Sophos Company Cyber Security Posture
https://www.sophos.com/en-usSophos is a worldwide leader and innovator of advanced cybersecurity solutions, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and incident response services and a broad portfolio of endpoint, network, email, and cloud security technologies that help organizations defeat cyberattacks. As one of the largest pure-play cybersecurity providers, Sophos defends more than 500,000 organizations and more than 100 million users globally from active adversaries, ransomware, phishing, malware, and more. Sophos’ services and products connect through its cloud-based Sophos Central management console and are powered by Sophos X-Ops, the company’s cross-domain threat intelligence unit. Sophos X-Ops intelligence optimizes the entire Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem, which includes a centralized data lake that leverages a rich set of open APIs available to customers, partners, developers, and other cybersecurity and information technology vendors. Sophos provides cybersecurity-as-a-service to organizations needing fully-managed, turnkey security solutions. Customers can also manage their cybersecurity directly with Sophos’ security operations platform or use a hybrid approach by supplementing their in-house teams with Sophos’ services, including threat hunting and remediation. Sophos sells through reseller partners and managed service providers (MSPs) worldwide. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com
Sophos Company Details
sophos
5263 employees
617503.0
511
Software Development
https://www.sophos.com/en-us
Scan still pending
SOP_9692048
In-progress
Sophos Risk Score (AI oriented)Between 900 and 1000
This score is AI-generated and less favored by cyber insurers, who prefer the TPRM score.
Sophos Global Score.png)
Sophos Company Scoring based on AI Models
| Model Name | Date | Description | Current Score Difference | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVERAGE-Industry | 03-12-2025 | This score represents the average cybersecurity rating of companies already scanned within the same industry. It provides a benchmark to compare an individual company's security posture against its industry peers. | N/A | Between 900 and 1000 |
Sophos Company Cyber Security News & History
| Entity | Type | Severity | Impact | Seen | Url ID | Details | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophos | Breach | 60 | 3 | 11/2020 | SOP141111623 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaksDescription: UK-based cyber-security vendor Sophos suffered from a security breach on November 2020. An access permission problem was discovered in a mechanism that Sophos uses to keep track of clients who have contacted Sophos Support. Customer-first and last names, email addresses, and phone numbers were among the details exposed. According to Sophos, the configuration error was discovered by a security researcher, and the problem was immediately addressed. | |||||||
| Sophos | Ransomware | 100 | 5 | 8/2025 | SOP344080725 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization's existenceDescription: Sophos encountered a sophisticated cyberattack involving the novel 'AVKiller' payload, which disabled endpoint defenses to facilitate ransomware deployment. The attackers used a dropper masquerading as a legitimate utility, injecting malicious code into signed executables. AVKiller terminated security processes, allowing ransomware to encrypt crucial servers. The attack hampered recovery efforts due to the absence of active EDR protection. The tool's modular design and use of compromised certificates highlighted its advanced evasion tactics, underscoring the growing trend of adversaries using specialized tools to neutralize security operations. | |||||||
| Sophos | Vulnerability | 90 | 6 | 03/2022 | SOP205228322 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the economy of a geographical regionDescription: Sophoshas has recently fixed a critical vulnerability in its Sophos Firewall product that could allow remote code execution. The vulnerability was impacting Sophos Firewall versions 18.5 MR3 (18.5.3). It could allow a remote attacker to access the Firewall's User Portal or Webadmin interface to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary code. | |||||||
| Sophos | Vulnerability | 100 | 5 | 10/2024 | SOP000110124 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization’s existenceDescription: Sophos, a UK cybersecurity firm, experienced a breach initiated by a Chinese hacker group that exploited vulnerabilities in their network security devices. The targeted attacks lasted over five years, compromising firewalls to gather intelligence and infiltrate a range of high-profile targets, including nuclear energy, military institutions, government agencies, and critical infrastructures across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the US. The severity of the incident was amplified by the strategic use of zero-day vulnerabilities and the attackers' focus on critical sectors, suggesting potential large-scale disruption and intelligence gathering for state-sponsored activities. | |||||||
Sophos Company Subsidiaries
Sophos is a worldwide leader and innovator of advanced cybersecurity solutions, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and incident response services and a broad portfolio of endpoint, network, email, and cloud security technologies that help organizations defeat cyberattacks. As one of the largest pure-play cybersecurity providers, Sophos defends more than 500,000 organizations and more than 100 million users globally from active adversaries, ransomware, phishing, malware, and more. Sophos’ services and products connect through its cloud-based Sophos Central management console and are powered by Sophos X-Ops, the company’s cross-domain threat intelligence unit. Sophos X-Ops intelligence optimizes the entire Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem, which includes a centralized data lake that leverages a rich set of open APIs available to customers, partners, developers, and other cybersecurity and information technology vendors. Sophos provides cybersecurity-as-a-service to organizations needing fully-managed, turnkey security solutions. Customers can also manage their cybersecurity directly with Sophos’ security operations platform or use a hybrid approach by supplementing their in-house teams with Sophos’ services, including threat hunting and remediation. Sophos sells through reseller partners and managed service providers (MSPs) worldwide. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com
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Sophos Cyber Security News
Introducing the Sophos MSP Elevate program
I am delighted to announce the launch of Sophos MSP Elevate, a new business-accelerating program for managed service providers (MSPs).
Sophos completes $859M acquisition of Secureworks
The deal comes amid a flurry of recent merger and acquisition deals in the cybersecurity sector.
APJ Ransomware Demands Drop 50%, Yet 54% Firms Pay Hackers
APJ organizations face a ransomware paradox: demands dropped 50% to $500000, yet 54% paid the threat actors. The new Sophos report shows why ...
Sophos expands into IASM with Tenable
Sophos has expanded its Managed Risk capabilities with the introduction of Internal Attack Surface Management (IASM).
Sophos redefines cybersecurity scope with Secureworks
Sophos is expanding its cybersecurity platform with new identity threat detection and response capabilities following its acquisition of ...
Fortinet's Channel Struggles vs. Sophos' Partner Play: A Cybersecurity Leadership Shift
Fortinet, long a cybersecurity titan, now faces scrutiny over its shifting partner policies, while Sophos emerges as a strategic disruptor with ...
How Sophos is Rewarding MSP Commitments
Sophos is rewarding committed MSPs with better pricing, exclusive benefits, and new rebates through its Elevate program.
Sophos to Acquire Secureworks to Accelerate Cybersecurity Services and Technology for Organizations Worldwide
Sophos and Secureworks (NASDAQ: SCWX), two global leaders of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today announced a definitive agreement ...
Sophos MDR Reports 37% Customer Growth in Cybersecurity Push
Managed detection service now protects 26,000 organisations as demand rises for round-the-clock threat monitoring and incident response ...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
Sophos CyberSecurity History Information
How many cyber incidents has Sophos faced?
Total Incidents: According to Rankiteo, Sophos has faced 4 incidents in the past.
What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Sophos?
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred incidents Breach, Vulnerability and Ransomware.
How does Sophos detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents?
Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through remediation measures with Configuration error was immediately addressed.
Incident Details
Can you provide details on each incident?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware
Title: AVKiller EDR Killer Payload Attack
Description: A novel 'EDR killer' payload, referred to as AVKiller, has been observed disabling endpoint defenses to facilitate the deployment of ransomware. The tool leverages the HeartCrypt packer-as-a-service to obscure its functionality and slip past traditional static signature checks.
Date Detected: mid-2024
Type: Malware, Ransomware
Attack Vector: Malicious dropper masquerading as legitimate utility, injecting code into signed executables
Vulnerability Exploited: Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and antivirus process termination
Threat Actor: RansomHub group
Motivation: Financial gain, disruption
Incident : Cyber Breach
Title: Sophos Cybersecurity Firm Breach
Description: Sophos, a UK cybersecurity firm, experienced a breach initiated by a Chinese hacker group that exploited vulnerabilities in their network security devices. The targeted attacks lasted over five years, compromising firewalls to gather intelligence and infiltrate a range of high-profile targets, including nuclear energy, military institutions, government agencies, and critical infrastructures across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the US. The severity of the incident was amplified by the strategic use of zero-day vulnerabilities and the attackers' focus on critical sectors, suggesting potential large-scale disruption and intelligence gathering for state-sponsored activities.
Type: Cyber Breach
Attack Vector: Network Security Devices
Vulnerability Exploited: Zero-day Vulnerabilities
Threat Actor: Chinese Hacker Group
Motivation: Intelligence Gathering, State-Sponsored Activities
Incident : Data Breach
Title: Sophos Security Breach
Description: UK-based cyber-security vendor Sophos suffered from a security breach in November 2020. An access permission problem was discovered in a mechanism that Sophos uses to keep track of clients who have contacted Sophos Support. Customer-first and last names, email addresses, and phone numbers were among the details exposed. According to Sophos, the configuration error was discovered by a security researcher, and the problem was immediately addressed.
Date Detected: November 2020
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Access Permission Issue
Vulnerability Exploited: Configuration Error
Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation
Title: Sophos Firewall Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Description: Sophos has recently fixed a critical vulnerability in its Sophos Firewall product that could allow remote code execution. The vulnerability was impacting Sophos Firewall versions 18.5 MR3 (18.5.3). It could allow a remote attacker to access the Firewall's User Portal or Webadmin interface to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary code.
Type: Vulnerability Exploitation
Attack Vector: Remote Code Execution
Vulnerability Exploited: Sophos Firewall versions 18.5 MR3 (18.5.3)
What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced?
Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Vulnerability.
How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents?
Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through Dropper executable packed by HeartCrypt and Network Security Devices.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the impact of each incident?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Systems Affected: Crucial servers
Operational Impact: Hindered recovery efforts due to disabled EDR protection
Incident : Cyber Breach SOP000110124
Systems Affected: Firewalls
Operational Impact: Potential Large-Scale Disruption
Incident : Data Breach SOP141111623
Data Compromised: Customer-first and last names, Email addresses, Phone numbers
Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation SOP205228322
Systems Affected: Sophos Firewall
What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents?
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Customer-first and last names, Email addresses and Phone numbers.
Which entities were affected by each incident?
Incident : Data Breach SOP141111623
Entity Type: Cyber-Security Vendor
Industry: Technology
Location: UK
Response to the Incidents
What measures were taken in response to each incident?
Incident : Data Breach SOP141111623
Remediation Measures: Configuration error was immediately addressed
Data Breach Information
What type of data was compromised in each breach?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Data Encryption: Yes
Incident : Data Breach SOP141111623
Type of Data Compromised: Customer-first and last names, Email addresses, Phone numbers
Personally Identifiable Information: True
What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration?
Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Configuration error was immediately addressed.
Ransomware Information
Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Ransomware Strain: ['Blacksuit', 'MedusaLocker', 'INC']
Data Encryption: Yes
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What lessons were learned from each incident?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Lessons Learned: Understanding and intercepting the AVKiller loader’s system-call routines and driver-loading behavior are critical to thwarting these sophisticated attacks.
What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Recommendations: Equip SOC with full access to the latest threat data from ANY.RUN TI Lookup to improve incident response.
What are the key lessons learned from past incidents?
Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are Understanding and intercepting the AVKiller loader’s system-call routines and driver-loading behavior are critical to thwarting these sophisticated attacks.
What recommendations has the company implemented to improve cybersecurity?
Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: Equip SOC with full access to the latest threat data from ANY.RUN TI Lookup to improve incident response..
References
Where can I find more information about each incident?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Source: Sophos
Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices?
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Sophos.
Initial Access Broker
How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Entry Point: Dropper executable packed by HeartCrypt
Incident : Cyber Breach SOP000110124
Entry Point: Network Security Devices
Reconnaissance Period: Over Five Years
High Value Targets: Nuclear Energy, Military Institutions, Government Agencies, Critical Infrastructures
Data Sold on Dark Web: Nuclear Energy, Military Institutions, Government Agencies, Critical Infrastructures
Post-Incident Analysis
What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident?
Incident : Malware, Ransomware SOP344080725
Root Causes: Use of compromised certificates for driver signing, exploitation of unrevoked kernel verification lists
Incident : Data Breach SOP141111623
Root Causes: Configuration Error
Additional Questions
General Information
Who was the attacking group in the last incident?
Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident were an RansomHub group and Chinese Hacker Group.
Incident Details
What was the most recent incident detected?
Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on mid-2024.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the most significant data compromised in an incident?
Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Customer-first and last names, Email addresses and Phone numbers.
What was the most significant system affected in an incident?
Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was Crucial servers and Firewalls and Sophos Firewall.
Data Breach Information
What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach?
Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were Customer-first and last names, Email addresses and Phone numbers.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents?
Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was Understanding and intercepting the AVKiller loader’s system-call routines and driver-loading behavior are critical to thwarting these sophisticated attacks.
What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity?
Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Equip SOC with full access to the latest threat data from ANY.RUN TI Lookup to improve incident response..
References
What is the most recent source of information about an incident?
Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident is Sophos.
Initial Access Broker
What was the most recent entry point used by an initial access broker?
Most Recent Entry Point: The most recent entry point used by an initial access broker were an Dropper executable packed by HeartCrypt and Network Security Devices.
What was the most recent reconnaissance period for an incident?
Most Recent Reconnaissance Period: The most recent reconnaissance period for an incident was Over Five Years.
Post-Incident Analysis
What was the most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis?
Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was Use of compromised certificates for driver signing, exploitation of unrevoked kernel verification lists, Configuration Error.
What Do We Measure?
Every week, Rankiteo analyzes billions of signals to give organizations a sharper, faster view of emerging risks. With deeper, more actionable intelligence at their fingertips, security teams can outpace threat actors, respond instantly to Zero-Day attacks, and dramatically shrink their risk exposure window.
These are some of the factors we use to calculate the overall score:
Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.
Gain visibility into the software components used within an organization to detect vulnerabilities, manage risk, and ensure supply chain security.
Monitor and manage all IT assets and their configurations to ensure accurate, real-time visibility across the company's technology environment.
Leverage real-time insights on active threats, malware campaigns, and emerging vulnerabilities to proactively defend against evolving cyberattacks.
