Athena NGFW integrates with Sangfor Engine Zero, an AI-powered malware detection engine. Engine Zero was developed using advanced machine learning models and AI algorithms, enabling Athena NGFW to achieve a 99.76% detection rate for both known and unknown malware across the internet.

Athena NGFW leverages Sangfor Neural-X, a cloud-based, AI-powered threat intelligence and analytics platform.

Neural-X is continuously updated to protect against the latest indicators of compromise (IOCs) and adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). For example, Athena NGFW can submit a suspicious DNS address to Neural-X for analysis. If it is identified as a known command-and-control (C&C) server, Athena NGFW automatically blocks communications to prevent further damage.

Athena NGFW integrates with Athena Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) as part of Sangfor’s Anti-Ransomware solution.

Forensic threat intelligence data—collected from both network and endpoints—is visualized via the Athena NGFW GUI to reveal hidden ransomware processes. The solution also offers a "one-click quarantine" feature to remove the encryption-controlling application from all infected hosts.

Athena NGFW includes Sangfor’s Next-Generation Web Application Firewall (NGWAF) to provide robust protection for web applications.

Using semantic analysis and the industry’s first WAF with a built-in virtual execution system (VES), Sangfor NGWAF secures web applications from advanced attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

Sangfor believes that firewalls should make life easier for security administrators. Athena NGFW includes a SOC Lite feature that simplifies security operations and incident response.

Instead of analyzing tons of security logs, security administrators can intuitively assess the threat levels of users and hosts through Athena NGFW’s management console. What's more, it provides actionable guidance on how to respond to detected threats.