Sophos Certified Engineer Practice Exam

What is the function of a Message Relay?

1. To enable all devices to communicate all policy and reporting data using a dedicated server on your network

2. To provide backup for endpoint devices

3. To improve network performance by caching updates

4. To isolate endpoints from the network

The correct answer is: To enable all devices to communicate all policy and reporting data using a dedicated server on your network

The function of a Message Relay is to enable all devices to communicate policy and reporting data using a dedicated server on your network. This centralizes the management of communications between endpoint devices and the management console, allowing for efficient data transmission and streamlined policy enforcement. By directing all communication through a dedicated relay, it reduces the load on the network and ensures that updates, alerts, and configuration changes are effectively disseminated to all connected devices. This setup is particularly beneficial in environments with a large number of endpoints, creating a more organized and manageable communication structure. The other options do not align with the core purpose of a Message Relay. Providing backup for endpoint devices typically refers to storage solutions or backup software, which is not the focus of a Message Relay. Improving network performance by caching updates may relate to certain caching mechanisms but does not fully capture the primary role of a Message Relay. Similarly, isolating endpoints from the network suggests a security control that keeps devices separate for protection, which is not the function of a Message Relay.