We use SonicWall TZ for standard firewall use cases, like blocking intrusion attacks.
Head of IT at a engineering company with 501-1,000 employees
A standard firewall solution that can be used to block intrusion attacks
Pros and Cons
- "The solution's VPN is very good for stability and detecting threats."
- "The solution's pricing could be made cheaper."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution's VPN is very good for stability and detecting threats. The solution's web content filter seems to be very good.
What needs improvement?
The solution's pricing could be made cheaper.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SonicWall TZ for five years.
Buyer's Guide
SonicWall TZ
December 2024
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution a seven out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Approximately 250 to 300 users are using SonicWall TZ in our organization.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend SonicWall TZ to other users.
Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
System Administrator at a insurance company with 51-200 employees
Good pricing, simple to set up, and has helpful technical support
Pros and Cons
- "It's a stable solution."
- "Getting support can be slow."
What is most valuable?
It is an easy solution to set up.
It's a stable solution.
Technical support has been helpful.
The price is good.
What needs improvement?
The solution doesn't have great scalability.
Getting support can be slow.
The proxy feature is not so good.
They need to work on word filtering and also the SD-WAN.
With FortiGate, they provide an NAC solution. They provide FortiClient, which is an advanced feature. SonicWall doesn't provide NAC solutions, and even their SSL VPN client is not advanced.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been working with SonicWall since 2015 - almost seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution has 98% stability. It's reliable. There are no bugs or glitches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have about 1,200 users on the solution. It's deployed to different departments and branches.
It's not really scalable. Not like FortiGate.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is knowledgeable, yet they are not fast. To be honest, they are good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In my organization, I'm working mostly for some other companies. I'm using different firewalls - except Forcepoint. I'm not working with Forcepoint right now, however, in terms of other products, I'm working with them.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy. It's not overly complex.
Two people handled the deployment. It took about half a day. It was a very fast setup.
For a small and medium implementation, it's quick, however, for an enterprise, it takes some time to configure the policy for the company.
What about the implementation team?
I handle the deployment process for my clients. We use an internal team. We didn't open a case with SonicWall. If we face a problem, we open a case with them.
What was our ROI?
We've seen pretty good ROI so far.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licensing is yearly based or three years. Their price compared to others is good.
What other advice do I have?
We're end-users.
I'm not working on the latest version of the solution. I missed one or two updates.
I would rate the solution nine out of ten. I'd recommend the solution to others.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
SonicWall TZ
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about SonicWall TZ. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
831,020 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Business cybersecurity Specialist at Forlopd
Modern and clear interface for ease of use at all scales
Pros and Cons
- "The feature with SonicWall that I have found most valuable is that all the models have the same interface. We don't need to learn different interfaces in the smaller or bigger models."
- "You need to be a certificate holder to set it up and configure it. It's really important because it looks easy, but it is complex. You need to have the knowledge and experience. But this is normal for technical products. It's not a product for regular user. It's for technical people. You need to have skills."
What is our primary use case?
Our use case is that our email and CRM are in the cloud but the rest of the solution is here on our old server on premise. That includes file sharing and internal programs, too. We have some kind of replication of the cloud on premise to use in case of problems.
What is most valuable?
The feature with SonicWall that I have found most valuable is that all the models have the same interface. We don't need to learn different interfaces in the smaller or bigger models. The other thing is the actualization and upgrade politic are really strong, really good, very high quality. Lastly, the performance and the price are excellent.
I am really happy with the product. The new interface is really modern and really clear. The 7th generation is a really big improvement.
It has a very good design.
What needs improvement?
In terms of what could be improved. That is a very good question. Maybe the price could be lower. That is the only thing. Otherwise, it is really a very good product with really good performance. The only thing is maybe to lower the price a little bit - but it's not a complaint. I don't have complaints with SonicWall.
SonicWall is really a very complete product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SonicWall TZ for five or six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
SoinciWall TZ is really very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Their scalability is wonderful. SonicWall has a migration table and it's easy to migrate the configuration of a small model to medium or all types. It's really easy. No problem. I have done this a few times and each time was perfect.
We have almost 100 users.
One person is enough for doing maintenance on SonicWall.
We do have plans to increase usage to more or less 10 or 20% more users next year.
How are customer service and support?
The support is excellent
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previous to being introduced to SonicWall, I used Softforce.
How was the initial setup?
The initial deployment is easy. Even in the case when a client has a particularly exotic configuration - the support is quick, fast, and very professional.
How long the deployment takes depends. Normally, the delays are the fault of the misinformation we receive from a client. Or misunderstanding the information the client provided us before we did the setup of the firewall. Normally it's not a problem with SonicWall.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay yearly or bi-yearly. Normally we offer the license for two or three years. But it's common to buy the license year by year.
What other advice do I have?
My only recommendation is that you need to be a certificate holder to set it up and configure it. It's really important because it looks easy, but it is complex. You need to have the knowledge and experience. But this is normal for technical products. It is not a product for the regular user. It's for technical people. You need to have skills.
As a customer and a reseller, we feel they are doing a really good job.
On a scale of one to ten, I would give SonictWall TZ obviously a 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
IT Infra Head at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Not scalable and doesn't have centralized management monitoring, but it is reliable and the support is good
Pros and Cons
- "Technical support is good."
- "We require centralized monitoring of the network features, which they have but they are not to the level that we require."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution to secure our network environment. We have implemented it in other locations in our organization.
What is most valuable?
It's a good solution with good features.
What needs improvement?
It's a good product, but it's not a next-generation firewall. We are looking for a next-generation firewall and considering Cisco.
We require centralized monitoring of the network features, which they have but they are not to the level that we require.
The reporting is not good. Also, the historical configuration of the data or backup is not available.
To compete in the market, there have to be a lot of improvements.
We do not plan to continue using SonicWall TZ. We are looking for a replacement because we need centralized monitoring across the organization. It has been very difficult for us to manage the firewall as it is not managed centrally. This is the main drawback in our current scenario.
In the next release, I would like to see better scalability, easier installation, improved reporting, storage configuration, backup, and centralized management with reporting.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for four years.
We are using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is not very scalable, which is something that could be better.
We have multiple locations and have implemented it in several.
At this time, we have 1,000 users on the firewall.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good. There is no need for improvement.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not use another firewall previously.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is not straightforward. But, through the GUI, there are features that you can enable to configure.
Forcepoint and Cisco are straightforward but there are many things to do with SonicWall.
For a first-time installation, it can take half a day to deploy.
What about the implementation team?
We completed the implementation ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license that we purchased is good for three years.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have evaluated ForcePoint but we haven't used it.
We will be testing Cisco and Barracuda in our environment.
What other advice do I have?
For small organizations, its' good, and I would recommend it, but not for medium or large enterprise companies.
I would rate SonicWall TZ a five out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Sr. Executive IT / DP at a financial services firm with 1-10 employees
Offers good protection, but it's expensive, and there are no upgrades for phased out technology
Pros and Cons
- "The general feature is the antivirus policy, followed by the ransomware protection, and these are the features I was looking at."
- "The interface and technical support are probably the two most important things that I would like SonicWall to improve."
What is our primary use case?
It is for our company. We are not customers, we are direct clients. I am the end user.
What is most valuable?
The general feature is the antivirus policy, followed by the ransomware protection, and these are the features I was looking at. The VPN feature is not something that I'm a great fan of, but I mean, it is not something that I would even complain about. Whatever is required for my organization, the TZ 400 has performed admirably.
What needs improvement?
The user interface is a little challenging. It is not something I am familiar with. Things could go much more smoothly if they could be improved.
The interface and technical support are probably the two most important things that I would like SonicWall to improve. If the product that they have is to be phased out, there must be an upgrade in technology as well.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with SonicWall TZ for seven years.
The version we are working with is SonicWall TZ400.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
SonicWall TZ is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
SonicWall TZ is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
It was difficult to contact technical support online.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before SonicWall TZ, I have not worked with another similar product.
I recently purchased a FortiGate from Fortinet. I am about to receive the delivery, which will most likely be in a fortnight, so I do not have much experience. We are planning to use Fortinet FortiGate, our plan is to switch from SonicWall to Fortinet.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is smooth. It is not complex.
It can take an hour to two hours to deploy.
What about the implementation team?
The vendor was able to assist us.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The prices are expensive. I wouldn't say the prices are reasonable.
What other advice do I have?
Personally, I find it challenging. Previously, they had an Adobe Flash interface. When Adobe Flash was phased out and a new version was released, it was difficult for us to upgrade, and we received little help from the SonicWall team.
I had also purchased the SonicWall Analyzer. The Analyzer was also based on Adobe Flash, which they did not support. One must consider future expandability and the technology that is being deployed, as well as whether or not it is supported by the company if it is phased out.
I would rate SonicWall TZ a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Network Engineer at Matrix Solutions
Ease of deployment is major benefit; content filtering could improve
Pros and Cons
- "From our point of view, the most valuable feature was the ease of deployment."
- "I think content filtering is the area this product should improve. It's a little tricky to get put in correctly."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for this solution is connecting offices in different cities together. Also, when the pandemic hit, this solution allowed our remote workforce to connect to the network remotely, from their houses or wherever.
What is most valuable?
From our point of view, the most valuable feature was the ease of deployment.
What needs improvement?
I think content filtering is the area this product should improve. It's a little tricky to get put in correctly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using SonicWall TZ for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would say the stability of this solution is quite good. However, we did have a few issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I cannot comment on the scalability of this solution as we work with mostly small to medium businesses and do not worry about scaling.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was quite straightforward.
The deployment does not take long as I can get one out of the box and ready to go for a client in 20 minutes.
What other advice do I have?
The only advice I have for people looking at this solution is to either learn the product or hire someone who knows it very well.
Maintenance of this solution is done mainly by the engineer that sets it up. The only time we really need to use it is to check and make sure that we don't have any vulnerabilities. We keep the firmware up to date. Other than that, if the client needs any changes made, we make those changes. Other than that, you can just set it up and forget about it.
I would rate this solution an eight, on a scale from one to 10, with one being the worst and 10 being the best.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
General Manager at Antea Consulting
Easy to set up, stable. and reasonably priced
Pros and Cons
- "The performance has been very good. Overall, the solution is quite stable."
- "Although the pricing is good, it could always be lower. If we get to pay less, we're happier."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution as a firewall for security purposes. We use it to protect ourselves and our clients.
What is most valuable?
The solution, as a firewall is very useful for any company trying to protect their premise through the internet.
The price of the solution is very reasonable.
The performance has been very good. Overall, the solution is quite stable.
We have found the solution to be scalable.
In general, it's quite a solid product.
The initial setup is quite simple.
What needs improvement?
It's worked well for us over the years. We don't have any special demands in terms of new features. It has everything we need.
Although the pricing is good, it could always be lower. If we get to pay less, we're happier.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been working with the solution for about 22 years. It's been over two decades. We've used it for a long time.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the solution is good. The performance is pretty good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's been very good over the years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the product is quite good. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so easily.
We have about 200 customers using this solution right now.
We do have plans to increase usage. We're moving more and more towards managing it.
How are customer service and technical support?
For the SMV market, it's very nice support. We have no complaints. We're happy with the service they provide, especially at the price they offer.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward. It's not overly complicated or difficult. A company shouldn't have any problems installing it.
To do an installation might take 15 minutes, then for adding any kind of complexity into the setup, there could be an added four hours or so. It depends on your setup requirements and the environment.
We have two people that handle the maintenance, and we also have one consultant.
What about the implementation team?
We handled it ourselves. We're integrators ourselves. It's very easy to do.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product offers very competitive pricing, It's quite good. We find it very reasonable.
Users need to pay a licensing fee on a monthly basis.
What other advice do I have?
We use various versions of the solution at any given time.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. We've been quite happy with its capabilities.
I'd recommend the solution to other users and companies.
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: Integrator
Consultant at Software Solutions
Ideal for medium size businesses, stable, and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is stable."
- "The cost of the solution has room for improvement."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is used for firewall protection with our customers.
What is most valuable?
Stability is the most valuable feature of the solution.
What needs improvement?
The cost of the solution has room for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can be used for small, and medium companies as long as the organization has the budget for it. I recommend Cisco Meraki for enterprise companies because it works on the cloud and is more scalable.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I give the solution an eight out of ten.
I recommend the solution.
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
Buyer's Guide
Download our free SonicWall TZ Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
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Updated: December 2024
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