In Sophos XG Firewall, what is a user-based policy?

A user-based policy in Sophos XG Firewall is specifically designed to apply configurations or restrictions that are linked to authenticated user identities. This means that when users log into the network, the firewall can recognize them and enforce policies based on their individual credentials. This approach allows for a more granular level of control over network resources, as different users can have different permissions or security settings depending on their role or need within the organization.

For instance, a user-based policy enables administrators to set rules that define what specific applications a user can access, what websites they can visit, or how much bandwidth they can consume, based on their identity rather than just their device. This enhances security and ensures that users have access to the resources they need while protecting sensitive data and maintaining compliance with organizational policies.