UPGRADE ADVANTAGE: Why Security Enhancements Matter for MSPs and MSSPs

Upgrading firewalls isn’t just about new features; it’s about keeping customers secure, services competitive and your MSP business future-ready.

Upgrading to a new generation of firewalls can feel like a tough sell, especially when your current solution still works. But as a managed service provider (MSP), standing still means falling behind.

This blog series will focus on key considerations to help you make smart, proactive upgrade decisions for your customers. And today we’ll focus on one of the most critical drivers: enhanced security.

Cybersecurity Never Stops — Neither Should You

Cybersecurity isn’t a one-and-done effort. It’s not a sprint. And it’s definitely not a marathon. It’s a race that simply never stops, where new threats constantly emerge, and staying ahead means evolving just as fast.

While you manage updates and maintain uptime, firewall vendors are innovating rapidly to match the relentless pace at which cybercriminals unleash new threats. With each new generation, they deliver stronger protections, smarter management tools and greater scalability, not just to keep your customers safe, but to help you stay competitive.

Delaying upgrades doesn’t just delay stronger security. It can slow down your service delivery and expose your customers (and your brand) to unnecessary risk.

Why Upgrading Pays Off

Here’s what you and your customers gain from upgrading to the latest generation of SonicWall firewalls:

• Up to 4× performance across firewall, DPI, and IPSec VPN
• 15× more maximum connections and 8× more site-to-site VPN tunnels
• Advanced threat protection: TLS 1.3, DPI-SSL, and Secure SD-WAN
• SAML support for seamless SSO and tighter Identity Provider (IdP) integration (available in SonicOS 7.2 and upcoming 8.x releases)
• SonicOS firmware auto-update to reduce manual patching
• Up to 256GB expandable memory and dual power supplies for hardware resilience
• Unified cloud management with integrations like Capture Client for endpoint security
• CSE integration for built-in Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to secure remote and mobile users

These upgrades aren’t just about better protection, they’re about staying agile, efficient and differentiated in a competitive MSP/MSSP market.

Upgrades in Action

Faced with securing a nationwide restaurant chain’s remote delivery staff and branch offices, one SonicWall partner turned to the Gen 8 firewall with Cloud Secure Edge (CSE).

The result? Zero-Trust access to on-prem servers and cloud apps for every remote and mobile user — plus rock-solid perimeter protection, faster performance, and simplified management that opens the door to new recurring revenue opportunities.

Monetize Upgrades with Value-Added Services

Upgrading also opens the door to recurring revenue and managed services — and in today’s threat landscape, managed firewalls are no longer a nice-to-have; they’re a must-have for protecting customers and maintaining trust.

• The SonicWall Managed Protection Security Suite (MPSS) bundle provides fully managed firewall services, powered by SonicSentry NOC.
• MPSS includes firmware updates, vulnerability management, system health monitoring, and actionable reports.
• It supports Gen 7 and Gen 8 devices and can either augment your own NOC or serve as a managed extension for peace of mind.
• MPSS also includes a $200,000 embedded cyber warranty, offering an added layer of value to your service offer.

This gives you new ways to retain clients, improve SLAs, and expand your offerings, without adding operational overhead.

The Cost of Delaying

Every day you delay upgrading is a day you leave performance, protection and revenue on the table.

And the longer you sit with outdated protection, the more likely is that an attack could break through, causing downtime, reputational damage and costs far beyond the price of staying current.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

Don’t wait for disruption to take action. Talk to your SonicWall representative to assess your current firewall install base and identify the upgrades that will deliver the most impact, the soonest.

Stay ahead of the curve. Upgrade smart. Grow stronger.

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