We’re happy to announce the supply of Sophos Firewall v20 MR1. It’s our largest upkeep launch but, rivaling a serious firewall model when it comes to new options.
What’s new
Firewall safety and entry
- Gadget entry updates present extra granular management over which companies are accessible on the WAN, bettering your firewall’s safety posture (see beneath for extra particulars)
- New companies added to the Native ACL exceptions record: AD SSO, captive portal, RADIUS SSO, shopper authentication, Chromebook, wi-fi, SMTP, RED, and IPsec
- Added flexibility in entry rule exceptions with assist for FQDN hosts, host teams, and MAC addresses
OpenVPN upgraded to v2.6.0
- The OpenVPN module in Sophos Firewall has been upgraded to v2.6.0 to boost safety and efficiency for SSL VPN. See the main points beneath for incompatibilities and really helpful options.
SD-WAN and VPN enhancements
- Scaled SD-WAN minimal visitors disruption with a 4x enchancment in gateway availability time throughout HA failover and machine reboot occasions
- Distant entry SSL VPN now gives an OpenVPN 3.0 shopper for customers to obtain from the VPN portal
- IPsec Part-1 IKEv2 assist for GCM and suite-B ciphers, offering higher interoperability and throughput
- DHCP Busybox enhancements with a default lease time of 30 seconds to remove WAN disconnection points
Zero-touch deployment
- True zero-touch deployment of latest firewalls is now doable through Sophos Central with out the necessity for a useful resource on-site with a USB key (extra on tips on how to use this beneath)
Different enhancements
- New generative-AI assistant for serving to along with your firewall administration (see instance beneath)
- Localization language auto-detection at login primarily based on browser language choice
- A brand new debug file obtain possibility
- New description area for IP, MAC, FQDN, and repair objects
- Improved IPv6 DHCP-PD prefix replace
- New CLI choice to bypass system-generated visitors from IPsec site-to-site VPN within the case of “Any” matching standards
- New OpenVPN v2.6.0 and StrongSwan v5.9.11 up to date
Essential notice on SSL VPN compatibility
OpenVPN has been upgraded to 2.6.0 on this launch model. Firewalls upgraded to v20 MR1 received’t set up SSL VPN tunnels with the next purchasers and firewall variations:
- SFOS v18.5 and earlier variations (end-of-life): Website-to-site SSL VPNs received’t be established between SFOS v18.5 or earlier variations and SFOS v20.0 MR1. We suggest that you simply plan an improve to v20.0 MR1 for all related firewalls on the identical time. Alternatively, you should utilize site-to-site IPsec or RED tunnels.
- Legacy SSL VPN shopper (end-of-life): Distant entry SSL VPN tunnels received’t be established with the legacy SSL VPN shopper, which is already end-of-life. You need to use the Sophos Join shopper or third-party purchasers, such because the OpenVPN shopper, or use distant entry IPsec tunnels.
- UTM9 OS: Website-to-site SSL VPNs received’t be established between UTM9 OS and SFOS 2v0.0 MR1. We suggest that you simply migrate these units to v20.0 MR1. Alternatively, you should utilize site-to-site IPsec or RED tunnels.
The best way to get the firmware and documentation
Sophos Firewall OS v20 MR1 is a free improve for all licensed Sophos Firewall clients and ought to be utilized to all supported firewall units as quickly as doable to make sure that you might have all the most recent safety, reliability, and efficiency fixes.
This firmware launch will observe our standard update process. You may manually obtain SFOS v20 MR1 from Sophos Central and replace anytime. In any other case, it will likely be rolled out to all linked units over the approaching weeks. A notification will seem in your native machine or Sophos Central administration console when the replace is accessible, permitting you to schedule the replace at your comfort.
Sophos Firewall OS v20 MR1 is a completely supported improve from all earlier variations of v20, v19.5 and v19.0. Please discuss with the Improve Info tab within the release notes for extra particulars.
Full product documentation is accessible on-line and inside the product.
Right here’s a have a look at just a few of those nice new options intimately…
Gadget entry safety
Make sure to take a look at the most recent machine entry enhancements and restrict the companies you make obtainable on the WAN to enhance your safety posture:
What’s new:
- New companies added : IPsec/RED
- ACL exception rule helps new host varieties: FQDN host, FQDN host group, MAC tackle, MAC tackle record
- ACL exception guidelines now assist new companies: AD SSO, captive portal, Radius SSO, shopper authentication, Chromebook, wi-fi, SMTP, SNMP, RED, IPsec
- Gadget entry administration web page enhancements, with a brand new VPN service group and added information for exception guidelines
New zero-touch firewall deployment from Sophos Central
Now you possibly can pre-define, deploy, after which end the configuration of your distant firewalls with out having to do something on-site aside from plug it in. A USB machine is not required!
Right here’s the way it works:
- Enter the machine serial quantity in Sophos Central
- Preconfigure some important settings in Sophos Central, comparable to time zone, LAN, WAN and DHCP settings, and preliminary safety preferences
- Deploy the firewall on the distant location by connecting energy and WAN cables – and energy it on. The firewall will routinely hook up with Sophos Central at start-up after which obtain and apply the configuration from Step 2.
- Now you can handle the firewall and end the setup in Sophos Central
Seek the advice of the full documentation for particulars.
Generative AI firewall assistant
A brand new generative-AI powered Sophos Assistant is in-built that will help you with managing your firewall. You may ask the assistant any plain-language query and the assistant will present directions and hyperlinks to useful assets.
For instance, if you would like assist configuring DNAT, you possibly can merely ask:
And you’ll not solely get a quick set of directions to assist information you, but in addition a complete record of assets to do a deeper dive if wanted.
Automated language detection at login
Your language will probably be routinely chosen on the login display primarily based in your browser preferences.
Total, this launch is a unbelievable replace to your firewall, and as traditional, it’s free for all licensed Sophos Firewall clients. With Sophos, you proceed to get large added worth with each launch.
Hold your firmware updated
Sophos Firewall integrates an modern hotfix functionality that allows us to push pressing and necessary patches out to the firewall “over the air” to handle any new zero-day vulnerabilities or different vital points that come up. This allows a fast repair to be utilized with out requiring any downtime usually related to a firmware improve and restart. You get the advantage of necessary fixes being utilized instantly with none handbook effort in your half.
Nevertheless, it’s tremendous necessary to make sure your firewall firmware is stored updated as non-urgent safety fixes are sometimes built-in into upkeep releases. Since all firmware updates are free for licensed Sophos Firewall clients, there’s no cause to not reap the benefits of all the good enhancements in each launch.
