Can you test our Sophos firewall and Intercept X together?

Yes. The Comprehensive Sophos Validation at $12,000 CAD tests your XG or XGS firewall and Intercept X as an integrated system. We specifically test whether Synchronized Security actually isolates compromised endpoints, whether heartbeat communication works correctly and whether the firewall responds to endpoint threat signals. The Standard assessment at $5,000 CAD focuses on either the firewall or endpoint protection.

We have Sophos Central managing everything. Why do we need testing?

Sophos Central provides centralized management, but management is not the same as security. Central shows you what is configured, not whether it works. Policies may be applied but ineffective, web filtering may be enabled but easily bypassed, SSL inspection may be configured but breaking applications and getting exceptions added that weaken security. We test effectiveness, not just configuration.

Our MSP manages our Sophos. Can you still test independently?

Yes. We test from the attacker's perspective using ShadowTap, so we do not need management access for the Standard assessment. Independent testing is especially valuable for MSP-managed environments because it validates your MSP's configuration quality. We recommend informing your MSP about the engagement so they can observe and learn from the results.

What is the most common issue you find with Sophos deployments?

Synchronized Security not configured or not working. This is Sophos's signature feature that links firewall and endpoint protection, automatically isolating compromised endpoints from the network. Many organizations purchase both products but never enable heartbeat communication between them. Without Synchronized Security, your Sophos firewall and Intercept X are operating independently, missing the integrated threat response that justifies the Sophos ecosystem investment.

Sophos Validation

You Run Sophos. Does Your Configuration Actually Stop Attacks?

Synchronized Security only works if it is configured. We test whether it is.

Sherlock Forensics offers Sophos security validation starting at $5,000 CAD. We test whether your Sophos XG or XGS firewall and Intercept X endpoint protection actually stop real attack techniques. Using our ShadowTap platform, we test Synchronized Security heartbeat communication, web filtering bypass resistance, SSL inspection coverage and endpoint-firewall integration. You receive a detailed report showing what your Sophos deployment blocked, what it missed and specific remediation steps. Comprehensive validation with full Synchronized Security testing is available at $12,000 CAD.

Purchase Validation Book a Scoping Call

Common Misconfigurations

What We Find in Sophos Deployments

Synchronized Security Not Configured

Synchronized Security is Sophos's signature feature: firewall and endpoint communicate via heartbeat to automatically isolate compromised devices. Many organizations purchase both XG/XGS and Intercept X but never enable heartbeat. Without it, a compromised endpoint continues communicating freely while Intercept X and the firewall fight the threat independently. We test whether heartbeat is active and whether isolation actually works.

Web Filtering Gaps

Sophos web filtering blocks malicious and unauthorized web content, but only for traffic it can inspect. HTTPS traffic without SSL inspection bypasses content analysis. QUIC protocol traffic may bypass proxy-based filtering. DNS-over-HTTPS can circumvent DNS-layer filtering. We test every common bypass technique to map your actual web filtering coverage.

SSL Inspection Defaults

Sophos SSL/TLS inspection is disabled by default on most firewall rules. Without it, encrypted traffic passes through your firewall completely uninspected. Many organizations enable SSL inspection partially, creating a mix of inspected and uninspected traffic. We test which traffic categories bypass SSL inspection and whether attackers can exploit these gaps for command-and-control communication.

Intercept X Exclusion Drift

Intercept X exclusions added for application compatibility accumulate over time. Each exclusion reduces detection coverage. Exclusions for backup software, monitoring agents and business applications often cover the exact paths and processes that attackers target. We audit your exclusion list and test whether excluded paths can be exploited.

IPS Rule Coverage

Sophos IPS signatures protect against known exploits, but only when the right rule categories are enabled and applied to the right firewall rules. Default IPS configurations may not cover all traffic directions and internal traffic often lacks IPS inspection entirely. We test IPS detection against current exploit techniques across all traffic paths.

VPN and Remote Access Gaps

Sophos VPN configurations including IPsec, SSL VPN and Sophos Connect clients require proper authentication, encryption settings and post-connect access controls. Split tunneling, weak cipher suites and permissive post-connect policies create remote access vulnerabilities that bypass your firewall entirely.

Our Process

What We Test

Internal Attack Simulation

We deploy ShadowTap on your internal network, simulating an attacker who has bypassed the perimeter. This tests your Sophos firewall's internal segmentation and whether Synchronized Security detects and isolates a rogue device. Your firewall protects the front door. We test the windows, the basement and the hallway.

Synchronized Security Validation

We specifically test the heartbeat mechanism between Intercept X and your XG/XGS firewall. We simulate endpoint compromise scenarios and verify whether the firewall receives threat signals, whether compromised endpoints are isolated and whether network access is restored after remediation. This is the test most Sophos customers never run.

Evasion and Bypass Testing

We test whether your Sophos deployment detects encrypted tunnels, DNS exfiltration, QUIC protocol abuse, SSL inspection bypasses and web filter evasion techniques. These tests reveal whether your security features are actually analyzing traffic or just passing it through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sophos Validation FAQs

Can you test our Sophos firewall and Intercept X together?: Yes. The Comprehensive validation at $12,000 CAD tests XG/XGS and Intercept X as an integrated system, specifically testing whether Synchronized Security isolates compromised endpoints. The Standard at $5,000 CAD focuses on either firewall or endpoint.
We have Sophos Central managing everything. Why do we need testing?: Sophos Central shows you what is configured, not whether it works. Policies may be applied but ineffective. Web filtering may be enabled but easily bypassed. We test effectiveness, not just configuration.
Our MSP manages our Sophos. Can you still test?: Yes. We test from the attacker's perspective, so we do not need management access. Independent testing is especially valuable for MSP-managed environments because it validates your MSP's configuration quality.
What is the most common issue you find with Sophos?: Synchronized Security not configured or not working. Many organizations purchase both products but never enable heartbeat communication between them. Without Synchronized Security, your Sophos firewall and Intercept X operate independently, missing the integrated response that justifies the ecosystem investment.

Validate Your Investment

Synchronized Security is Sophos's best feature. Make sure it is actually turned on.

Standard Sophos Validation: $5,000 CAD. Comprehensive Validation with ShadowTap internal testing, Synchronized Security validation and executive report: $12,000 CAD.

Purchase Validation

Ready to Test Your Sophos?

Tell us about your Sophos deployment and we will scope a validation assessment. Free scoping call, fixed-price quote, testing typically completed within 5-10 business days.

Call 604.229.1994

Phone: 604.229.1994
Burnaby Office: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Coquitlam Office: Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Related Pages: All Vendor Validations · ShadowTap Platform · NDR Validation