Introducing adaptive active adversary

Issue 1 2023 Information Security, Products & Solutions

Sophos has introduced advances to its portfolio of endpoint security offerings. New adaptive active adversary protection; Linux malware protection enhancements; account health check capabilities; an integrated zero trust network access (ZTNA) agent for Windows and macOS devices; and improved frontline defences against advanced cyberthreats and streamline endpoint security management.

“Ransomware remains one of the most prevalent and damaging cyberthreats to organisations, with Sophos incident responders still consistently remediating ransomware activity worldwide. Now isn’t the time for organisations to let their guard down because of any perceived reduction in attacks; in fact, they should be strengthening defences as attacks are now more intricate and difficult to detect, requiring advanced security techniques that can sense and then quickly adapt to better protect themselves,” said Raja Patel, Senior Vice President of Products at Sophos.

Designed to improve protection and operational efficiency, as well as speed up detection and response, the new Sophos endpoint innovations include:

• Adaptive active adversary protection: A core part of Sophos’ ‘shields up’ design methodology that provides defenders with additional time needed to respond to targeted attacks underway. Sophos Intercept X immediately enables heightened defences as soon as it detects a ‘hands-on-keyboard’ endpoint intrusion. This wide-reaching step up in defensive measures removes an attacker’s ability to take further actions by minimising the attack surface, disrupting and containing the attack prior to response team engagement, and providing insights needed for complete remediation.

• Linux malware protection enhancements: On-access malware scanning and quarantine capabilities improve real-time prevention of security incidents within Linux operating environments. Added to the Sophos Intercept X Advanced for Server offering, these new features complement existing functionality, including live runtime detections and response to container escapes, cryptominers, data destruction, and kernel exploits.

• Account health check: Intuitive, real-time health check monitoring of security configurations and policy settings with the ability to automatically return to recommended settings in a single click, optimising security posture and enabling organisations to promptly re-establish security best practices. Assessments ensure devices are running the necessary security components, policies are following recommended settings, tamper protection is active, exclusions are not creating attack surface exposure, and more.

• Integrated ZTNA agent for Windows and macOS devices: Sophos Intercept X is one of the only endpoint protection solutions with a modular ZTNA agent, and organisations can now extend defences to include Sophos ZTNA across entire estates without deploying an additional agent.

• Faster, lightweight agent: Reduces the Windows agent’s memory footprint by 40% and the number of processes by more than 30%, accelerating the performance of applications, workloads and devices. Sophos has also introduced a new extended detection and response (XDR) sensor deployment option that is approximately 80% lighter than the previous full agent.

Sophos XDR gives security analysts the ability to proactively hunt threats, providing faster detection, investigation and response to drive better security outcomes. Sophos endpoint offerings also include server workload protection for server and container security and integrated web and application controls; Sophos Mobile for secure unified endpoint management; and Sophos Encryption for full disk encryption.

Sophos’ complete and integrated portfolio of endpoint, network and cloud solutions and managed security services are part of the Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem; powered by threat intelligence from Sophos X-Ops for faster, contextual and synchronised protection, detection and response.




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Kaspersky finds security flaws that threaten vehicle safety.
News & Events Information Security Transport (Industry)
At its Security Analyst Summit 2025, Kaspersky presented the results of a security audit that exposed a significant security flaw enabling unauthorised access to all connected vehicles of one automotive manufacturer.

Read more...
The overlooked risks of everyday connectivity
Information Security
That free Wi-Fi you are using could end up costing you a lot more money than your hotspot data if it has been compromised, says Richard Frost, head of technology solutions and consulting at Armata Cyber Security.

Read more...
Syndicates exploit insider vulnerabilities in SA
Information Security Security Services & Risk Management
Today’s cyber criminals do not just exploit vulnerabilities in your systems; they exploit your people, turning trusted team members into unwitting accomplices or deliberate collaborators in their schemes.

Read more...
Recording 40 high-resolution channels
Dallmeier Electronic Southern Africa Surveillance Products & Solutions
With the new MK4 revision of the DMS 2400, Dallmeier introduces a more powerful version of its video appliance, enabling the recording of up to 40 high-resolution video streams, and offering significantly increased capacity.

Read more...
GenAI fraud forcing banks to shift from identity to intent
AI & Data Analytics Information Security Financial (Industry)
The complexity and velocity of modern fraud schemes, from deepfakes to fraud and scams involving social engineering, demand more than just investment in new tools; they need adaptability and expanding the security net.

Read more...
Short-range indoor LiDAR sensor
OPTEX Perimeter Security, Alarms & Intruder Detection Infrastructure Products & Solutions
The REDSCAN Lite RLS-1010L has been developed to provide comprehensive coverage and protect high-risk security zones and vulnerable, narrow indoor spaces that are difficult to protect with traditional sensors.

Read more...
Global Threat Intelligence Report for October 2025
Information Security News & Events
Africa was pipped to the post as the most attacked region by Latin America, which averaged 2966 attacks per organisation per week (+16% YoY). Africa followed with (2782, – 15%) and APAC (2703, – 8%).

Read more...
Business logic vulnerabilities: the silent cyberthreat
Information Security
New Magix R&D Lab white paper helps local businesses identify hidden cybersecurity weaknesses that do not stem from the usual coding errors or configuration flaws that security tools are designed to detect.

Read more...
Cyber attack surface expanding
Asset Management Information Security Logistics (Industry)
Despite the increasing number of attacks, analysis of Allianz Commercial cyber claims shows that severity is down by 50% and large-claim frequency by 30% in H1 2025, driven by larger companies’ enhanced detection and response capabilities.

Read more...
The impact of AI on security
Technews Publishing Information Security AI & Data Analytics
Today’s threat actors have moved away from signature-based attacks that legacy antivirus software can detect, to ‘living-off-the-land’ using legitimate system tools to move laterally through networks. This is where AI has a critical role to play.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.