SonicWall’s price-to-performance ratio has been a competitive advantage for over a decade, the new Gen 7 ecosystem promises performance upgrades up to 2x and 3x the performance of competing models, along with updates in the UI/UX and licensing models that truly redefines flexibility and seamless technology delivery.
The Gen 7 NGFWs leverage a single-pass RFDPI engine to deliver simultaneous, multi-threat and application scanning, enabling rapid detection and mitigation of even the most sophisticated threats. This powerful engine can analyze any size file without packet reassembly, ensuring that no threat goes unnoticed. As businesses expand, their cybersecurity needs evolve to match both the traffic and the sophistication of the threats that come with growth. In the first half of 2023 alone, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers observed a significant surge in malicious activities, including crypto jacking, encrypted threats, and IoT malware attacks. As cybercriminals continue to refine their techniques, businesses need solutions that can adapt and respond in real-time.
What’s Different about Gen 7?
Jump directly to the key points:
In today’s ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, businesses demand solutions that can deliver comprehensive protection without compromising performance. The SonicWall Gen 7 NGFW series meets this challenge head-on, providing unparalleled security for even the most demanding networks, by being designed to scale seamlessly, providing state-of-the-art protection for growing and distributed enterprise networks and data centers. With increased levels of visibility, enhanced user experience and a convenient licensing model, Gen 7 NGFW will be a strong contender for most organizations.
Core Advantages of SonicWall Gen 7 NGFW:
Simple Protection for Today’s Complex Networks
In today’s ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, businesses demand solutions that can deliver comprehensive protection without compromising performance. The SonicWall Gen 7 NGFW series meets this challenge head-on, providing unparalleled security for even the most demanding networks.
Industry-Leading Threat Detection
The Gen 7 NGFWs leverage a single-pass RFDPI engine to deliver simultaneous, multi-threat and application scanning, enabling rapid detection and mitigation of even the most sophisticated threats. This powerful engine can analyze any size file without packet reassembly, ensuring that no threat goes unnoticed.
Scalability for Growing Businesses
As businesses expand, their cybersecurity needs evolve. The Gen 7 NGFWs are designed to scale seamlessly, providing state-of-the-art protection for growing and distributed enterprise networks and data centers.
Adapting to the Evolving Threat Landscape
In the first half of 2023 alone, SonicWall Capture Labs threat researchers observed a significant surge in malicious activities, including crypto jacking, encrypted threats, and IoT malware attacks. As cybercriminals continue to refine their techniques, businesses need solutions that can adapt and respond in real-time.
How are Gen 7 NGFWs different?
Gen 7 is not a new design, is not a new feature and is not a new bundle of features. It is not a firmware either. While a big part of it according to SonicWall is the all-new SonicOS7/X, Gen 7 is a platform approach to security assets. You no longer need to hop between windows and screens to get the updates you need or action an alert. We’re sure you’ve heard “single windowpane” management multiple times before. But when this window-pane aggregates dashboards from multiple sites across all environments, it redefines centralized management. Regardless of where your security device stands (or operates virtually) be it on-prem, on the cloud, or in a remote location.
“Gen 7 was motivated by a platform approach that overcomes multiple obstacles in value-delivery to the end-user, seamless integration and boundless visibility.”
1. Hardware Upgrades:
1.1) Enhanced Hardware Performance:
In terms of performance and throughput, SonicWall’s upgraded hardware enables the new architecture to perform twice -and in some models thrice- the processing capacity, the table below compares throughput figures for
SonicWall TZ270 (SOHO/Small Business) vs. competing models from other brands
1.2) Higher Port Density:
Changes in models vary for each series (TZ, NSa, NSsp, NSv). But the common factor is that all of SonicWall’s Gen 7 NGFW now offer (multi)gigabit ports, even in entry-level, desktop versions.
Higher models (Like the Medium Enterprise-focused NSa-series) offer port speeds from 1 up to 40 GbE. While the flagship NSsp offers speeds up to 100 GbE. This allows you to handle more traffic, accommodating more users, devices and applications.
“SonicWall’s upgraded hardware enables the new architecture to perform twice -and in some models thrice- the processing capacity.”
1.3) TLS 1.3 Support:
For “zero round trip” encryption, which means that the data is encrypted as soon as it’s sent without having to wait for a response from the server first. This makes it much harder for hackers to eavesdrop on the communication.
1.4) Redundant Power:
A backup power reserve that keeps your protection alive in case of outages. This feature is particularly useful for mission-critical systems and assets, where outages could be costly.
1.5) Expandable storage:
Improves the overall performance of the NGFW by reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed and stored in the system’s memory while also allowing you to be more flexible to accommodate future growth (Up to 256GB).
1.5) Integrated SD-Branch:
SonicWall Gen 7 NGFW include integrated SD-WAN capabilities, which simplify network management and optimize WAN performance for multi-site organizations. SD-WAN allows for intelligent traffic routing, application-aware routing, and dynamic bandwidth allocation.
1.6) Real-time threat protection:
Gen 7 firewalls use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and real-time threat intelligence to detect and prevent a wide range of threats, including zero-day attacks, ransomware, and sophisticated malware.
SonicWall Family of Next Generation Firewalls
2. What’s new with SonicWall’s Gen 7 NGFW UI/UX?
SonicOS7/X brings a number of significant changes to the SonicOS user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). These changes are designed to make SonicOS easier to use and more intuitive for both new and experienced users.
2.1) New navigation bar:
The new navigation bar provides quick access to all of the main SonicOS features. It is also collapsible, so you can hide it when you need more screen space.
2.2) New dashboard:
The new dashboard provides an overview of your SonicOS system at a glance. The dashboard includes information about your SonicOS version, the status of your security appliances, and the number of active connections in real time.
2.3) New device management interface:
The new device management interface makes it easier to manage your SonicOS devices. You can now view a list of all of your devices, their status, and their configuration. You can also use the device management interface to push configuration changes to your devices.
2.4) New intrusion prevention system (IPS) management:
The new IPS management interface makes it easier to manage your SonicOS IPS signatures. You can now view a list of all of your IPS signatures, their status, and their severity. You can also use the IPS management interface to enable and disable IPS signatures.
2.5) New content filtering management:
The new content filtering management interface makes it easier to manage your SonicOS content filtering rules. You can now view a list of all of your content filtering rules, their status, and their action. You can also use the content filtering management interface to enable and disable content filtering rules.
In addition to the above changes, SonicOS7/X also includes a number of other UI and UX improvements, such as:
- A new search bar that makes it easy to find the information you are looking for.
- A new help system that provides context-sensitive help.
- A new set of icons that are more modern and easier to understand.
But these aren’t the only updates that come with SonicOS7/X, keep reading after the dashboard screenshot for a more in-depth look into the latest operating system from SonicWall.
Cloud-based Network Security Manager Dashboard
3. SonicOS7/X, Here’s what’s new:
3.1) Threat intelligence:
SonicOS7/X integrates with SonicWall’s Threat Intelligence Service Capture Labs to provide real-time threat intelligence and protection against the latest threats.
3.2) Secure SD-WAN:
SonicOS7/X includes secure SD-WAN capabilities to optimize network performance and security for distributed enterprises.
3.3) Cloud integration:
SonicOS7/X integrates with SonicWall’s cloud-based security management platform, SonicWall Cloud Management Service (SCMS), to provide centralized management and control of SonicWall devices.
3.4) Zero-touch deployment:
SonicOS7/X supports zero-touch deployment to simplify the deployment of new SonicWall devices.
The list of UI/UX features and OS enhancements are quite big and could not be fitted within this blog. For a more comprehensive list, here is a link to SonicWall’s Datasheet on SonicOS7/X
Capabilities of SonicWall’s Gen 7 Next Generation Firewalls
4. Licensing, Suites and Management:
With flexible design, comes even more flexible bundling and ownership models. If you’ve been following our blog, you might have read some of our blogs about Managed IT and Cybersecurity services. Most technology vendors are now offering their solutions through MSPs/MSSPs who can help teams with more in-depth, product specific knowledge and expertise. This accelerates the operations of distributed teams in particular, and adds a second, robust layer of proactive monitoring and human-led remediation for minimal error and maximum control.
Most vendors now offer their services along with their proprietary AI and ML-driven algorithms to have both a human and a robot working hand-in-hand to ensure the protection of your data and team members. And with the rising demand on cybersecurity services due to the ever-growing threat landscape, MSPs and MSSPs could be a key element in accelerating top-notch security services to business of all sizes at a fraction of the cost.
| Threat Protection Suite | Essential Protection Suite | Advanced Protection Suite |
| 8x Proven threat protection services | 10x Advanced threat protection services | 10 Essential Threat protection services |
| Available on TZ270, 370 & 470 | Includes Capture ATP with patented RTDMI technology | Includes Capture ATP with patented RTDMI technology |
| 24×7 support | 24×7 support | 24×7 support |
| | | Cloud-based Network Management & 7-Day Reporting |
These suites are designed to work best with matching business needs, with further flexibility to customize the services within each suite following the organizations’ needs and policies.
Not sure which one suits your organization best? Get in touch with MHE’s team now.
Additionally, licensing your SonicWall NGFW device through an MSP/MSSP comes with multiple benefits:
- Get management support from a trusted partner
- Reduce total cost of ownership to a minimum (SonicWall’s NGFW offers the lowest TCO in its class)
- Pay at your own convenience (Monthly, Quarterly, Annually) through MHE.
- Leverage a cloud-based, AI-driven approach for proactive protection and remediation.