SonicWall Accelerates Shift to Managed Security Services (MSS) with Appointment of Channel and Industry Veteran Michael Crean as General Manager

Because no business should face cyber threats alone, SonicWall provides its partners with a complete platform of co-managed cybersecurity solutions

MILPITAS, Calif. — August 19, 2025 — SonicWall today announced another step in its transformation to become the cybersecurity platform purpose-built for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and the customers they serve. SonicWall has appointed Michael Crean, founder of award-winning MSSP Solutions Granted and United States Army Combat Veteran, as General Manager of the SonicWall Managed Security Services Division. This move is part of SonicWall’s evolution into a full-service cybersecurity partner, delivering both advanced technology and co-managed services designed to meet partners wherever they are in their security services journey.

Cyber threats continue to evolve and accelerate. To stay ahead, businesses need more than just effective standalone products; they need trusted partners who can stand behind them with the strength of a dedicated 24x7x365 Security Operations Center (SOC). That’s why SonicWall is making managed security services a cornerstone of its strategy and a part of every solution, working closely with MSPs and MSSPs to provide scalable, layered defense that includes next-generation endpoint, cloud and network security solutions with unified management, continuous monitoring and regular vulnerability management from industry experts and an exclusive cyber warranty for financial peace of mind.

“Businesses can no longer rely on a string of point solutions or reactive strategies,” said Bob VanKirk, President and CEO at SonicWall. “They need best-practice guidance and always-on protection delivered by trusted partners who understand their evolving needs. In today’s threat environment, having a Security Operations Center (SOC) isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity. That’s why managed security services are so central to SonicWall’s future. It empowers MSPs and MSSPs to deliver scalable, real-time security as a service. As a long-time MSSP serving hundreds of smaller MSPs, Michael Crean brings leadership, experience and a deep understanding of what MSPs and MSSPs need to effectively and profitably protect their customers.”

Inside SonicWall’s Managed Security Services Division

The SonicWall Managed Security Services Division delivers co-managed and fully managed cybersecurity solutions for organizations of all sizes. At the core of its offering is SonicSentry™, a suite of managed security services that include Managed Detection and Response for Endpoint (MDR), for Cloud (CDR) and for Network (NDR). These services are powered by SonicWall’s global SOC infrastructure and staffed by experienced cybersecurity professionals who monitor, investigate and respond to threats from multiple sources in real time.

“If you think you know SonicWall, you might want to look again,” said Michael Crean, the newly appointed General Manager of Managed Security Services at SonicWall. “This is the new SonicWall: responsive, partner-led and ready to deliver what MSPs need to succeed. Managed security services aren’t just part of our future — they’re a core layer of every security solution we sell.”

SonicSentry’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) offerings go beyond traditional endpoint-focused MDR by providing integrated visibility and response across endpoints, networks, firewalls, identity systems and cloud environments, regardless of vendor. This enables SonicWall to not only secure its products but also provide expert SOC coverage for third-party tools, such as SentinelOne, CrowdStrike, Fortinet and Windows Defender.

The result is a truly vendor-agnostic managed security ecosystem that partners can leverage to protect their customers without needing to build or scale their own SOC. From log ingestion and correlation to threat hunting and incident response, SonicSentry delivers measurable outcomes and operational peace of mind.

The Power of Co-Managed Services: MPSS for Managed Firewalls

A simple and cost-effective way for organizations to begin their managed security journey is through SonicWall’s Managed Protection Security Suite (MPSS) – a license bundle for software services and support available with every SonicWall firewall. This co-managed bundle starts with best-practices configuration guidance and provides expert, around-the-clock firewall management, from firmware updates and policy tuning to monitoring and compliance reporting and co-branded reports that partners can leverage to show the value they are delivering to the customer. It’s cost-effective, removes the burden of firewall administration and includes SonicWall’s $200,000 cyber warranty for each managed device. Most importantly, it ensures that critical infrastructure is no longer left unmanaged and subject to significant security risks.

Proof of Impact: Napa Valley Networks and SonicSentry

SonicWall’s momentum in managed services is already being realized by leading MSSPs. Napa Valley Networks, a California-based MSSP, adopted SonicWall’s SonicSentry to transform its security operations, and it has already seen a 60% reduction in phishing incidents, improved cloud visibility and faster threat triage across its client base.

By leveraging advanced capabilities across cloud, email and endpoint security, all unified through SonicWall’s integrated threat analytics, the MSSP has significantly strengthened its defenses while improving operational efficiency and response times. With SonicWall, Napa Valley Networks has found more than just a technology provider; they’ve gained a trusted ally in the fight against modern cyber threats. 

“SonicWall’s SonicSentry gives us the visibility, control and scale we needed to shift from reactive to proactive defense. It changed the way we operate,” said Julie Neely, President of Napa Valley Networks. “For MSSPs looking to scale without sacrificing quality, SonicWall’s SonicSentry delivers the enterprise-grade protection, operational efficiency and expert support needed to stay ahead of today’s evolving and complex threat landscape.”

For more information, visit: www.sonicwall.com.

About Napa Valley Networks
Napa Valley Networks specializes in bridging the gap between business and information technology, providing essential IT support backed by experienced professionals. They offer a comprehensive range of managed services, including security solutions, disaster recovery, and endpoint management, tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses. By working closely with clients, they create customized and sustainable technology plans that foster successful business operations. Their goal is to enable clients to focus on their core business while efficiently managing their IT challenges.

About SonicWall
SonicWall is a cybersecurity forerunner with more than 30 years of expertise and is recognized as a leading partner-first company. With the ability to build, scale and manage security across the cloud, hybrid and traditional environments in real-time, SonicWall provides seamless protection against the most evasive cyberattacks across endless exposure points for increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled users. With its own threat research center, SonicWall can quickly and economically provide purpose-built security solutions to enable any organization—enterprise, government agencies and SMBs—around the world. For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.