Tag: sonicwall firewall

SonicWall TZ370 Review & Why Now’s The Time To Upgrade Your Small Business Firewall

By Andrew Harmon

Posted On March 12, 2021

Firewalls reviews SonicWALL sonicwall firewall Sonicwall tz sonicwall tz300 tz350 tz370

SonicWall TZ370 Review

The SonicWall TZ370 is among a group of new firewalls with a 7 in their model number released in 2020. So why do they share that lucky number? Because they run on SonicWall’s latest operating system, SonicOS 7.0. And that means they can handle all the latest and greatest security and networking features you can think of. The TZ300 was one of SonicWall’s most popular small business firewalls, and the TZ350 has been a worthy successor. With that said, why is the TZ370 even better than its predecessors? Read on for a look at the features and benefits of this firewall in our SonicWall TZ370 review.

Are SonicWall Firewalls Any Good?

Originally founded in 1991, what is now known as SonicWall released its first small business firewall more than 20 years ago. And the company has been a leader in the network security space ever since. Numerous third party organizations recognize SonicWall as a one of the top cybersecurity companies in the game, and its feature-rich, high-performance firewalls back that position up. Gen 7 firewalls offer top-notch throughput with excellent connectivity options for small business to enterprise deployments.

SonicWall’s security & networking features available through these firewalls are among the best out there as well. They include:

Capture ATP sandboxing and its Real Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI)
Reassembly Free Deep Packet Inspection (RFDPI) – offering security analysis of all traffic in real-time
TLS 1.3 support to inspect encrypted traffic
Integrated Secure SD-WAN
High-speed VPN
Zero-touch deployment
Single-pane-of-glass cloud management
24×7 Support

Those features are on top of the other services you’d expect, like antivirus, antispyware, content filtering, and antispam to name a few. Now back to our TZ370 review.

What Businesses Would Be A Good Fit For The SonicWall TZ370?

The TZ370 works best for small business and small branch office deployments. That goes along with a recommended user count of up to 25, meaning it can comfortably secure a typical smaller office environment. On top of that, zero-touch deployment allows businesses to have this firewall up and running in no time. As small businesses and branches typically don’t have IT staff or expertise, this is a valuable tool. Adding to that flexibility, for those looking at adding WiFi, the available TZ370W serves as a Wave 2 wireless access point as well.

The security and connectivity features mentioned above simply weren’t available a few years ago on a desktop device – as the TZ370 is. Additionally, with ever increasing speeds offered by internet providers, an older device means small businesses are most likely paying for a connection speed the firewall can’t support. We’ll get to just how fast the TZ370 is in a moment. But in short, it supports gig speeds even with security services turned on. Those older devices in its class don’t come close. So if your business has a previous generation firewall, whether TZ or otherwise, it’s time to take a look at upgrading. Need more reasons why? Let’s dive into its tech specs as we continue this SonicWall TZ370 review.

SonicWall TZ370 Specs

Firewall Throughput: 3 Gbps

IPS Throughput: 1.5 Gbps

Threat Prevention Throughput: 1 Gbps

IPSec VPN Throughput: 1.3 Gbps

Maximum Connections (DPI): 200,000

Connections per Second: 9,000

Interfaces: 8x1GbE, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Console

View the Datasheet

SonicWall TZ370 Pricing & Availability

The SonicWall TZ370 retails for under $700 as a standalone appliance, with the wireless TZ370W about $100 more. That places the TZ370 among the leaders in price to performance in the desktop firewall class. To take full advantage of its security, connectivity, & management features, choose a services bundle. TotalSecure Advanced Edition covers all the bases, with the less comprehensive Essential and Threat Editions also available.

SonicWall security bundles come in one, three, and five year subscription options. And because we mentioned upgrading from an older firewall, note that you may qualify for special pricing under SonicWall’s Secure Upgrade program. Visit our site or talk to an expert at 866-645-2140 to learn how to get a TZ370 for your network.

You Asked, We Answered: Firewalls for Remote Employees

By Andrew Harmon

Posted On January 22, 2021

You Asked, We Answered: Firewalls for Remote Employees

remote access remote workforce secure remote access SonicWALL sonicwall firewall tz firewalls tz270

Here at Firewalls.com, we love hearing from you. Just last week, we got a great topic suggestion for a blog post from a reader: an affordable firewall for remote employees that seamlessly interacts with headquarters.

So without further ado, here’s one way you might go about addressing this increasingly common scenario. Check out our first entry in a series we’re calling, “You Asked, We Answered.”

Firewalls for Remote Employees: A SonicWall Setup

Let’s tick off the boxes of the request. First of all, we need to identify a firewall model ideal for fairly heavy use in a remote setting. How about the SonicWall TZ270. One of the newest of SonicWall’s Gen 7 firewalls can handle a power user with multiple devices and still run even the most complex security services.

What are those services? With the Total Secure Advanced Edition bundle, the TZ270 runs:

Gateway Anti-Virus, Intrusion Prevention, Application Control
Content Filtering Service
24×7 Support
Network Visibility
Basic DNS Security
Anti-Spam
Capture ATP (Multi-Engine) Sandboxing
RTDMI Technology
Cloud Management
7 Days Cloud-based Reporting

That’s a pretty lengthy and advanced list that’ll protect your network at home (and thereby at HQ) from the most advanced threats, from email to web-based hazards and everything in between. Around the clock support means even if your remote workers keep a non-traditional schedule, they’ll be able to get in touch with an expert whenever they need to. And those last two bullets may be the biggest key when it comes to communicating with headquarters, but we’ll get to that in a second.

By the Numbers

Before we get to that, let’s not forget performance. The TZ270 has a firewall throughput of 2.0 Gbps, that’s a lot of speed in a small package. Even with just about all those aforementioned services running, the Threat Protection Throughput clocks in at 750 Mbps, supporting connection speeds that exceed what just about any home users have. It also comes with 5 IPSec VPN clients (supporting up to 200) and 1 SSL VPN client (supporting up to 50) for that very necessary secure remote access.

On the hardware side, the TZ270 offers 8 GbE RJ45 ports, plenty to connect a robust home network, and 2 USB 3.0 ports to connect 3G, 4G, and yes, even 5G & LTE modems. And we mentioned small package – this is a compact device that easily tucks onto a desktop, bookshelf, table, or whatever your remote employees may use. The wireless model, the TZ270W, also acts as an access point with the same footprint aside from a couple external antennas.

Connecting with HQ

Back to the other part of the question, connecting your remote workers to the mothership. Whether your main office SonicWall firewall is small or large, remote deployment and management is a breeze. Let’s start with deployment. You won’t need to send IT staff to each remote household to set these TZ270s up. With the SonicExpress app, you can deploy one or several new firewalls with your desired settings remotely.

On top of that, the firewall features auto-provision VPNs, so no on-site configuration necessary there either. Once they’re up and running, your IT pros can manage as many firewalls as your organization has at once. That’s thanks to Network Security Manager 2.0, which offers single-pane-of-glass management, analytics, and reporting with an improved user experience. NSM works for single and multiple firewall scenarios. That means not only can you monitor everything from one place, you can make configuration tweaks that way, too.

Affordability

We can’t forget this last part of the question. As they say money talks and something (I forget what) walks. An appliance only TZ270 retails at $465, with the TZ270W MSRP a hundred bucks more. As we mentioned before, you’ll want services to maximize your firewalls. The recommended 1-year TotalSecure Advanced hardware bundle (including both appliance and advanced service suite) retails at $865.

But a big disclaimer here, if you reach out to a Firewalls.com expert via phone or online chat, you will get a better deal. On top of that, they can walk you through any questions you may have about a remote work setup for your staff. Give them a call at 866-957-2975 or simply pop open the chat window on our site and start typing to get started today.

SonicWall Gen 7 Firewalls Join the NSa & TZ Ranks

By Andrew Harmon

Posted On November 13, 2020

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SonicWall Gen 7 Firewalls

The next generation of SonicWall next generation firewalls continues to grow. The powerhouse NSa 2700 and three new TZ small business firewalls, the TZ270, TZ370, & TZ470 are the latest entries in SonicWall Gen 7. Following the release of the TZ570 and TZ670 earlier this year, this week’s announcement marks six appliances with a seven in their name. So what does the seventh generation moniker mean?

It means each firewall runs on SonicOS 7.0, the latest iteration of SonicWall’s operating system. On top of that, it means more connections. It means the state-of-the-art protection of Capture ATP, which stops ransomware in its tracks. And of course a big one, top notch performance.

Let’s take a closer look at each of the new SonicWall Gen 7 firewalls.

SonicWall NSa 2700

The SonicWall NSa 2700 is the first of the mid-size firewalls in SonicWall Gen 7. That means this firewall packs an enterprise feature-rich punch, with a low total cost of ownership that won’t knock out budgets. The NSa 2700 boasts advanced networking features businesses come to expect, like SD-WAN, dynamic routing, and clustering. Along with that, it offers high-speed VPN for 2020’s remote workforce.

When it comes to security, in addition to Capture ATP, the NSa 2700 supports Cloud Application Security, Real Time Deep Memory Inspection, and Reassembly-Free Deep Packet Inspection. On top of that is Deep Packet Inspection for all traffic. In sum, the NSa 2700 with these features is ready to stop the latest threats, including the zero days we don’t know about yet. Here’s a brief look at its other tech specs:

Firewall Throughput: 5.5 Gbps

IPS Throughput: 3.4 Gbps

Threat Prevention Throughput: 3 Gbps

IPSec VPN Throughput: 2.1 Gbps

Maximum Connections (DPI): 500,000

Connections per Second: 25,000

Interfaces: 16x1GbE, 3x10G SFP+, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Console, 1 Management port

SonicWall TZ270, TZ370, & TZ470

SonicWall’s TZ firewall series is known for offering comprehensive protection to SMBs at an affordable price point. The new members of this series take the protection & performance up a notch. These SonicWall Gen 7 firewalls support the many of the latest security features (Capture ATP, RTDMI, & RFDPI) and connectivity capabilities (SD-WAN, VPN, etc.) we just discussed, but in a desktop package. The TZ270, TZ370, & TZ470 are designed for small businesses as well as enterprise branch offices. On top of the sizing options they provide, they also come in wireless models (look for the W) which can serve as firewalls and access points in one.

Speaking of wireless, you may have heard about a little technological advance known as 5G. Well, so has SonicWall. These TZ firewalls come equipped with a USB 3.0 port that allows for 5G & LTE connectivity. And because these are built for small business, getting them up and running is a snap. They feature zero-touch deployment and setup through the SonicExpress mobile app. Once they’re online, management with the aforementioned SonicOS 7.0 is a breeze as well. But the major differentiator for SonicWall Gen 7 firewalls is performance, so let’s take a look at their tech specs:

SonicWall TZ270/TZ270W

Firewall Throughput: 2 Gbps

IPS Throughput: 1 Gbps

Threat Prevention Throughput: 750 Mbps

IPSec VPN Throughput: 750 Mbps

Maximum Connections (DPI): 150,000

Connections per Second: 6,000

Interfaces: 8x1GbE, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Console

SonicWall TZ370/TZ370W

Firewall Throughput: 3 Gbps

IPS Throughput: 1.5 Gbps

Threat Prevention Throughput: 1 Gbps

IPSec VPN Throughput: 1.3 Gbps

Maximum Connections (DPI): 200,000

Connections per Second: 9,000

Interfaces: 8x1GbE, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Console

SonicWall TZ470/TZ470W

Firewall Throughput: 3.5 Gbps

IPS Throughput: 2 Gbps

Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.5 Gbps

IPSec VPN Throughput: 1.5 Gbps

Maximum Connections (DPI): 250,000

Connections per Second: 12,000

Interfaces: 8x1GbE, 2×2.5GbE, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Console

Which firewall is right for me?

With these new options – and many worthy existing ones – how do you decide which firewall works best for your business? Consider user counts, how those users behave, remote and branch connectivity, your incoming ISP speed, wireless needs, and more. Sound like a lot to consider on your own? Reach out to our certified experts, and they can walk you through the process (and probably get you a better price, too). Chat on our site anywhere you see the window pop up, or call 866-957-2975 to talk with them today!

SonicOS 7.0: 7.0 Reasons Why This SonicWall OS Rocks

By Andrew Harmon

Posted On September 8, 2020

SonicOS 7.0: 7.0 Reasons Why This SonicWall OS Rocks

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What Is SonicOS 7.0

SonicOS 7.0 is the latest and greatest version of SonicWall’s firewall operating system. Debuting in August 2020, 7.0 runs the show for TZ, NSa, and NSsp physical firewalls, plus NSv virtual firewalls. Its release coincided with the additions of the TZ570 and TZ670 to SonicWall’s firewall lineup. And SonicOS 7.0 is ready to handle the boundless cybersecurity challenges of today and tomorrow.

The operating system is chock full of new features to extend networking beyond the perimeter for remote work and branch offices. That means greater visibility, control, and ease of management for all your needs. In honor of its version number, let’s walk through 7.0 reasons why this new OS enhances your network security setup.

1. All New User Experience

One of the most noticeable differences between SonicOS 7.0 and its predecessors stares you right in the face. It features a built from the ground up user interface and experience. And that all new build was designed with user-friendliness in mind. That means a new, improved single-pane-of-glass view of your network, so you won’t need a seven & seven after you dive in. Instead, you get a highly intuitive interface that won’t take days of training to learn. Combine that with intuitive device dashboards and redesigned topologies, and being on top of your network is easier than ever. Plus, enjoy zero-touch deployment with the SonicExpress App and auto-provision VPN, so you won’t need to travel to each site to get your new devices setup.

2. Simplified Management

This goes hand in hand with the user experience of SonicOS 7.0. What it means is, creating firewall policies and managing them won’t give you headaches. How you may ask? The new OS features rule visualization with insight into the type of traffic the rule is for, what it does, and what traffic it affects. On top of that, you can inline edit rules. In the past, adding, removing or changing rules could lead to misconfigurations, potentially exposing your network to attack. But new features like visibility in custom rules and hit counts, shadow rule detection, and rule optimization help you all but eliminate them.

3. Stop More Encrypted Threats

You’ve likely heard that encrypted threats have become more and more of a problem lately. What are they? Put simply, they are malware & other threats that hide themselves in encrypted traffic, camouflaging them from many security solutions. And they’re not going anywhere. SonicWall’s Mid-Year Update to its 2020 Cyber Threat Report says there have been 1.7 million of those documented so far this year.

SonicOS 7.0 arms you to stop them. The advanced protection you get features TLS (Transport Layer Security) 1.3 decryption – which spots those camo’d threats & blocks them from stopping you. The best part? This inspection doesn’t sacrifice your network’s performance, often a tradeoff with added layers of security. The advanced protection is on top of the already robust TLS/SSL decryption and inspection – as well as deep packet inspection of SSH – SonicWall already offers with its firewalls.

4. Clear and Present Visibility

The latest SonicWall operating system also features the latest – and most comprehensive – view into your network. We mentioned those device dashboards and redesigned topologies earlier. To dive deeper, it means a detailed view of your firewall and the endpoints behind it. That includes including dashboards that detail the traffic passing through your firewalls, who’s responsible for it, and any threats that traffic contains. The latest SonicOS Notification Center shows you actionable alerts to help you take immediate action on any firewall-related events. On top of that, a new Capture Threat Assessment Report offers executive-level, summarized insights into traffic, risky applications, and a variety of malware & other threats. With more business leaders focusing on cybersecurity than ever before, a simple, high-level snapshot of your network is vital.

5. Integrations Made Easy

Your network may not stick to one brand – or type of – solution, but you want them all to work together. SonicOS 7.0 makes that easy, with new Rest APIs (or application programming interfaces for the uninitiated). These Rest APIs in essence allow your SonicWall solutions to talk to other software. The others in this case include hybrid policy orchestrators and lots of acronyms:

SIEM (security information & event management)
RMM (remote monitoring & management)
NAC (network access control)
SOAR (security orchestration, automation, & response)
And more!

6. Remote Work Ready

In this time of the widespread workforce, ensuring secure, reliable, & fast remote access is a must. SonicOS 7.0 helps you step up to that challenge with optimization for high-speed VPN (virtual private networking). High-performance IPSec VPN allows the firewall to act as a VPN concentrator for thousands of other sites, from branch offices to home offices. And for an even simpler remote access option, clientless SSL VPN technology or easily manageable IPSec VPN clients give your teleworkers secure access to files, email, intranet sites, & any network apps they need. On top of that, route-based VPN allows you to seamlessly reroute VPN traffic between endpoints through alternate routes to ensure continuous uptime in case of a tunnel failure.

7. The Company It Keeps

Aesop once said “A man is known by the company he keeps.” To judge SonicOS 7.0 by that measure, it keeps pretty good company. As mentioned earlier, SonicOS 7.0 runs the new TZ570 and TZ670 firewalls. What’s so special about them? They’re the first desktop devices to offer multi-gigabit malware and ransomware protection, with the TZ570 boasting 5GbE, and the TZ670 10GbE interfaces for added high-speed connectivity. In addition, SonicOS 7.0 plays nice with Network Security Manager (NSM) 2.0. NSM 2.0 is a multi-tenant firewall manager that brings admin functions together in one place. Where do you go to get started? As we always say, it starts with the firewall…

TZ570 and TZ670 Firewalls Join SonicWall SMB Family

By Andrew Harmon

Posted On August 11, 2020

TZ570 and TZ670 Firewalls Join SonicWall SMB Family

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Introducing the TZ570 and TZ670

SonicWall’s highly regarded TZ Series firewalls have a couple new additions, with the TZ570 and TZ670 boasting some heavy duty features for SMBs. One major first that security minded organizations should take note of – these are the first desktop devices to offer multi-gigabit malware and ransomware protection. That protection even extends to attacks hiding in TLS 1.3 traffic

The TZ570 and TZ670 are zero-touch enabled, making deployment a snap for novices and experts alike. How easy? The new SonicWall SonicExpress mobile app allows admins to easily onboard TZ firewalls within minutes via an easy 1-2-3 process: simply register, connect and manage.

Connecting the SD-Branch

They also come equipped with SD-Branch capabilities to make securely connecting your offices easy. What capabilities you may ask? Let’s start with the physical. The TZ570 and TZ670 are unique among desktop firewalls as they include multi-gigabit (5/10G) ports. These interfaces allow for connectivity with networking devices like SonicWall Switches, wireless access points, & more. Pretty nifty, eh? But we know network security and connectivity goes beyond physical. And that’s why the SonicOS operating system has been updated to support SD-Branch connectivity.

SonicOS 7.0 features some major updates for admins, including:

Modern user interfaces
Intelligent device views
Advanced security control
Critical networking and management capabilities

This means you get unified visibility and threat detection, all from a single pane of glass.

Next Generation Performance

The TZ570 and TZ670 can reach threat prevention speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, even with all security services on. They allow you to connect and secure up to 1.5 million devices or users — a 900% increase in maximum connections per appliance. For encrypted SSL/TLS connections, these firewalls can secure up to 30,000 concurrent connections with DPI enabled. Oh, and you also get 5G readiness plus wireless options with the TZ570. Come back soon for a more detailed performance overview here on the blog.

Managed Through the Cloud

Manage your TZ570 and TZ670 via the new cloud-native Network Security Manager (NSM) 2.0. The NSM is a completely virtual product that gives you a single, easy-to-use cloud interface for streamlined management, analytics, & reporting. Plus, the NSM features an innovative new user interface and user experience.

A Video Introduction

Meet the TZ570 and TZ670 via our latest Firewall Review video:

Shop TZ570 and TZ670 firewalls

Now that you’ve had a primer, it’s time to shop around. We’ve got you covered with new TZ570 and TZ670 firewalls and security services. Take a look at your options to find the right fit for your network.