“At GITEX 2018, we plan to place the spotlight on our deep learning innovation to demonstrate how organizations can use predictive security to change the way their IT operations protect their users and assets,” said Harish Chib, vice president, Middle East & Africa, Sophos.  “As the threat landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace and organizations continue to be hit by more varied and unique forms of malware, the only way to combat such advanced threats is with a proactive multi-layered approach to security. Predictive protection is the future of IT security. GITEX offers us a great opportunity to meet and interact with customers and partners to discuss their security priorities, but equally as the region’s premier ICT exhibition provides the ideal platform to sign new partners and strengthen our channel network”

Deep learning is a powerful, ground breaking tool for keeping unknown threats at bay. It is the latest evolution of machine learning, which delivers a massively scalable detection model that is able to learn the entire observable threat landscape. With the ability to process hundreds of millions of samples, deep learning can make predictions that are more accurate at a faster rate with far fewer false positives when compared to traditional machine learning.  Deep learning uses a neural network set up like the human brain to make decisions based on stored data and predictive reasoning. It can handle hundreds of millions of points of information, quickly and accurately, while not bogging down your system.

At GITEX Technology Week 2018, Sophos will feature its latest deep learning enabled security solutions including:

·         Sophos Intercept X, delivering predictive endpoint protection that deploys a defense-in-depth approach to stop known and unknown threats from infecting an organization

·         Sophos Intercept X for Server, providing powerful server specific protection to protect critical apps and data whether located on physical servers, virtual servers or in the cloud

·         Sophos XG Firewall, offering comprehensive firewall protection that exposes hidden risks, blocks unknown threats, and automatically responds to incidents.

·         Synchronized Security, a security system enabling products to directly share status and threat information, to automate and improve the time taken to respond to potential threats. Sophos security experts will deliver demonstrations on its latest next-gen solutions, product developments, and the latest research on security threats, including the recent SamSam ransomware and Crypto jacking

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Q1. With rising virus, malware, and ransomware attacks, how can enterprises ensure security of their physical and virtual (cloud) data centers?

A1. Modern threats require modern ways of protection. In addition to the traditional anti-virus, firewall, IPS and email/web security, which cannot stop highly customized and targeted attacks any more reliably, new “next-gen” technologies have to be implemented. These next-gen technologies include exploit prevention, machine learning, and behaviour monitoring.

Q2. There are various stacks that data travels through. How can enterprises ensure security for each stack?

A2. It is necessary to put as many layers of protection between the attacker and the workstation or server. On the gateway level the traditional AV, web security, web application firewall and IPS protection must be supplemented by sandboxing solutions (e.g. Sophos Sandstorm) with behaviour monitoring and machine learning. On the endpoint and server machines (either physical or virtual) the full set of features like machine learning, exploit prevention, and behaviour detection must be added to the traditional endpoint security. Sophos offers these next-gen endpoint protection functions in Sophos Intercept X (for workstations) and Intercept X for Servers.

Q3. When an incident is detected, how do enterprises respond without compromising on server performance?

A3. It is imperative not to lose time when an incident is detected. If human interaction is necessary i.e. an administrator needs to be alarmed and needs to take manual action, a lot of damage can be caused until counter measures are taken. Modern security systems communicate with each other. They act as a system and react automatically when an incident is detected. For example, if an endpoint or server detects malicious behaviour like ransomware or data theft, this is communicated to the firewall which automatically isolates this device from the internet and the internal network. The Sophos Synchronized Security concept lets all Sophos security solutions – on the endpoint and the gateway – to talk to each other, in order to identify hacker attacks and respond automatically. These next-gen features, while dramatically increasing the protection level, do not decrease server performance. On the contrary, machine learning, for example, is much faster the traditional AV scan and anti-exploit; and behaviour monitoring costs virtually no performance at all.

Q5. What endpoint security measures can enterprises take to minimise security threats?

A5. All workstations and servers need to get next-gen endpoint protection mechanisms in addition to the existing endpoint security. The next-gen protection mechanisms include machine learning/deep learning, exploit prevention, ransomware protection, behaviour monitoring, and anti-hacker technologies. In addition, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) capabilities need to be added, which collects and correlates security events from multiple sources like endpoints, servers, and firewalls. This allows modern threats and hacker activity to be detected, stopped, and analysed. Sophos Intercept X on workstations and servers provides these next-gen protection mechanisms as well as root cause analysis to find out what happened during an incident, which processes, files and systems were affected – and how to prevent this in the future.

Q6. What impact will GDPR have on cyber security and data privacy/integrity?

A6. GDPR will have two effects:

First, cybercriminals will double their efforts to get hold of confidential information, especially personally identifiable information. They will use this stolen data to extort high ransoms from companies who failed to protect their data – by threatening to publish this fact to the public and to the regulatory authority. So, this will boost cybercrime industry and we will see even more sophisticated threats. Second, due to the threat of high fines when failing to comply with the GDPR, many organizations will implement modern IT security technologies. Ironically, it will be the same risk manager who, in the past, advised not to implement data protection and IT security technologies because the fines threatening at that time were lower than the investment in IT security, will now urge to implement these technologies to avoid the much higher fines due to the GDPR. So, due to GDPR we will see an increase in attacks as wells as how organizations will be better protected against these attacks.

Q4. Increased digitization is making virtual environments prone to cyber security breaches. What proactive steps can enterprises take to safeguard their data?

A4. First of all, the layered approach with modern technologies described above has to be implemented. It is important to apply full security to virtual servers with full next-gen protection directly running on the server. The simple AV file scanning (on the server or on a security VM) does not provide the same level of protection. With regards to the network, digital transformation has made it even more important to heavily increase network segmentation, which means that workstations, servers, and IoT devices have to be confined to small network areas and all traffic between those areas needs to be limited to business needs.

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“Given the scale and sophistication of attacks in the Middle East region, companies are looking for smarter and simpler IT security solutions.A recent Sophos-sponsored study developed by International Data Corporation (IDC) revealed that complexity is driving the need of integrated security in the region andit is one of the top priorities for CIOs and IT Managers. Majority of the respondents agreed with the concept of linking network firewall and endpoint security for better insights and the acceptance was higher among the large enterprises. Synchronized security is the new key for protection against cyber threats in the region,”said Harish Chib, VP MEA Sophos.

“GISEC, being an important event for the Middle East IT security industry, is a perfect platform for Sophos to communicate our vision of ‘Synchronized Security’. We plan to highlight our latest innovation, Security Heartbeat, which for the first time allows the endpoint and network security to actively and continuously share threat intelligence to effectively protect against sophisticated threats in a manageable way.It is also a great opportunity for us to meet with key decision makers.” he added.

At the exhibition,Sophos will highlight the core tenant of synchronized security strategy that can beused to successfully protect an organization from the growth of sophisticated attacks. The company will showcase its extensive portfolio of its next-generation endpoint and network security solutionsincluding the recently launched Sophos Mobile 7, the latest versionof Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that extends containerization support for Android Enterprise, Sophos InterceptX, and the latest synchronized encryption solution -SafeGuard Encryption8, which can automatically respond to threat incidents from connected endpoint protection.

Sophos top local executives and security experts will be present at Stall B-100,Hall : ZAB5 and will engage with visitors, customers and channel partners, understand their security requirements, address their concerns and share their global experiences and success stories with them.Through presentations and demos at the stand, the company plans to give its customers a first-hand experience on the benefits of synchronized security.

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Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., Invincea was founded by chief executive officer Anup Ghosh to address the rapidly growing zero-day security threat from nation states, cyber criminals and rogue actors. Invincea’s flagship product X by Invincea uses deep learning neural networks and behavioral monitoring to detect previously unseen malware and stops attacks before damage occurs. With a focus on the U.S. government, healthcare and financial services sectors, Invincea has been deployed in some of the most targeted networks in the world.

“By adding Invincea to our portfolio, Sophos is executing on its vision to assemble the most powerful technologies to provide the very best, cutting-edge defenses for our customers,” commented Kris Hagerman, chief executive officer at Sophos.“Invincea is leading the market in machine learning-based threat detection with the combination of superior detection rates and minimal false positives. Invincea will strengthen Sophos’ leading next-gen endpoint protection with complementary predictive defenses that we believe will become increasingly important to the future of endpoint protection and allow us to take full advantage of this significant new growth opportunity. We are proud to welcome the Invincea team to Sophos and look forward to introducing the benefits of this advanced technology to our customers and partners worldwide.”

Sophos is recognized as a leader in endpoint protection today with an expanding set of next-generation technologies such as the signature-less anti-malware, anti-exploit and anti-ransomware technology in Intercept X and the behavior-based analytics, Malicious Traffic Detection and Application Reputation in Sophos Endpoint Protection.The Invincea machine learning malware detection and prevention technology will be fully integrated into the Sophos endpoint protection portfolio, further strengthening Sophos’ leadership in this fast-growing market. The availability of Invincea technology through the Sophos Central security management platform will further enhance the Sophos synchronized security portfolio and real-time intelligence sharing.

“We started Invincea with the vision of using non-signature based technologies, including machine learning, in innovative ways to protect organizations against the most advanced forms of cyber-attack,” commented Anup Ghosh, founder and chief executive officer at Invincea. “X by Invincea represents a new generation in antivirus technology based on deep learning and behavioral monitoring. Joining forces with Sophos presents the perfect opportunity to take our proven, advanced technology to a global audience and make it part of a comprehensive synchronized security system. Sophos is leading the industry in adopting and bringing to market this disruptive new vision for complete, advanced, and integrated security, and we are delighted to join the team and help make it happen.”

Norm Laudermilch, chief operating officer and head of product development at Invincea added, “Invincea set out to disrupt the traditional approach to antivirus, and even now no single technology is enough to fully protect customers. I share the Sophos vision for bringing together a powerful ensemble of next-gen technologies to dramatically improve the overall effectiveness of endpoint protection. Along with our world-class technical team at Invincea, I’m looking forward to joining Sophos and helping deliver on this ambitious and exciting vision.”

The Invincea endpoint security portfolio including X by Invincea will continue to be supported and sold by Invincea and available via Invincea’s network of registered partners.
Sophos has agreed to acquire Invincea from its current shareholders for a cash consideration of $100 million with a $20 million earn-out. Sophos will retain the company’s office in Fairfax. Invincea CEO Anup Ghosh and COO Norm Laudermilch will join Sophos in key leadership positions. Consummation of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various closing conditions. Invincea Labs, a division of Invincea that has been separately managed and operated since 2012,has been separated prior to the acquisition and is not part of this transaction.

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Harish Chib, vice president, Middle East and Africa, Sophos said, “With the growing volume of sophisticated and targeted threats across the world, small businesses without dedicated security resources are particularly challenged to stay secure. They often do not have adequate skilled security staff on board and have invested more on managing business challenges than on IT security infrastructure. The strategy of adding layer upon layer of security technologies is really no longer practical or effective. It is costly and complex and out of reach for a vast majority of businesses. Hence, we felt it is important to cater to this segment.”

“Our intention is to help incentivize our channel partners to better serve and support our customers in this market segment with security knowledge and expertise. Channel partners, who meet these targets will incentivized and rewarded by Sophos for their efforts, where they will be able to earn back by way of price discounts and credit for certification training,” Chib added.

Sophos also announced a special pricing and rebate promotion for channel partners targeting the small and medium business end users. As part of this special incentive, partners can get a return through reduced pricing and extra training initiatives.

“Sophos is a 100% channel driven IT Security Company offering synchronized security through our next-generation portfolio of endpoint, network or cloud security solutions. As part of our ‘Channel First – Channel Only’ sales strategy, we are committed to providing simple and comprehensive security solutions to not only the mid-market enterprises but also the SMB segment and the channel partners that serve them. We are confident that our new training and incentive initiative will encourage our regional channel partners and gear them to cater to the ever-growing SMB segment in the Middle East,” Chib explained.

Within the Middle East and Africa, Sophos has built its regional channel partner program based on feedback from its distributors and reseller channel partners. The regional partner program is well segmented into four different on-boarding levels with different skills certifications, sales and target activities, and rewards.

Partners are now able to manage all Sophos solutions for every customer through the company’s centralized management platform, Sophos Central. Within Sophos Central is Sophos Central-Partner, a specialized dashboard that allows partners to distribute licenses, add new customers on demand, cross- and upsell services, drive recurring revenue and have a clear, real-time perspective on all customer activities. Partners can respond to security incidents faster and track alerts of all levels directly from the dashboard, so time spent handling incidents, including minor ones, is more productive and effective.

The primary objective of the Sophos partner program is to equip partners with training and resources that enable them to sell, market, distribute and implement the company’s award-winning cloud, network, server and end-user protection solutions to organizations of all sizes. It provides access to the company’s portfolio of market-leading endpoint and network security products, which have been engineered keeping its partners in mind.

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“With the increase in sophisticated attacks across the region, companies are looking for smarter and simpler IT security solutions. GITEX, being the region’s largest ICT exhibition, is a perfect platform for Sophos to reach out to these companies and communicate our vision of ‘Synchronized Security’ with them. We plan to highlight our latest innovation, Security Heartbeat, which for the first time allows the endpoint and network security to actively and continuously share threat intelligence to effectively protect against sophisticated threats in a manageable way,” said Harish Chib, Vice President – Middle East and Africa, Sophos.

“GITEX 2016 will also give us an opportunity to meet our existing and potential customers and partners and share our highly innovative and simple-to-use and manage security solutions with them. In addition to this, we plan to strengthen our channel network further by meeting and signing on results-oriented partners in countries, where we would like to increase our market share and reach. Our security experts will hold presentations on the importance of implementing Synchronized Security and address security concerns customers and partners may have at the event,“ Mr. Chib added.

As part of its GITEX 2016 plans, Sophos will showcase its broad portfolio of security solutions including Sophos Intercept – its next-generation endpoint technology to boost protection against unknown exploits, the most updated versions of Sophos Clean and SG UTM, and its recently launched synchronized encryption solution – SafeGuard Encryption8, which can automatically respond to threat incidents from connected endpoint protection. Since enterprise mobility management is now a growing priority, the company will also showcase Sophos Mobile Control 6.0, a container solution with Sophos Secure Email that enhances data protection.

Sophos will promote its newly launched partner program for the Middle East and Africa region, which has been designed to address the needs of different partners and their engagement levels with Sophos.

Senior global executives and security experts from the company will be available at their stand D1-10, Hall 1 to meet with customers and partners, address the challenges they face and share the latest security trends and global success stories with them.
-Ends-

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The new Sophos partner program provides access to the company’s comprehensive portfolio of market-leading endpoint and network security products, which have been engineered keeping its partners in mind. Partners are now able to manage all Sophos solutions for every customer through a centralized management platform, Sophos Central. Within Sophos Central is Sophos Central-Partner, a specialized dashboard that allows partners to distribute licenses, add new customers on demand, cross- and upsell services, drive recurring revenue and have a clear, real-time perspective on all customer activity. Partners can respond to security incidents faster and track alerts of all levels directly from the dashboard, so time spent handling incidents, including minor ones, is more productive and effective.

The Sophos Central-Partner dashboard integrates with Professional Service Automation (PSA) software, and partners’ can tie-in and customize Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software from leading vendors to deploy and update Sophos agents locally.

This unlocks new avenues for all partners (Cyberoam and Sophos) to start selling abroad and powerful portfolio of IT security products allowing partners to deliver a “complete security” and a “synchronized security” solution to their customers. This partner program actively reflects Sophos’s commitment to help partners sell next-generation IT security technology to address today’s sophisticated threats. Partners have a great opportunity to grow their business by making the most of the demand for advanced IT security solutionsand alsoexploring the clear upsell and cross-sell opportunities within existing customers.

“We realize there is tremendous diversity when it comes to selling approaches adopted by our security partners in the Middle East and Africa. We have developed our MEA Partner Program with feedback from our distributors and resellers and this collaboration has resulted in the introduction of a four-Level partner program that reflects our deep commitment towards partner engagement and their growth. This program will also bring Cyberoam and Sophos partners intoone program which is more efficient for our partners,” said Harish Chib, Vice President Middle East and Africa, Sophos. Commenting on Sophos’s channel first strategy he further added, “Sophos is the most channel/partner-focused IT security company in the world and sells exclusively through its channel of more than 20,000 resellers worldwide and is dedicated to the growth and success of partners. As part of the new program and Sophos’ “channel first, channel only” business strategy, the company offers partners sales consulting training and certification, co-branded marketing assets, 24/7 support and in-depth Sophos Central dashboard training to help build the skills and expertise of its partners.”

The new partner program consists of four levels (Authorized Entry Level, Silver, Gold and Platinum) based on sales performance each level increases in commitment to selling Sophos products and value delivered to customers.

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