Which feature of Sophos Firewall helps in preventing unauthorized access?

The Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is a critical feature of the Sophos Firewall designed specifically to prevent unauthorized access and protect the network from various threats. It actively monitors network traffic for suspicious activities and known vulnerabilities. When abnormal behaviors or potential threats are detected, the IPS can take immediate action to block the harmful traffic, effectively stopping attacks before they can penetrate the network.

By analyzing data packets and matching them against a database of attack signatures, the IPS can identify and mitigate risks in real-time. This proactive approach to network security makes the IPS essential for maintaining the integrity of the network and defending against unauthorized access attempts.

In contrast, while Application Control regulates the use of applications and the SSL VPN allows secure remote access, they do not focus primarily on identifying and preventing unauthorized access in the same active, defensive manner as the IPS. Network Time Protocol, on the other hand, is used for time synchronization across devices and does not provide any direct security features. Thus, the Intrusion Prevention System stands out as the most relevant feature for preventing unauthorized access.