Sophos has officially announced the release of the new Sophos Firewall v22, bringing meaningful improvements in network security, stability, and overall firewall management. The Sophos Firewall v22 upgrade is based on Secure by Design principles and is aimed at businesses looking for next-gen firewall solutions with increased protection against modern threats.

Key new features of Sophos Firewall v22

Health Check: Smart firewall security assessment

One of the most important new features of Sophos Firewall v22 is the updated Sophos Health Check tool, which provides an automated evaluation of the firewall configuration.

• Compares settings against CIS security benchmarks and industry best practices
• Identifies critical issues that affect network security
• Provides immediate remediation suggestions for a better firewall security posture

Health Check is displayed via a widget in the Control Center, providing full visibility into the status of Sophos Firewall for businesses.

Sophos Next-Gen Xstream Architecture

Version v22 introduces an upgraded Sophos Xstream Architecture, designed for higher levels of performance and security.

• Modular architecture with independent services (e.g., IPS)
• Better separation of privileges and functions
• Increased resilience and self-healing capabilities

This next-gen Sophos firewall architecture enables easier future scalability and more stable operation in enterprise environments.

Enhanced kernel security (Kernel Security Enhancements)

Sophos Firewall v22 is based on a new Linux kernel (6.6+), incorporating critical kernel security enhancements:

• Protection against Spectre- and Meltdown-type attacks
• Support for KASLR and stack canaries
• Improved process isolation for increased reliability

These changes improve performance and firewall resilience in advanced threat protection scenarios.

Remote Integrity Monitoring & Sophos XDR

The new version integrates the Sophos XDR Linux Sensor, enabling real-time firewall integrity monitoring.

• Detection of unauthorized changes
• Monitoring of critical system files
• Enhanced protection against zero-day threats

This capability makes Sophos Firewall v22 an ideal option for organizations that require enterprise firewall solutions with increased oversight.

New Anti-Malware Engine & AI protection

Sophos strengthens the firewall with a new anti-malware engine, leveraging AI and machine learning technologies.

• Improved malware detection
• Protection from zero-day attacks
• Cloud-based threat intelligence

This upgrade enhances overall network security and significantly reduces response time to new threats.

Additional improvements in Sophos Firewall v22

Among other things, the new version offers:

• TLS 1.3 support for WebAdmin and portals
• More detailed audit logs for compliance and monitoring
• Improved SNMP and sFlow support
• More secure update processes with certificate pinning

All of the above further strengthen Sophos Firewall’s position as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution for businesses.

Upgrading to Sophos Firewall v22

The Sophos Firewall v22 upgrade is available free of charge for customers with active Enhanced or Enhanced Plus support. In most cases, the process is simple and smooth, while older installations may require additional technical steps.

Conclusion

Sophos Firewall v22 is one of the most substantial upgrades in recent years. With an emphasis on network security, management, and prevention of modern threats, it delivers what businesses need when looking for reliable next-gen firewall solutions.

Artios Integrated and Secure can support you in evaluating your existing network security infrastructure and guide you in planning or upgrading your Sophos Firewall v22 solution. Whether your environment is cloud, on-premise, or hybrid, our team can propose and implement a complete, sustainable, and secure strategy tailored to your organization’s real needs.