What does the term “policy-based routing” refer to in Sophos XG Firewall?

The term “policy-based routing” in Sophos XG Firewall specifically refers to the practice of directing traffic based on predefined criteria such as source and destination IP addresses, protocols, and specific services. This approach allows network administrators to create detailed and customized routing rules that enable them to control how traffic flows through the firewall.

In this context, policy-based routing is more granular compared to traditional routing methods, as it can take various parameters into account, such as the type of traffic or the user groups involved. This flexibility is particularly useful in complex environments where different types of traffic might require different handling based on security policies, performance optimization, or quality of service (QoS) considerations. It also allows stakeholders to support business needs more effectively, by prioritizing certain traffic types or ensuring that traffic adheres to specific compliance requirements.

The other options presented do not encapsulate the essence of policy-based routing as represented in Sophos XG Firewall. For example, routing traffic based solely on user roles or during specific times fails to account for the multifaceted criteria that policy-based routing encompasses. Similarly, directing all external connections to a default path does not provide the nuanced routing capabilities that policy-based routing offers.