The answer lies in three steps:
| Feature | IPsec (IKEv2) | SSL VPN | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | UDP 500, UDP 4500 | TCP 443 | | Network Traversal | Better for stable networks; can struggle with strict NATs. | Best for restrictive networks (hotels, public Wi-Fi) due to Port 443 usage. | | Certificate Requirement | Mandatory (Client must trust the Firewall cert). | Optional (but recommended). | | Speed | Generally faster due to UDP kernel handling. | Slightly higher overhead due to TCP/TLS encryption. | sophosconnect250gaipsecandsslvpnmsi work
| Part of Name | Meaning | | :--- | :--- | | | The product name (replaces the old "Sophos SSL VPN Client"). | | 2.5.0 | The version number. (Check if this is the latest—Sophos updates often). | | GA | General Availability . This is the stable, production-ready release (not a beta or RC). | | IPsec and SSL VPN | The magic part . This single client handles both protocols. Old clients only did SSL. This one does IPsec (faster, native) and SSL (more compatible). | | MSI | The installer format for silent/system deployment. | The answer lies in three steps: | Feature
: Supports bulk installation via Group Policy (GPO) or SCCM using the standard MSI installer. | Optional (but recommended)