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Activate your account and get software

To make sure emails are authentically from Sophos, open the emails sent by do-not-reply@central.sophos.com.

To activate your account and get your security software, do as follows:

  1. Open the welcome email from Sophos.
  2. In the email, click Create Password.

    Sophos welcome email.

    Now you see the Activate your account page.

  3. Enter the following details:

    1. Create and confirm your password.
    2. Select a Central Admin Portal location. Your data is stored in this region.

      Your Sophos Partner might have selected this for you.

    3. Read and acknowledge the legal agreements.

    4. Click Activate Account.

    Account activation page.

Get software installers

The Product Setup page opens automatically the first time you sign in to your account.

Tip

You can open the Product Setup page again if you accidentally closed it. Go to Help > Product Setup.

Product Setup page.

  1. Click Endpoint Protection or Server Protection.
  2. In Endpoint Protection or Server Protection, click the download link for your operating system.

    Note

    • You can use the Windows installer on an endpoint computer or a server.
    • The Windows and macOS installers give you Intercept X as well as standard threat protection.
  3. Copy the installers to your devices.

You've got what you'll need to protect your network, but you also must set up multi-factor authentication for a secure access in the future. You must sign out from your Central account.

Set up multi-factor authentication

The second time you sign in to your account, you'll be asked to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Under Set up MFA method, you'll see the option to set up an Authentication App.

Update MFA authentication.

  1. Click Set up now.

  2. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app to add the Sophos Central account to your device, then enter the security code displayed in your authenticator app. You can also add a device name. Click Continue.

    Verify your device.

    When the setup is complete, you'll see a window with the following message: Successful enrollment.

    Successful Enrollment.

  3. Click Continue.

  4. The next time you sign in, you can use your username (email address), password, then a verification code from your authenticator app. See Sign in to Sophos Central with a passkey or authenticator app.

    MFA Validation Required.

You can also set up a passkey from Sophos Central. See Set up a passkey.