External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
My main use case for SonicWall NSv is cloud space, specifically for Azure, AWS, and GCP deployments.
I use SonicWall NSv to secure cloud infrastructure instead of relying on Azure barebone security or AWS security. This allows me to get more granular control with my security settings.
I also use it to protect our private data center. We have customers that utilize it in a similar manner to Azure infrastructure, but within our own environment.
SonicWall NSv offers the option for Classic or Policy Mode, which allows me to choose between the two. If I need more granular control, I would prefer to use Policy Mode. If it is a simple configuration with one network that does not require much complexity, then Classic Mode is perfect.
When I use Policy Mode for more granular configurations, I can address situations where that flexibility makes a difference, such as wanting to have one network or one zone over another. I am not limited to the global security service configuration and can have multiple different security policies.
SonicWall NSv has positively impacted my organization. One specific outcome I have noticed is the low cost of licensing and that it is a trusted security appliance.
The low cost and trusted security have led to measurable benefits such as cost savings, which allow us to invest in other technologies.
SonicWall NSv can be improved, particularly in the SAML implementation, which was introduced in 7.2 firmware. I have 7.3, and I am waiting on that first jumbo hotfix from SonicWall. There is a need to continue improving the SAML implementation.
I have been using SonicWall NSv for about seven years.
SonicWall NSv is stable.
With NSM, the Network Security Manager, SonicWall NSv is quite scalable. You can operate multiple different NSvs under one management plane.
Customer support from SonicWall could see some improvement. With the number of items that SonicWall has going on at the moment, the wait line can be quite intrusive.
Neutral
Before choosing SonicWall NSv, I evaluated other options such as FortiGate virtual servers. For our customers, it always comes down to cost, where their budget is, and whether they need to go with FortiGate or SonicWall. Along with the cost, it also factors in how granular they need to utilize it. If they know they need to have BGP, then I might forgo SonicWall.
I have seen a return on investment. The relevant metric includes the time saved in deployment, especially if you go with Classic Mode over Policy Mode. Not much has changed since the release of Gen 7.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that licensing is fairly simple. I work with account managers at SonicWall, submit quotes with my distribution group, and the process is seamless.
I did not purchase SonicWall NSv through the AWS Marketplace. I bring my own license.
Integration is something worth discussing.
SonicWall NSv integrates well with my existing systems. I have a built-in syslog system called ForVideo, and I can ingest all logs from SonicWall NSv appliance that I may not be able to get from a FortiGate.
My advice to others looking into using SonicWall NSv is that if deploying SonicWall NSv, I would really consider using Policy Mode over Classic Mode. I know it is quite a change going to that mode, but if you have to change to Policy Mode in the future, then you are looking at redeploying SonicWall NSv. If you deploy it from the start, you have that scalability to continue to grow.
I would rate this product a seven out of ten.
Within our organization's cloud security setup, SonicWall NSv is used repeatedly, and they are not encountering many challenges to deploy it.
It is used for security, specifically as a firewall.
The features of SonicWall NSv that are most effective in enhancing the network include the Application Firewall, which provides enhanced security to the client.
SonicWall NSv handles network threats effectively, and I have noticed improvements with new advanced features such as sandboxing; we are very impressed with it.
The sandboxing feature is very interesting, and we are looking forward to developments in AI-driven security initiatives.
Currently, we are getting challenges with user-wise reports and other reporting details. At present, they do not provide detailed reports compared to other products.
My overall experience with SonicWall NSv has been since 2008 or 2009.
It takes no more than a few hours to deploy, as we have local support here, so we do not have to log any cases for other challenges.
I have a very confident feeling about its stability.
It rates around eight to nine in terms of stability, and it is quite good.
I do not need much support in SonicWall NSv for scalability.
It is a scalable product.
On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate its scalability as eight to nine.
I would rate the responsiveness of the technical support from SonicWall as 9 to 10.
Positive
There are two support engineers involved in the installation as of now.
I am somewhat satisfied with the price for SonicWall NSv, rating it as eight because, compared to other products, the price is a little bit higher.
The pricing could be improved, and there are extra expenses. For instance, the Global VPN will be chargeable in our product, unlike Fortinet or Sophos, where it is free—this is a major difference.
I would definitely recommend SonicWall NSv to other organizations for obvious reasons.
My overall rating for SonicWall NSv is nine.
The solution is predominantly for gateway-level protection. There are multiple filters now. In the past, these devices were used for extensive filtering regarding phishing, security, and data protection. Back then, there were numerous challenges. I headed IT operations for a B2B marketplace company, where data was the lifeline. We actively monitored logs to detect threats. Things have improved significantly as much protection now happens from the cloud.
Predominantly, we utilized two or three features. One significant aspect was the allocation of bandwidth. Not every user had the same privileges, so high-end users required better bandwidth. We worked on infrastructure where bandwidth was an issue, necessitating allocation.
Additionally, SonicWall excelled in threat management, evident in how users handled it effectively.
The engine provided initially was quite heavy, creating a trade-off between software and hardware-based threat management. A component was installed on every device, consuming substantial memory. When the software was downloaded, optimal hardware utilization was lacking, making hardware upgrades inevitable. Issues like these were tied to the engine size. However, significant improvements and threading have made the solution more convenient, moving from a bulky application.
I have known SonicWall for approximately 14 years.
There were challenges with the coexistence of other applications, especially in a Microsoft environment. UTM devices, being closed boxes, posed management issues. Understanding and handling these devices onsite was limited, requiring external support.
With the transition to cloud, scalability became immediate. Earlier, on-prem setups had scalability constraints due to hardware and bandwidth bottlenecks. Nonetheless, the product is robust, eliminating major scalability concerns.
I have been fortunate to work with a solution specialist company that consistently provided tech support. They ensured smooth operation without significant issues.
Positive
We previously utilized Microsoft solutions.
Two network engineers from my IT team handled the initial setup.
We considered it similar to insurance. Failures allowed us to understand the safety net it provided. Investment was challenging but strategic, given its advantages like 30% depreciation in the Indian ecosystem by the third year. Cloud enhancements have amplified the value for money.
For mid-sized to large organizations, SonicWall is the right fit. However, smaller organizations may not find it suitable.
I would rate the overall product a nine out of ten.
I have some small and medium businesses. I do not use this for enterprise.
I have a variety of customers, such as NSv, non-financial banking enterprises, banking, small bank credit unions, and all those types of businesses. My customer base is different, so I cannot really specify which feature is best. It depends upon the customer. For example, for my small NFB banking services, when they are expanding their branches, I could incorporate a little bit easier.
The price is a significant factor.
Mostly in India, the customer service has many hurdles to get real support. If I want to talk to a customer executive, they ask many trivial questions. Even if I explain that I am asking for a Dell partner, they still ask specific questions, and they will explain many unnecessary questions.
I have used the solution since it was acquired after it was acquired by Dell.
Mostly, I deal with this solution. I do not directly deal with SonicWall. The space is really low, maybe less than 10%.
Out of ten, I would rate the solution at an eight.
