SonicWall TZ for speed and support
December 13, 2018
SonicWall TZ for speed and support
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with SonicWall TZ
I installed a SonicWall TZ as the main firewall for my client, a creative agency. This is their main internet security device within their environment and supports users using VPN, VoIP, and web servers. In addition, there are internal devices including a high capacity and speed file server for large image and video work. They currently have the TZ400 installed.
- Documentation is clear and to the point.
- The SonicWall keeps up with all the traffic in and out of the agency.
- Good licensing options and some free services.
- Without documentation, the interface and locations of features and settings can be confusing and not intuitive.
- Would have liked a rack mount option for lower priced devices.
- Would have liked to have some visualization options included without licensing fees.
- Adding the VPN to the network, through SonicWall TZ, has allowed remote users to access the files they need remotely, without additional fees or convoluted methods, thus saving quite a bit of time.
- This device is less expensive than the previous device in terms of licensing.
- Due to the reputation of the company, this device is less likely to require hardware updates as quickly as competitors, thus saving my client from purchasing new equipment unnecessarily.
Our previous firewall, from Xyzell, couldn't handle the bandwidth that video files needed within the internal LAN, so we looked at alternatives. SonicWall came recommend by a different IT professional for its solid performance and good documentation. We further researched the TZ lineup, and decided on a model that would fit our traffic needs.
In practice, the interface is a bit more difficult to use than Xyzell, but due to Xyzell's lack of documentation, and support of a 2 year old model, SonicWall has been a much more pleasant experience. Performance wise, there is a night and day difference between the two.
In practice, the interface is a bit more difficult to use than Xyzell, but due to Xyzell's lack of documentation, and support of a 2 year old model, SonicWall has been a much more pleasant experience. Performance wise, there is a night and day difference between the two.
Evaluating SonicWall TZ and Competitors
Yes - The Sonicwall TZ 400 replaced a Zyxel USG 50 due to bandwith issues on the Zyxel and lack of reliable VPN capabilities. As this client did more work with large files within the organization, video and large design files, the Zyxel firewall was slowing down transfers. In addition, more and more employees were being placed outside of the organization, so a reliable VPN was needed.
- Price
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Product Reputation
- Third-party Reviews
The single most important factor for us was the reviews and word of mouth response to the SonicWall products in general, and the TZ line in particular. Price was an issue, but only in a way that put us into a certain class of products, but the SonicWall was the leader from the start due to recommendations.
I would have liked to have had a demo of the software of the SonicWall and other competitor products before we made our choice. This may have swayed us into a different product, if the user interface was easier to use and more intuitive. But, since we chose this option, we are satisfied with the interface and how to use the product.