Which feature allows Sophos Firewall to manage client security posture?

The feature that allows Sophos Firewall to manage client security posture is Security Heartbeat. This technology enables real-time communication between the firewall and endpoints, assessing the security status of the devices connected to the network. When a device connects to the firewall, Security Heartbeat checks for specific security criteria such as antivirus status, operating system updates, and overall compliance with the organization's security policies.

If a device does not meet the required security standards, the Sophos Firewall can take appropriate actions, such as restricting access to sensitive network resources or prompting the user to rectify the security issues. This proactive management helps ensure that all devices on the network are secure and compliant, reducing the risk of potential threats.

The other options, while important features of Sophos Firewall, do not directly manage the security posture of clients in the same manner. Policy Enforcement relates to applying specific rules to traffic based on criteria defined by administrators. User Authentication focuses on verifying the identity of users accessing the network. Backup Recovery is associated with data protection and recovery but does not impact real-time client security posture management.