Which type of firewall architecture does Sophos XG Firewall utilize?

Sophos XG Firewall operates as a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), integrating advanced security features beyond traditional firewall capabilities. One of the defining characteristics of an NGFW is the incorporation of deep packet inspection, which allows the firewall to analyze and understand the payload of packets, providing enhanced visibility and control over network traffic.

Additionally, NGFWs are equipped to handle various security functions such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), application control, and user identity management, all within a single appliance. This holistic approach allows for more fine-grained control over both how and what traffic is allowed through the firewall, ultimately improving the security posture of the network.

In contrast, an application firewall primarily focuses on monitoring and filtering traffic at the application layer, which does not provide the broader protective measures found in a next-generation firewall. A stateless firewall operates without maintaining information about the past state of the network sessions, which limits its ability to make informed decisions about traffic based on context. Proxies act as intermediaries, forwarding requests and responses between clients and servers, but they do not encompass the full range of security functionalities and capabilities found in NGFWs.