality with sophisticated threat protection, intrusion detection, and risky user behaviour detection technology. The Security Heartbeat sends red/yellow/green health data to the firewall every 15 seconds.

11. How does Sophos synchronised security work?

Ans: Sophos solutions actively collaborate with Synchronized Security, responding to situations automatically and providing increased security insights. Sophos solutions use a unique Security HeartbeatTM to transmit real-time information and react automatically in seconds.

12. What is Sophos MTR?

Ans: Sophos Managed Threat Response (MTR) is a fully managed solution that delivers 24/7 threat hunting, detection, and response capabilities supplied by a professional team. Sophos MTR combines machine learning technology with expert analysis to increase threat hunting and detection, alert investigation, and targeted actions to quickly and effectively eliminate threats. You decide how and when potential issues are escalated, what reaction steps (if any) you want us to take, and who should be included in interactions with Sophos MTR.

Related Article: An Introduction to Sophos

13. What is Sophos Endpoint EDR?

Ans: Sophos EDR provides enhanced threat hunting and IT security operational hygiene tools. Advanced protection against the latest, never-before-seen threats, ransomware, and fileless, memory-based attacks is also included in Intercept X and Intercept X for Server.

14. Does Sophos Endpoint protect against ransomware?

Ans: Sophos Intercept X is the best ransomware defense available. It employs behavioral analysis to prevent ransomware and boot record attacks that have never been seen before. Intercept X protects endpoints and servers using CryptoGuard technology, preventing malicious software from encrypting files locally or remotely.

15. What is the Sophos virus removal tool?

Ans: The Sophos Virus Removal Tool can detect and remove malware from a single Windows endpoint PC. The utility should be downloaded afresh whenever a new scan is required to stay current with the latest detections. It will not have phone or email support because it is a free tool. Any issues with the device should be addressed in the Sophos Community. 

The Sophos Virus Removal Tool adds no new detection capabilities to the existing Sophos Virus Removal Tool. Sophos Virus Removal Tool does not provide additional detecting capabilities over Sophos Anti-Virus version 10. However, a managed Sophos Anti-Virus installation includes extra features like real-time scanning and central management.

16. what all can Sophos track?

Ans: Sophos Logs with Panther is commonly used in the following security scenarios:

• Detection and protection of malware, ransomware, exploits, viruses, and PUA
• Notifications on the local network or web traffic, such as traffic from known harmful or spam domains.
• Endpoint policy violations and data loss prevention events are sent out as notifications.

17. Can Sophos take screenshots?

Ans: Forensic snapshots extract information from a Sophos record of a computer's activities, allowing you to conduct your investigation. A threat graph or the Status tab in the device's details page can be used to build a forensic snapshot.

18. What kind of security measures does Sophos Home offer?

Ans:

• Sophos Home protects you with various components, including artificial intelligence (AI/ Machine Learning), signature-based, and behavioural (signature-less) detections. 
• Sophos Home uses signature-based detection to identify and eliminate known threats quickly. When behaviour-based detection is integrated with artificial intelligence, it becomes possible to find and remove brand new, never-before-seen "zero-day" malware. 
• Sophos also keeps track of your programmes and apps, blocking harmful ones and enabling users to uninstall them. 
• Sophos also uses a global database to prevent users from visiting phishing sites and inspect website code to guard against hacked sites and downloads.

19. Can I use Sophos Home with my other security or antivirus software?

Ans: Using two antivirus programmes will not provide you with double protection. Before installing or running a new antivirus, all security companies advocate deleting your current antivirus. Some computer maintenance software has anti-virus-like functions, which can cause issues.

There are two key reasons why this should not be done:

1. Two antiviruses (or security apps with antivirus-like functionality) will battle for resources. This depletes your computer's processing capacity, resulting in substantially longer load times and the possibility of a computer crash, which no one wants. 
2. When two antiviruses (or security programmes with antivirus-like functions) attempt to halt a threat simultaneously, the threat may not be destroyed. 

20. How many computers can I add to my Sophos Home account?

Ans: A Sophos Home premium account allows you to secure up to ten PCs (Mac and Windows). Suppose you've reached the limit and wish to protect another computer. In that case, you'll need to either remove an existing computer from the dashboard or buy another Sophos Home Premium licence with a different email address. Both accounts must be managed individually because they cannot be combined.

Sophos Interview Questions For Experienced

1. Can I install Sophos Home on my mobile devices?

Ans: Users with Sophos Home Premium can download Sophos Intercept X for Mobile and contact support for help. These devices will be protected by a product other than Sophos Home and will thus not display in your Sophos Home dashboard.

2. What happens if I install Sophos Home Premium on more than ten computers?

Ans: When the 10-device limit is reached, the Add Device button becomes disabled. If you've got your limit and wish to add another computer, you'll need to either remove an existing machine from your dashboard or purchase a Sophos Home licence.

3. What is the difference between Sophos XG and UTM?

Ans: The Sophos SG (Unified Threat Management or UTM) series is a mature and reliable platform. Some of XG's new features are missing. The critical distinction is that SG Series appliances come with UTM 9 firmware pre-installed, and XG firewalls come with XG firewall firmware pre-installed. The XG's Sophos Firewall Operating System (SFOS) is updated more frequently because it is newer. It's worth noting that the SG's firmware can be upgraded to XG.

4. What are the steps to set up a firewall?

Ans: Below are the steps to follow when setting up a firewall:

a. Secure your firewall:

If an intruder gains administrative access to your firewall, it's "game over" for your network security. As a result, the first and most crucial step in this procedure is to secure your firewall. Never bring a firewall into production That hasn't been appropriately secured by doing the following configuration tasks:

• Install the latest firmware on your firewall.
• Change any default passwords and delete, disable, or rename default user accounts. Use only passwords that are both complex and safe.
• Create different administrator accounts with limited privileges based on duties if various administrators manage the firewall. Never utilise a user account that has been shared with another person.
• Disable SNMP or set it to use a specific community string.

b. Architect your firewall zones and IP addresses:

To protect your network's essential assets, you must first determine what they are (for example, payment card data or patient data). Then devise a network structure that allows these assets to be grouped and assigned to networks (or zones) based on their sensitivity level and purpose.

After you've created your network zones and set them to interfaces, you'll need to figure out what kind of traffic needs to flow into and out of each one.

c. Configure access control lists:

(ACLs) are firewall rules that apply to each interface or subinterface on the firewall and allow this traffic. Tailor your ACLs to a specific source and destination IP addresses and port numbers when possible. Ensure there is a "deny all" rule at the end of every access control list to filter out unauthorised traffic. Apply inbound and outbound ACLs to each interface and subinterface on your firewall to ensure only authorised traffic enters and exits each zone.

d. Configure your other firewall services and logging:

If your firewall can also operate as a DHCP server, a network time protocol (NTP) server, an intrusion prevention system (IPS), and so on, go ahead and configure the services you want to use. Disable any unnecessary services you won't be using.

e. Test your firewall configuration:

Verify that your firewall is functioning correctly in a test environment. Remember to check that your firewall is blocking traffic that should be prohibited based on your ACL settings. Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should both be done on your firewall.

When you've completed testing your firewall, it should be ready to go into production. Permanently save a backup of your firewall configuration in a secure location to ensure that all of your hard work is not lost in the event of a hardware breakdown.

5. What is bridge mode in Sophos?

Ans: Transparent subnet gateways can be configured with bridges. Sophos Firewall removes traffic connected to bridge interfaces without an IP address if the traffic meets a firewall rule with web proxy filtering or a NAT rule. These packets aren't logged because they've been dropped. You must specify the override source translation setting to avoid falling traffic because of NAT rules. You must first assign an IP address to a bridge Interface to enable routing. On routed traffic, you cannot allow VLAN filtering. You must build a firewall rule that allows traffic between the zones associated with the bridged interfaces to allow traffic between them. Create a firewall rule allowing traffic from LAN to LAN for bridged interfaces configured with LAN zones.

6. What is XG in Sophos?

Ans: Sophos XG Firewall is a top-rated IPS with Advanced Threat Protection, Cloud Sandboxing, and comprehensive AI-powered threat analysis, as well as Dual AV, Web and App Control, Email Protection, and a full-featured Web browser.

7. What is the difference between Sophos SG and XG?

Ans: The SG and XG series hardware is comparable in CPU, RAM, memory, and ports. The key distinction is that SG Series appliances come with UTM 9 firmware pre-installed, while XG firewalls come with XG firewall firmware pre-installed. The XG's Sophos Firewall Operating System (SFOS) is updated more frequently as a newer product. The SG may be upgraded to XG firmware.

8. How secure is Sophos firewall?

Ans: Sophos XG Firewall is the only network security solution that can correctly identify the user and source of infection while restricting access to other network resources. This is made possible by Sophos Security Heartbeat, which Incorporates endpoint health into firewall rules to prevent access and isolate infected computers and provide telemetry and health status between Sophos endpoints and your firewall. The good news is that it all happens automatically, and it's already saving businesses and organisations time and money when it comes to environmental protection.

9. Describe Sophos security?

Ans: Sophos Group plc is a security software and hardware firm based in the United Kingdom. Sophos creates communication endpoint, encryption, network security, email security, mobile security, and unified threat management products. Sophos focuses on offering security software to enterprises with 100 to 5,000 employees.

10. Are Sophos firewalls good?

Ans: According to Gartner's Magic Quadrant, Sophos is a Visionary. Its XG Firewall is a simple next-generation firewall to set up and manage. It detects and prevents unknown attacks, automatically isolates compromised systems in a security incident, and reveals hidden user, application, and threat risks on the network. Mid-sized and scattered businesses and those using Sophos' endpoint security solution might choose Sophos XG Firewalls. Strengths include dedicated remote branch devices and a user-friendly management interface.

11. What are the characteristics of Sophos?

Ans: Sophos Firewall delivers the most comprehensive portfolio of secure edge access solutions, VPN, SD-WAN, and core networking capabilities to accommodate any Network. Sophos Firewall includes all of the tools you'll need to achieve your SD-WAN connection, quality, security, and continuity objectives.

12. Is Sophos firewall safe?

Ans: XG Firewall combines antivirus, intrusion prevention, web, app control, and SSL inspection into a single streaming engine. The Xstream Network Flow FastPath can handle the traffic known to be secure.

13. What is the default IP of Sophos firewall?

Ans: The default IP address of a Sophos Firewall that runs on the UTM operating system is 192.168.0.1.

14. Does the XG firewall provide pre-packaged policies?

Ans: Sophos XG Firewall includes pre-packaged web filtering, IPS, traffic shaping, and app control policies, as well as time-saving business application and server protection templates.

15. What is ATP in Sophos XG firewall?

Ans: Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) in Sophos XG firewall analyses all network traffic to discover infected or compromised clients inside the network and raises the alarm or drops traffic from those clients (DNS, HTTP, or IP packets in general). If the appropriate features are enabled, it includes Intrusion Prevention and Antivirus data.

16. What are the available deployment options for XG Firewall?

Ans: The XG firewall deployment options are described below.

• Establish a wireless network.
• Create a personalised sign-in page for your hotspot.
• Construct a mesh network.
• As a bridge to an access point LAN, set up a wireless network.
• Create a distinct zone for your wireless network.
• Use a hotspot voucher to give guests access.
• Using the CLI, remotely restart access points.

17. How do I see what devices are connected to Sophos XG?

Ans: To see all of your connected devices, go to Wireless > Devices. The name, MAC address, IP address, username, vendor, access point, SSID, Security Heartbeat, connection speed, and a band of connected devices are listed. Security Heartbeat classifies devices according to their level of security.

18. Where is the virtual host in Sophos XG firewall?

Ans: Go to Firewall > Virtual Host > Virtual Host and click Add to add a host using the below parameters. The Virtual Host is given a name. The IP address of the internal server/host from which Internet users can reach it.

19. How do I manage XG from Sophos Central?

Ans: Click Manage from Sophos Central to set the XG Firewall to be monitored and controlled. Before you may work from Sophos Central, the administrator of Sophos Central must accept XG Firewall. Click Configure to define a backup schedule for the firewall. Sophos Central will save the backup.

20. What is Sophos user portal?

Ans: The Sophos UTM user portal delivers personalised email and remote access services. It can be accessed by using HTTPS to navigate UTM's management address (the internal IP address defined for eth0) without specifying a port number.

Conclusion

With this we’ve come to an end of this blog. We hope that these Sophos questions help you land your dream job.