> Why do I need anti-virus protection?
> Why do I need anti-spam protection?
> What will I have to do to replace my existing anti-virus solution?
> Aren't all anti-virus/anti-spam products the same?
> How does a Sophos subscription licence compare with a perpetual licence?
> My current managed service package provides gateway anti-virus and anti-spam protection, so why do I need Sophos?
> Why doesn't Sophos provide standalone protection against spyware?
> I already have a licence for anti-virus/anti-spam protection. How can I justify the cost of buying another licence from Sophos?
> What about Windows 95/98/Me operating systems?
> Does Sophos have a personal firewall product?
> How do I scan HTTP and FTP traffic for viruses at the gateway?
> Why doesn't Sophos Anti-Virus disinfect certain viruses?

Q: Why do I need anti-virus protection?

A: Anti-virus software can detect viruses, prevent access to infected files and often eliminate infection.

Viruses can have harmful effects, such as:

• Slowing down your email
• Stealing confidential data
• Using your computer to attack websites
• Letting others hijack your computer
• Corrupting data
• Deleting data
• Damaging your credibility

Q: Why do I need anti-spam protection?

A: Anti-spam software can detect unwanted email and prevent it from reaching users' inboxes.

Spam harms your business by:

• Spreading viruses
• Wasting staff time
• Causing users to overlook or delete important email
• Using bandwidth
• Using up storage capacity
• Offending users
• Enabling spammers to use other people's computers to send spam

Q: What will I have to do to replace my existing anti-virus solution?

A: Sophos can help you to remove a competitive product. Please contact Sophos directly for more details.

Q: Aren't all anti-virus/anti-spam products the same?

A: Detection rates are often quite similar but there are some key areas where Sophos is different:

• Award-winning anti-virus technology with over 35 million users protected
• 24-hour virus analysis and protection from SophosLabs
• High performance software
• Low bandwidth required for updates
• Support for over 27 platforms
• Sophos Enterprise Console provides central deployment, management and reporting

Q: How does a Sophos subscription licence compare with a perpetual licence?

A: Sophos's subscription-based licensing includes product upgrades and unlimited access to 24/7 support, which some software vendors do not include. Sophos offers substantial discounts for multi-year licences, which makes Sophos very competitive when compared to other software licences over the same time period.

In addition to our standard license scheme, Sophos offers a Staged Payment option for enterprise products (i.e. not small business solutions) which allows the cost of multi-year licenses to be spread over the duration of the license period, This is the same subscription style license with different payment options.

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Q: My current managed service package provides gateway anti-virus and anti-spam protection, so why do I need Sophos?

A: There are three aspects to consider: confidentiality, manageability and cost.

Effectively, you're giving a third party full access to your entire email system. Any messages coming through could be copied and saved or redirected. Secondly, user management offered by managed service providers is generally limited and anything complex or non-standard either becomes chargeable or is simply not possible to implement. Quick changes to policy to prevent legitimate mail being blocked can be time-consuming and costly. While the monthly cost might look attractive, the total cost over the contract period should be considered and the likelihood of additional costs estimated. In addition, what would the cost be to your organisation if confidential information were to leak out?

Q: Why doesn't Sophos provide standalone protection against spyware?

A: Sophos provides complete multi-tier protection from spyware. Sophos Anti-Virus protects against spyware at the desktop and Sophos PureMessage, and the ES4000 and ES1000 Email Security Appliances guard the email gateway.

Q: I already have a licence for anti-virus/anti-spam protection. How can I justify the cost of buying another licence from Sophos?

A: Most customers are understandably unable to justify paying for two solutions at the same time. As a result, Sophos has introduced a competitive upgrade programme, which would give you the exact amount of time left on your existing licence free of charge when you buy Sophos.

For instance, for a two-year Sophos licence, the customer receives extended cover to match the unexpired period of the competing product's licence, or six months, whichever is shorter.

Q: What about Windows 95/98/Me operating systems?

A: Sophos Anti-Virus fully protects Windows 95/98/Me platforms and will to continue development for Windows 95/98/Me until 31 December 2007.

Q: Does Sophos have a personal firewall product?

A: Yes. Sophos Client Firewall is centrally managed and designed for deployment within an enterprise environment, stopping day zero threat and preventing intrusion from hackers.

Q: How do I scan HTTP and FTP traffic for viruses at the gateway?

A: Sophos's technology partners provide solutions that integrate Sophos Anti-Virus. More information is available from the partners section on the Sophos website, www.sophos.com.

Q: Why doesn't Sophos Anti-Virus disinfect certain viruses?

A: Sophos can disinfect all known virus types, but disinfection is not always the best option, as some viruses can corrupt or delete files during disinfection. This is because disinfection removes the infected part of the file, which can leave you with a useless 'shell' of a file. It is preferable to replace an infected file from a backup or clean source.

Genotype virus detection in our enterprise solutions protects against families of viruses, even before specific detection is available.

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