Sophos Managed Risk – stay one step ahead of cyber threats
In an increasingly complex digital world where attack surfaces are constantly growing and threats are becoming more sophisticated, it is critical for organizations to understand and actively monitor their security posture. Sophos Managed Risk provides a comprehensive solution to identify, assess and prioritize risks through external attack surface management and vulnerability management. This service is supported by Tenable’s leading technology and delivered by Sophos experts.
The ingenious thing about this solution: Sophos is taking a new approach!
Instead of simply taking over a company and integrating the product into Central, Sophos is now working directly with the market leader Tenable.
A fresh and promising partnership!
Topics
What is Sophos Managed Risk?
Sophos Managed Risk is a comprehensive vulnerability and attack surface management service powered by Tenable’s leading technologies. This service is delivered by experienced Sophos experts who identify high-priority cybersecurity vulnerabilities and potential attack vectors. This enables action to be taken to prevent attacks before they disrupt business operations.
Main functions and advantages
Transparency about attack surfaces
Attack surface management is critical as a company’s digital attack surface continues to grow through cloud usage, IoT devices and remote working.
Without a comprehensive overview of all external and internal assets, effective protection against potential threats is not possible.
Undetected or unprotected assets provide easy entry points for attackers.
You can only protect vulnerabilities effectively if you know them. Sophos Managed Risk enables companies to identify and analyze their external, Internet-accessible assets. This includes web and email servers, web applications and public API endpoints. Comprehensive visibility of the attack surface can eliminate blind spots and detect potential attacks at an early stage.
Continuous risk management
The threat landscape is constantly evolving and new vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered. It is therefore not enough to carry out one-off security checks. Continuous risk management is essential to stay up to date and respond quickly to new threats.
Sophos Managed Risk offers precisely this continuous monitoring of a company’s entire attack surface. Not only are automated scans carried out on a regular basis, but new potential threats are also evaluated and prioritized by Sophos experts. Based on these assessments, companies not only receive a list of the vulnerabilities detected, but also specific recommendations for remediation.
Regular reports ensure that IT and security teams are always informed about the current security status. In addition, quarterly review meetings are held with the Sophos Managed Risk Team to discuss the results of the latest scans and make adjustments to the security strategy. In this way, companies can ensure that they are not only up to date with the current threat situation, but can also react proactively to new risks.
This continuous monitoring and expert support can free up security teams to focus on strategic tasks. It also minimizes the time between detection and remediation of critical vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the risk of a successful attack.
At a time when cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, Sophos Managed Risk provides the security and flexibility needed to constantly improve an organization’s security posture and be prepared for new challenges.
Risk-based prioritization of vulnerabilities
Hundreds or even thousands of vulnerabilities can exist in a complex IT environment. However, not all vulnerabilities are equally dangerous or have the same potential to cause damage. It is therefore crucial to identify the vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk to the company. This is where risk-based prioritization comes into play.
Sophos Managed Risk relies on Tenable’s leading technology to comprehensively analyze the vulnerabilities in a company’s IT landscape. It not only considers the technical details of a vulnerability, but also factors such as the current threat landscape, known exploits and the potential impact on the organization. This risk-based analysis helps to get a clear picture of which vulnerabilities need to be fixed first in order to minimize the risk of a successful attack.
Another advantage of this prioritization strategy is the efficient use of resources. IT and security teams are often under enormous time and resource pressure. Risk-based prioritization allows them to focus on the really critical vulnerabilities and fix them in a targeted manner instead of allocating their limited resources to less significant security gaps. This not only ensures better security, but also a more effective way of working.
In addition, prioritization enables a rapid response to new threats. For example, if a new, particularly critical vulnerability is discovered, risk-based prioritization allows companies to immediately identify whether they are affected and initiate appropriate measures. In this way, potential damage can be avoided at an early stage.
The combination of comprehensive vulnerability detection and risk-based prioritization offers companies a tailored security strategy that can react flexibly and efficiently to new challenges. Sophos Managed Risk ensures that companies always know which vulnerabilities have the highest priority and which actions need to be taken to sustainably improve the security situation.
Rapid identification of new risks
In the ever-changing threat landscape, cybercriminals are always on the lookout for new vulnerabilities to exploit. They often exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities long before companies can detect them or take steps to defend against them. This time lag between the discovery of a vulnerability and its remediation can have catastrophic consequences. This is where Sophos Managed Risk comes in.
Sophos Managed Risk continuously monitors a company’s internally exposed assets and performs regular vulnerability scans. As soon as a new, particularly critical vulnerability is discovered that could affect an organization’s applications or systems, Sophos immediately informs the IT security team through proactive notifications. This enables security teams to take immediate action and minimize the risk of a successful attack.
The rapid identification and response to new risks is particularly important in order to address so-called zero-day vulnerabilities – security gaps that are as yet unknown and for which no patches are available. Sophos Managed Risk uses Tenable’s comprehensive threat databases and expert knowledge to identify potentially vulnerable systems at an early stage and provide appropriate recommendations for action.
Another benefit is the integration of notifications into the Sophos central management console, which enables seamless collaboration with other security solutions such as Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR). This allows all security-related events to be brought together in one dashboard, giving security teams a holistic view of their IT environment.
Rapid identification of new risks is a critical factor in surviving in today’s threat landscape. With Sophos Managed Risk, organizations are well equipped to respond to new threats immediately and protect their systems from attacks before they can cause damage.
Integration with Sophos MDR
Sophos Managed Risk works seamlessly with the Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service.
This integration allows vulnerability information to be used effectively to detect and respond to threats even faster.
While Sophos Managed Risk focuses on identifying, assessing and prioritizing vulnerabilities in an organization’s IT environment, Sophos MDR focuses on detecting and responding to active threats.
By working seamlessly together, the two services enable organizations to benefit from an even better security strategy that includes both preventative and reactive measures.
- Improved threat detection: By combining the vulnerability information from Sophos Managed Risk with the detection and monitoring capabilities of Sophos MDR, threats can not only be detected faster, but also analyzed more accurately. For example, if a newly discovered vulnerability is correlated with suspicious behavior, security teams can take immediate action before an attacker can exploit the vulnerability.
- Proactive risk reduction: The integration makes it possible to integrate the vulnerabilities identified by Sophos Managed Risk directly into the Sophos MDR security strategy. This means that attempted attacks on known vulnerabilities can be detected and blocked at an early stage. This creates a proactive security posture that not only reacts to existing threats, but also prevents potential attacks.
- Centralized management and visibility: All security-related events, vulnerability information and threat notifications are consolidated in the Sophos Central console. This provides security teams with a centralized platform from which they can monitor and manage all aspects of their security infrastructure. With a single view of threats and vulnerabilities, decisions can be made faster and security incidents can be handled more efficiently.
- Unified case management: Both Sophos Managed Risk and Sophos MDR use a common case management system. This allows vulnerabilities and threats to be viewed in the context of a single security incident. For example, a newly discovered vulnerability can be immediately linked to an ongoing security incident to speed up investigation and remediation.
- Joint remediation strategies: Sophos Managed Risk and Sophos MDR teams work closely together to develop joint remediation strategies. Once a critical vulnerability is identified, not only are remediation steps suggested, but specific threat detection rules are implemented to ensure that attacks on that vulnerability are detected and prevented.
- Application example: Let’s imagine that Sophos Managed Risk has identified a critical vulnerability in an organization’s web application that could be actively exploited. This information is immediately forwarded to the Sophos MDR team, which implements targeted detection rules in the environment. If attackers attempt to exploit this vulnerability, it is detected immediately and the MDR team can take appropriate countermeasures, such as blocking the attack, isolating affected systems or triggering an alert to the organization’s security team.
Licensing and pricing
Sophos Managed Risk is offered as an add-on to the existing Sophos MDR Essentials or MDR Complete solutions. Licensing is based on the total number of users and servers, which allows for predictable and consistent pricing. You are welcome to request a quote for both MDR and Managed Risk. Simply use our contact page.
Onboarding process
Getting started with Sophos Managed Risk is straightforward. You do not need to install any additional software in your own environment. The onboarding process comprises the following steps:
- Enter details of authorized contacts: You enter the relevant contact details that will be used to manage the service.
- Enter details of the domains: The domains to be monitored are specified.
- Schedule automated scans: You specify when the regular vulnerability scans are to be carried out.
After activation, a baseline review meeting with Sophos’s managed risk experts will be scheduled within approximately 30 days to discuss the initial findings and determine the next steps.
Why choose Sophos Managed Risk?
Sophos Managed Risk offers numerous advantages for IT administrators and Managed Service Providers (MSPs):
- Holistic security solution: The integration with Sophos MDR provides a comprehensive security solution that covers both the detection and management of risks.
- Efficient use of resources: Risk-based prioritization helps to make the best possible use of limited resources.
- Trustworthy partnership: The cooperation with Tenable, a leading provider in the field of exposure management, strengthens credibility and trust in the security solutions offered.
- Scalability: Licensing according to the number of users and servers enables simple scaling according to the size of the company.
FAQ
Who can currently use Sophos Managed Risk?
The service is currently available as an add-on to Sophos MDR Essentials and MDR Complete, with plans for standalone availability in the future.
Is the service available worldwide?
Yes, Sophos Managed Risk is available in all regions, but the reports are currently only available in English.
How is Sophos Managed Risk licensed?
Based on the total number of users and server devices, similar to other Sophos services.
What does “Powered by Tenable” mean?
Sophos uses Tenable’s external attack surface and vulnerability management technology as part of Sophos Managed Risk Services.
How do I set up Sophos Managed Risk?
Customers activate the service in Sophos Central, specify authorized contacts and domain details, and schedule automated scans.
How does Sophos Managed Risk work with Sophos MDR?
Through shared case management in Sophos Central and the exchange of vulnerability information to improve security.
What types of assets are recognized and scanned?
Currently, the service focuses on external, Internet-accessible assets such as web and email servers, web applications and public API servers.
How often are vulnerabilities scanned?
Automated scans are carried out once a week, with additional ad hoc scans as required.
Do customers have access to a Tenable Admin Console?
No, customers use Sophos Central for service configuration and reporting.
Can the existing Tenable service be used with Sophos Managed Risk?
No, Sophos Managed Risk must be purchased and set up separately.
Can Sophos Managed Risk help with cyber insurance?
Yes, by regularly reviewing and reducing risks, companies can improve their cyber insurance position and potentially receive premium discounts.
How does Sophos Managed Risk support compliance with data protection and security standards?
Sophos Managed Risk helps organizations comply with various data privacy and security standards by providing a comprehensive view of the security posture and ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified and remediated in a timely manner.
The service supports compliance with standards such as GDPR, ISO 27001 and other industry-specific regulations by ensuring that critical security requirements are met.
Sophos Managed Risk also provides regular reports and documentation required for audits and compliance checks.
Through continuous monitoring and proactive risk management capabilities, the service enables organizations to effectively meet their compliance requirements and close security gaps before they lead to compliance breaches.
How quickly does Sophos Managed Risk detect new vulnerabilities in my infrastructure?
Sophos Managed Risk is designed to detect and report new vulnerabilities as quickly as possible.
Thanks to continuous monitoring and regular automated scans, new vulnerabilities are identified as soon as they are discovered.
In addition, the service uses real-time data and proactive threat intelligence to respond immediately to new risks.
As soon as a new critical vulnerability is discovered that affects your Internet-accessible assets, you will immediately receive a notification with detailed information and recommendations for action.
This fast response time enables you to take action quickly and fend off potential attacks before they can cause any damage.
Can Sophos Managed Risk be integrated into my existing IT infrastructure?
Yes, Sophos Managed Risk is designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing IT infrastructure.
The service is compatible with a wide range of platforms and systems, including cloud services, on-premises servers and hybrid environments.
Setup does not require extensive changes to your existing infrastructure, just configuration in the Sophos Central console.
The service also offers flexible integration options with other security solutions you already have in place, such as SIEM systems, to support a holistic security strategy.
This seamless integration ensures that Sophos Managed Risk can be efficiently and effectively incorporated into your existing security processes without disruption or additional complexity.
Documents and other resources
For a detailed overview and further information on Sophos Managed Risk, please refer to the following documents:
- Sophos Managed Risk – Solution Brochure – This brochure provides a comprehensive introduction to the features and benefits of Sophos Managed Risk. It includes details on attack surface management, continuous risk assessment and risk-based vulnerability prioritization. Ideal for gaining a comprehensive overview of the service and incorporating it into your own IT security strategy.
- Sophos Managed Risk – Solution Brief – This document goes into more technical detail and use cases. It describes how Sophos Managed Risk can be integrated into existing security infrastructures and provides real-world examples of how organizations can benefit from improved risk assessment and management.
Both resources provide valuable insights into the workings and benefits of Sophos Managed Risk and help IT administrators make informed decisions to strengthen their security posture.
And you can find even more information on the official Sophos Managed Risk website.
