We use the solution on campus for students. We are not a non-profit organization working with financial constraints. We are an academic institute, so not very much security is required. We are required to provide real-time security.
Technical Assistant (Senior) at a university with 1-10 employees
A reliable solution that offers solid backend support
Pros and Cons
- "SonicWall's technical support is very good."
- "One issue with the solution is that no authorization or authentication features exist."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
SonicWall's technical support is very good. We get real-time support from them. The product also works fine. There are no issues with the hardware. The security is also good.
What needs improvement?
One issue with the solution is that no authorization or authentication features exist. We have to use another software, which should be built for authentication.
Other than that, it's become difficult to get the best price from SonicWall.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using SonicWall NSa for the last nine years.
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SonicWall NSa
December 2025
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate SonicWall NSa's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate SonicWall NSa's scalability an eight out of ten. We have 700 student users on campus, but fewer than 500 concurrencies exist.
How was the initial setup?
The setup process is very simple. I am 100% aware of how to install and configure it and how to make policies and implement them, such as website application blocking. I'm very comfortable with this firewall because it is simple. There is very little complexity.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are checking the viability of Sophos over SonicWall. When we started using Firewall or UTM, Sophos was Cyberoam. The license was user-based. We saw that Cyberoam was costlier than SonicWall. We could not get financial approval for that.
What other advice do I have?
SonicWall NSA is a good product, and we are not facing any issues. I rate it a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System engineer at a wholesaler/distributor with 51-200 employees
Straightforward to set up with good firewall and gateway-level security
Pros and Cons
- "Sometimes I have some queries, and the SonicWall support team resolves my queries."
- "The solution can be a bit expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We're using the solution as a gateway-level device.
What is most valuable?
It's good for firewall and gateway-level security. The VPN service is quite good, including the site-to-site VPN.
It works well for the corporate sector.
Sometimes I have some queries, and the SonicWall support team resolves my queries.
It offers a very straightforward setup.
What needs improvement?
I do not see any specific areas that need improvement.
The solution can be a bit expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
SonicWall is scalable. Currently, I have two NSa 4600s and they are good for my users.
We have around 400 people using the solution.
At this time, there is no plan to increase usage.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support has been good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used Sophos.
How was the initial setup?
The solution is easy to set up. It is also easy to deploy. How long it takes to deploy depends on your work culture and how you want to use it.
What about the implementation team?
For my organization, I deployed it with my support partner, and it has been working fine over the last few years.
What was our ROI?
There is a good ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
For some services, we have to pay for a license. We need to renew for either one or three years.
It can be quite expensive compared to other products with the same features.
What other advice do I have?
I have the on-premise model, and I have the TZ270. There are more than 20 devices.
I can recommend it to people who are somewhat technical. They would have no trouble with SonicWall products.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
SonicWall NSa
December 2025
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Internet Manager at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Great performance and security with reasonable pricing
Pros and Cons
- "The prices are similar to other vendors and the support is good."
- "I'd like to see integration with Microsoft 365 for authentication."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is a security system we install in our customer's office. It's a firewall. We have a control panel to manage and view some data and this control panel is in the cloud. However, the firewalls themselves are in the customer's office.
What is most valuable?
The security is great.
It has great performance.
The prices are similar to other vendors and the support is good.
The deployment process is simple.
What needs improvement?
I can't speak to any missing features. They've recently released a new version and it's quite good. Right now, it's the best solution.
I'd like to see integration with Microsoft 365 for authentication.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using the solution for a while. We've definitely used it over the past year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability and performance are great. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. It's true that SonicWall had a lot of problems in the past, however, now it's very stable. It works perfectly.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's very scalable. In some cases, it's necessary to change the firewall, however, it's easy to change as SonicWall has the ability to migrate the configuration from all firewalls to the new one.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is great. They are helpful and responsive. We are quite happy with their capabilities.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I'm also familiar with Fortinet. I find SonicWall more secure. It also offers better performance.
Previously, we installed a firewall directly with Linux and we configured it all at once. It was very manual.
How was the initial setup?
Now, the implementation is easy. In the past it was difficult. Companies needed a specialist to deploy new firewalls. Now, they have a system that a normal technician can install.
It takes a few hours to install and deploy the product.
We have two people that handle deployment and maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is on par with others on the market. It's not overly expensive.
The cheaper option is between €100 and €200. However, NSa has different models and the more expensive one is for around €10,000, more or less.
When we purchase our NSa, we buy the firewall and the security services. The security services are for a period of time from one year to three years. When we arrive at the end of the contract we need to renew the security services, however, the firewall will still work. We only need to renew the security services.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
When we decide to change from Linux firewalls to an appliance we looked at different companies, like Cisco and Fortinet, and we compared these different companies and products. We decided on SonicWall due to the relationship between performance and security.
What other advice do I have?
We are partners.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Specialist at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees
Provides endpoint security with advanced protection
Pros and Cons
- "SonicWall provides endpoint security with advanced protection. Moreover, SonicWall includes access points and additional features."
- "The product could expand its throughput capacity."
What is our primary use case?
The tool is easy to manage with a friendly GUI.
What is most valuable?
SonicWall provides endpoint security with advanced protection. Moreover, SonicWall includes access points and additional features.
What needs improvement?
The product could expand its throughput capacity.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SonicWall NSa as a reseller for 19 years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The SonicWall NSa is considered a high-end midrange firewall suitable for integrating small businesses and main offices. The range of NSa models can accommodate from as few as 250 users with the smallest model to 1,400 users with the NSa 6700 model.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
All those features are the same, but NSa SonicWall is cheaper than other solutions. It has a Secure Upgrade Plus offering, with options for either one plus one or two plus one.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is fair and quick. Deploying a certain firewall takes three or four hours, depending on the client's requirements.
We are also selling SonicWall products. We have a dedicated team that handles the deployment process. As a pre-sales engineer, I conduct presentations on the NSa and facilitate client discussions.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
SonicWall is free for the first year and chargeable for the second year if you opt for two years.
What other advice do I have?
The NSa is a model of SonicWall firewall. It encompasses firewall, content filtering, DNS filtering, antivirus scanning, and primary and advanced firewall requirements.
It helps with threat prevention up to the memory level.
I recommend the solution.
Overall, I rate the solution nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. reseller
Cloud Technical Specialist at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Great for SMB customers
Pros and Cons
- "The features I found most valuable are email security and web filtering."
- "The features I would like to see improve are the dashboard and the UI."
What is our primary use case?
My primary use case is web filtering, VPN, and sometimes UTM. I can check a VPN for point-to-point connectivity with this solution.
What is most valuable?
The features I found most valuable are email security and web filtering.
What needs improvement?
The features I would like to see improve are the dashboard and the UI.
In the next release, I'd like to see APIs included.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with SonicWall for approximately two to three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability of this solution a nine, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability of this solution an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
How was the initial setup?
I would say the initial setup was easy. I'd rate it an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
When deploying, you first use a gateway, ISP terminated in the firewall, and then terminate to the user end. Usually, deployment takes two to three years.
The deployment was done by one or two engineers.
What other advice do I have?
I have experience with Fortinet and I would say this solution is much better suited for SMB customers, while SonicWall is better for large enterprises.
I would recommend this solution to enterprise customers.
Overall, I would rate this solution an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
IT Manager at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
Very user friendly with great performance and stability
Pros and Cons
- "We have not found any vulnerabilities since implementing the solution."
- "The security standards for space and point of view should be improved so that the solution deploys in critical areas."
What is our primary use case?
Our company uses the solution as a firewall that provides different levels of protection for our office and factory. We currently have 500 users.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very user friendly.
The performance and stability are two key features.
We have not found any vulnerabilities since implementing the solution.
What needs improvement?
The security standards for space and point of view should be improved so that the solution deploys in critical areas. Normally, the solution wants to deploy in our office or other noncritical areas.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable with no issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have not tried to scale or add new devices. Our load has remained stable since implementation with no increases or decreases.
How are customer service and support?
I contacted technical support for issues related to firmware operations.
Support is the best so I rate them a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The setup is easy.
What about the implementation team?
We worked with one of our partners for deployment.
The solution is very easy to maintain.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is based on a yearly licensing model that is reasonable compared to other options. We have a viral license and a UTM license.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
At the base level for data central testing, we use Check Point. The solution offers more security and sensitivity levels than Check Point.
We use the solution and Fortinet for the office and factory locations. We prefer the solution over Fortinet.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior System Administrator at a government with 201-500 employees
Reliable and easy to expand with good features on offer
Pros and Cons
- "The solution can scale."
- "The user interface could be better."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product for a lot of things, so it's hard to talk about an individual use case.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution seems to help with any intrusion.
What is most valuable?
I like all the features. The global filtering and the content filtering are great. It's not always intuitive, however, you can usually figure it out. It's really handling all of our firewall needs.
It's stable.
The solution can scale.
What needs improvement?
The user interface could be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been at the company for about two years and have used the solution since my arrival.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable. There are no bugs or glitches, and it doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable. As long as we maintain patching, we're good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution has been scalable.
About 150 people are using it in our organization.
I'm not sure if we have plans to increase usage at this time.
How are customer service and support?
We have been very satisfied with the technical support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did not previously use a different solution. this product was in place when I arrived at the company.
How was the initial setup?
The product was already set up when I got here, so I can't speak to the implementation process.
You only need one person to handle deployment and maintenance tasks.
What was our ROI?
We've had it for quite a while and therefore must find it to be quite cost-effective.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm not familiar with the licensing aspects of the solution.
I'm a technical person. I don't care about the cost.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have a very old SonicWall NSa. That's why we're looking to upgrade.
What other advice do I have?
I'd advise new users to just learn how to work around the interface. That's my one complaint. It's sometimes a little cumbersome to use the UI.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Manager at a insurance company with 201-500 employees
Everything is filtered, and if it detects an intruder, it drops the line
Pros and Cons
- "SonicWall has USCS and anti-virus at the gateway level. Everything is filtered, and if it detects an intruder, it drops the line."
- "We have security as a service, and they make recommendations about adding to the denylist and other things. That part could be more accessible and more user-friendly. I'd like to see SonicWall add a user-friendly interface where our internal team can drag and drop everything."
What is most valuable?
SonicWall has USCS and anti-virus at the gateway level. Everything is filtered, and if it detects an intruder, it drops the line.
What needs improvement?
We have security as a service, and they make recommendations about adding to the denylist and other things. That part could be more accessible and more user-friendly. I'd like to see SonicWall add a user-friendly interface where our internal team can drag and drop everything. We get the IOCs from the security companies, so these things can be filtered and blocked at the gateway level. They could add a feature where our team uploads the IOCs in an Excel spreadsheet instead of entering them in one at a time.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using SonicWall for almost seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Yeah, it is much stable and we have been using NSa the previous version before also, the old device. It's all so far okay. It's stable only.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We could expand by another 20 percent, and the product would still cover us. It shouldn't be a problem. We haven't faced many challenges. It's a gateway-level firewall product, and we have 140 users.
How are customer service and support?
SonicWall support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Cisco a long time ago, but we moved to SonicWall almost eight years ago.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up SonicWall isn't that complicated, but you need to know the scope — what's allowed and what isn't. But it's not as complex as Cisco. The deployment takes a couple of days, but we could probably do it faster. We upgraded from the older version of SonicWall NSa to the latest appliance in less time.
It doesn't require a large team for maintenance. If we can manage it, anyone can. We only have three people on our team, and we can manage it without issue.
What about the implementation team?
We used the local redistributor here in Bahrain. They were knowledgeable and had SonicWall experience, so they didn't face much of a challenge. It was straightforward. The only difference is that we went with high availability — two devices.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have a yearly license. SonicWall's price is better than other vendors. We get a discount of about 15 percent off the initial cost.
What other advice do I have?
I rate SonicWall eight out of 10. I recommend it. If you implement SonicWall, it'll be a smooth journey.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Updated: December 2025
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