When looking into firewall hardware, you might find yourself comparing SonicWall TZ vs NSA series NGFWs. Offering a variety of features for small to large organizations, there’s more than enough range in the features found in each series.
The SonicWall TZ series is hailed for its features in web encryption, high-speed mobility, and real-time breach detection and prevention. If you’re looking for undeniable industry-leading performance, you might want to look toward the SonicWall NSA series.
This includes the likes of more robust features like intrusion prevention, malware analysis, Geo-IP, and DNS security, to name a few. For this article, you’ll get a formal look at SonicWall TZ vs NSA series next generation firewalls.
Comparing SonicWall TZ vs NSA Series Next Generation Firewalls
For those trying to find the best SonicWall firewall solution, a lot of this comes down to the current size and network demands of your business. Considering that TZ focuses on smaller organizations and that NSA is best for enterprise-level needs, you can expect NSA firewalls to seem a bit more feature-rich.
Examples of this can be seen in many surface-level features, such as up to 10 ports for TZ firewalls and multiple 40 and 10 GbE ports for NSAs. When you take their specs into account, it becomes evident that each series of firewalls has its best use cases. While TZ firewalls are great for branch offices, NSAs deliver enterprise-grade network protection for scaling businesses and IT teams.
It’s helpful to keep in mind that the SonicWall TZ series and NSAs aren’t exclusive to just their target market. Small businesses expecting growth might do well with the NSA series, but going that route could also be seen as a little overkill. Take the specific details mentioned in the following sections to determine which SonicWall firewall series would best suit your company’s network security.
What is the SonicWall TZ Series?
A staple to the SonicWall name, the TZ series is a firewall solution that has held a reliable track record for years. With the popularity of models like the SonicWall TZ 470, 270, 370, and so on, there’s more than one reason they’re a go-to choice for many.
Here’s part of what has made the SonicWall TZ series so popular over the years:
- Multiple integrations such as firewalling, switching, as well as wireless capabilities
- Expandable storage up to 256GB, up to 10 ports, and Zero-Touch Deployment
- Comprehensive threat prevention, such as malware, zero-day attacks, and ransomware
- Seamless endpoint security integration via Capture Client
- Secure and centralized access to private applications through the Cloud Secure Edge Connector
If you were to get down into the specs of TZ series firewalls, the tech only gets more impressive. However, depending on where you are with business growth, your network security needs could expand past what the TZ series can offer.
What is the SonicWall NSA Series?
For growing businesses and enterprises that are already operating at large, the SonicWall NSA series is a perfect match. A glance at the surface-level features and capabilities makes it pretty apparent they’re built for bigger operations. Aside from that fact, it’s still a great choice for mid-sized companies as well.
You can find a few details about what makes the SonicWall NSA series a stellar choice in network security infrastructure:
- High port density and dual power supplies for hardware and network redundancy
- Enhanced networking is seen in dynamic routing, layer 4-7 high availability, and a unified interface for managing firewalls, switches, and access points
- Multi-gigabit threat prevention throughput
- Advanced security features in malware analysis, DNS security, botnet protection, and robust protection against complex cyber security threats
- Highly scalable solution that’s future-proof, being your first line of defense for modern network security threats
Between preferences, business size, cost, and a variety of other factors in decision-making, both SonicWall firewall series are more than suitable. However, this is determined on a case-by-case basis, leaning heavily on the individual needs of your organization.
The Bottom Line
It’s easy to get firewalls and their specifications confused with each other. This is especially true if you aren’t familiar with the differences between SonicWall TZ vs NSA series next generation firewalls.
Make sure to take stock of your current and future network security demands, as this will act as your guiding light in this discussion. As always, don’t hesitate to give us a shout at Firewalls.com if you need any help with SonicWall firewall solutions.