SonicWall hands MSSPs network security tools

SonicWall is continuing to react to the explosion in the distributed workforce and has followed up its recent move to bolster its networking options with further management tools.

The launch of its Network Security Manager (NSM) offering should appeal to managed security service providers (MSSPs) and managed service providers (MSPs) that want to help customers control and monitor devices across the network.

The move back in June to launch its SD-Branch offering was described by the firm as a major shift and a milestone in its corporate history, as it moved beyond firewalls and would help users to secure traditional enterprise perimeters.

At the time, SonicWall referenced the rapid changes that had happened in the market because of the coronavirus, and with the NSM offering, it again discussed the speed with which the world had changed in recent months.

“Organisations are redefining operations and security as they face new challenges with the sprawling, mass-scale environments required in the new business normal,” said SonicWall president and CEO Bill Conner.

“Securing these newly extended networks quickly and thoroughly has become a top priority. Organisations are increasingly the targets of perpetrators seeking to take advantage of Covid-related threats against distributed networks hastily rearchitected to accommodate mobile and remote workforces, practically overnight.”

Many in the security world have reported surges in attacks against vulnerable home workers, with cyber criminals also taking advantage of the uncertainty around Covid-19 to launch a number of phishing attacks.

“It’s now time to ensure that those organisations have the proper power, protection and control to successfully defend themselves without sacrificing speed, convenience and reliability – all while adhering to compliance requirements,” said Conner. 

SonicWall has been looking to attract MSPs for some time, as have most security vendors, and back in April it rolled out some enhancements to its MSSP programme, providing those partners with financing that works with their business models, plus increased training and technical support.

The security vendor built its offering for MSSPs on top of its SecureFirst partner programme, with a three-tiered scheme – MSSP Protect, MSSP Powered and MSSP Powered Plus – providing flexible pricing options, technical support and access to field sales specialists who understand the managed services model.

SonicWall is moving deeper in the network security market, which is fairly crowded, but the firm has the advantage of an existing channel base and believes there is room to make a dent in the competition.

“Any enterprise wondering why they should look at a new network security vendor should consider the real day-to-day challenges they face – complex environments with expensive, enterprise-grade solutions from a dozen vendors,” said Omdia Cybersecurity chief analyst Jeff Wilson.

“In many cases, these environments have failed to really solve their network security problem, and companies face staff shortages, skill gaps and shrinking budgets. SonicWall has been building solutions that focus on delivering strong security to companies with little or no cyber security staff or expertise and modest budgets.”