Early access programs let you try out new product features before we release them to all customers.

• Big Sur And Sophos Web
• Big Sur And Sophos Endpoint
• Big Sur And Sophos Update

You can take part in more than one program at the same time.

Apple has released the new M1 Chip (ARM) equipped computers, which bring significant architecture changes (known as Apple Silicon). Among them, these devices will run (at minimum) macOS11 Big Sur, and handle tasks differently than previous Apple systems. If you would like to prevent users from upgrading to BigSur AND if you or your customer are using Sophos Endpoint, then it’s worth noting that the SophosLabs have added an Application Control detection for the Big Sur installer. Apple is releasing the latest operating system—MacOS 11 or Big Sur—for Macintosh computers Thursday, November 12. At this time, Sophos is not compatible with Big Sur.

There are two types of early access program:

• Open. Anyone can take part.
• Invitation only. We invite you to take part in the program and send you the code you need for access.

Join programs

To join programs:

1. Click your account name (upper right of the user interface) and select Early Access Programs.

   On the Early Access Programs page, you'll see a list of the available programs.

   Note If you want to join an “invitation only” program, you must add the program to the list first. Under Invitation only programs, enter your invitation code.
2. Click the Join button next to a program.
3. A description of the program is displayed. Click Continue.
4. In the End User License Agreement & Privacy Policy dialog, view the agreement and then click Accept.
   Note If the program is for endpoint software, an Add devices button is displayed. You must continue to the next step.
5. Click the Add devices button.
6. On the Manage devices page, you see a list of the Eligible devices on which you can install the new feature. Use the picker to select the devices where you want to try the new feature. Click Save.
   Note You can add or remove devices at any time during the program. To do this, go to the Early Access Programs page again and click the Manage button beside the program.

The software on the selected devices will be updated to include the new feature.

Leave programs

Big Sur And Sophos Web

Big Sur And Sophos Endpoint

To leave a program, click the Leave button next to the program.

If you want to stop using a new feature, you can also simply remove your devices from a program as follows:

Big Sur And Sophos Update

1. On the Early Access Programs page, click the Manage button next to the program.
2. On the Manage devices page, use the picker to remove all your devices from the Assigned devices list.