Evaluation Mode

Before the management center registers with the Smart Software Manager, it operates for 90 days in evaluation mode. You can assign feature licenses to managed devices, and they will remain in compliance for the duration of evaluation mode. When this period ends, the management center becomes unregistered.

If you register the management center with the Smart Software Manager, the evaluation mode ends. If you later deregister the management center, you cannot resume evaluation mode, even if you did not initially use all 90 days.

For more information about the unregistered state, see Unregistered State.

Note	You cannot receive an evaluation license for Strong Encryption (3DES/AES); you must register with the Smart Software Manager to receive the export-compliance token that enables the Strong Encryption (3DES/AES) license.

Note	The Talos certificate for Evaluation Mode in Secure Firewall Version 7.6.0 is set to expire on March 31, 2025. After this date, access to Talos-hosted services in Evaluation Mode (specifically those related to web reputation/ categorization lookups) will be discontinued.