SonicWall Execs: We’re Redefining Cybersecurity Landscape With Launch Of Next-Gen MSP Platform: Exclusive

‘If you think you know SonicWall, you probably don’t,’ says Michael Crean, senior vice president of managed security services at SonicWall. ‘This is the new SonicWall: responsive, partner-led and ready to deliver what MSPs actually need to succeed.’

In a move to reshape how MSPs defend their clients in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape, SonicWall has unveiled a suite of next-generation security offerings, marking what executives call a “pivotal moment” in the company’s 30-year evolution.

“This is about much more than hardware,” Bob VanKirk, CEO of Milpitas, Calif.-based cybersecurity vendor SonicWall, told CRN in an exclusive interview. “It’s a complete redefinition of who we are and how we serve our partners. For decades, we were focused on throughput and specs. Now we’re focused on outcomes, managed services, AI-powered tools and cloud-native operations that give MSPs what they’ve been asking for.”

At the heart of the announcement is SonicPlatform, a unified, cloud-native control plane to simplify how MSPs manage firewall deployments, endpoint protection, secure access and policy enforcement. SonicWall is pairing this with co-managed services, including 24x7 monitoring, health checks and configuration support via its SonicSentry NOC (network operations center) and MXDR (managed extended detection and response) teams.

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VanKirk said the redesign wasn’t driven by internal ambition but external demand.

“We took a step back and asked, ‘Where are we falling short for our MSPs?’” he said. “Then we went out and built what they told us they needed.”

New offerings include the Managed Protection Service Suite (MPSS), which gives MSPs access to SonicWall’s expert team for always-on firewall management. The NSa 2800 and 3800 firewalls, released as part of the launch, offer embedded Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), improved SSL decryption, and built-in AI for monitoring and insight.

Michael Crean, senior vice president of managed security services at the vendor, said the transformation is about empowering, not replacing, MSPs.

“This isn’t a move to go around the MSP,” Crean told CRN. “We’re building solutions they can brand, resell and trust to back them up. They’re on the front lines and we want them to know we’ve got their backs.”

Crean also emphasized SonicWall’s choice to resist trend-chasing. “The industry loves buzzwords: XDR, MDR, AI. But our focus is on fundamentals: visibility, control and peace of mind.”

In addition, each managed firewall deployment through MPSS includes up to $200,000 in cyber warranty coverage, positioning the offer as both a safety net and a sales enabler for MSPs facing rising cyber insurance premiums.

“MSPs are under pressure to not only protect but financially back their services,” said VanKirk. “We’ve now given them the ability to walk into a client and say, ‘We stand behind our protection, literally.’”

Greg Starr, channel manager at Houston-based Meriplex, said that with MPSS and other offerings, his company is able to deliver more value to its customers while streamlining their own operations.

“The ability to offer 24x7 managed firewall services backed by SonicWall’s expert SOC team gives us a competitive edge, expanding our service portfolio without adding internal overhead,” Starr told CRN in an email. “This launch helps us scale faster, serve smarter and grow more profitably by delivering exactly what our customers need.”

And with the latest launch, SonicWall executives said the company is moving beyond its historical role as a firewall vendor.

“We are not just a box company anymore,” VanKirk said. “We’re a platform provider. And we are laser-focused on the needs of the MSPs who secure the SMB market.”

SonicWall executives said the company is betting that listening to partners, not just innovating for innovation’s sake, is the future of cybersecurity.

“If you think you know SonicWall, you probably don’t,” Crean said. “This is the new SonicWall: responsive, partner-led and ready to deliver what MSPs actually need to succeed.”