Which feature allows Sophos XG Firewall users to block unwanted applications?

Application Control is the feature within Sophos XG Firewall that enables users to block unwanted applications. This feature provides the ability to monitor and manage the use of specific applications in their network traffic. By identifying applications and defining rules around them, administrators can effectively restrict access to applications that may pose security risks or consume excessive bandwidth.

Application Control analyzes network traffic to determine the type of applications being used and can enforce policies based on those applications, ensuring that only approved or necessary applications are allowed. This is particularly useful in corporate environments where productivity may be hindered by non-essential applications.

In contrast, Firewall Rules primarily deal with allowing or blocking traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols, without the granularity offered by Application Control. Web Filtering focuses on controlling access to websites based on their content, while Content Filtering relates to inspecting and filtering content within emails or web traffic, which is different from managing application access. Thus, Application Control stands out as the specific feature designed for controlling applications within the Sophos XG Firewall.