SonicWall TZ80: Future-Proofing Network Security for SOHO, IoT and Remote Work Environments

Complexity is the new normal in today's rapidly evolving network security environment. As hybrid workforces grow, IoT devices multiply and multi-cloud deployments expand, securing networks has become more challenging. Small businesses, rural broadband providers and temporary event networks are particularly vulnerable to these new threats. Recognizing these challenges, SonicWall has introduced the TZ80- a firewall designed to simplify network management and boost security across various use cases.

In this blog, we'll explore how the TZ80's latest features and updates can help organizations, especially those in small office/home office (SOHO) and the IoT space, address the growing intricacies of modern networks.

The Shifting Network Security Landscape

The traditional notion of network security is being upended. Here are some of the key challenges:

• Distributed Policy Management: As networks grow more complex, so does managing security policies across multiple enforcement points.
• The Erosion of Network Perimeters: The traditional network boundary no longer exists with users accessing corporate data remotely and applications living in the cloud.
• Encrypted Traffic: Over 80% of today's internet traffic is encrypted, making it harder to inspect and detect potential threats.

SonicWall TZ80 firewall aims to meet these challenges head-on, offering cost-effective, high-performance security without sacrificing ease of use.

Introducing the TZ80: A Powerful Upgrade

Designed for micro-SMBs, remote workers, and IoT deployments, the TZ80 delivers robust performance and advanced protection that smaller organizations need without the complexity of enterprise solutions. With 750 Mbps throughput and support for up to 300,000 concurrent connections, including 10,000 SSL-inspected connections, the TZ80 is built to thrive in demanding environments.

This makes it ideal for various use cases, including providing rural broadband to underserved communities or securing small offices in industries like healthcare, where compliance is critical. Whether managing IoT devices in a smart home or ensuring data protection for a boutique law firm, the TZ80 offers reliable, scalable security.

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Figure 1: TZ80 Front

Key Features of the TZ80

• Advanced Threat Protection: Safeguard your network with comprehensive protection that includes intrusion prevention, DNS filtering, and Capture Advanced Threat Protection (ATP).
  

  Benefit: Avoid costly downtime and ensure customer payment details or employee health records remain secure.

• Flexible Connectivity: Adding a fiber SFP port enables better performance, especially in rural areas where high-speed fiber networks are becoming more prevalent.
  

  Benefit: Keep remote and underserved areas connected and protected without compromising speed or reliability.

• Zero-Touch Deployment: A simplified setup allows businesses to deploy security faster, which is especially useful for temporary setups at events or conferences.
  

  Benefit: Speed up deployment for urgent or short-term projects like pop-up shops or conventions.

• Cloud Management: Using the Network Security Manager (NSM), administrators can easily manage devices and policies, even for distributed teams.
  

  Benefit: Centralized management ensures consistent security for businesses with remote workers across different states or provinces.

Use Cases for the TZ80

• Small Offices and micro-SMBs: Ideal for local businesses like coffee shops or boutique law firms that need robust security without enterprise solutions' high cost or complexity.
• Remote Work: As more employees work from home, the TZ80 ensures secure access to corporate resources.
• Rural Broadband: For areas such as farming communities, the TZ80 provides a reliable, high-performance solution to protect IoT devices and local networks.
• IoT & SD-WAN: As the smart home market grows, the TZ80's SD-WAN optimization can be leveraged to manage IoT devices and improve network performance.
• Hospitality & Events: Whether securing large-scale conventions in Las Vegas or temporary pop-up networks for concerts or festivals, the TZ80 offers a reliable solution for environments with temporary but intensive security needs.

New Features and Enhancements

The TZ80 introduces several new features that make management simpler:

• Firewall Model-Specific Templates: Businesses can create customized templates for faster deployment, streamlining bulk configurations. This is ideal for industries like education, where schools across districts may need to deploy similar policies.
• Auto-Sync for Local Firewall Changes: Automatically sync configuration changes made locally on firewalls to NSM, ensuring consistency across your entire security infrastructure.
• Firewall Audit Logs in NSM: Admins can now view and manage firewall audit logs directly in NSM, improving visibility and simplifying management.

New Licensing Options for the TZ80

SonicWall is introducing flexible subscription-based licensing options tailored to various business needs:

• Secure Connect: Provides SD-WAN and Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) to help businesses connect their networks and secure them comprehensively across all endpoints.
• Advanced Protection: Offers complete security services, including advanced threat prevention, integrated management, and reporting capabilities for proactive security monitoring.
• Managed Protection: Fully managed firewall services with 24×7 support, perfect for businesses looking to outsource firewall management for greater efficiency and peace of mind.

Licensing options range from 1 to 5 years, with extended analytics and reporting available for 30, 90, or 365 days.

Why the TZ80 is the Right Choice

The SonicWall TZ80 is a game-changer for small businesses and organizations needing enterprise-grade security in an affordable, easy-to-manage package. It addresses today's complex network environments-whether you're running a small business in urban Texas, providing secure access for remote workers in Silicon Valley, or offering high-speed connectivity in rural America.

The TZ80 stands out as a long-term solution built for evolving needs. It simplifies network management and future-proofs your security infrastructure.

For more information, download the full datasheet here. Protect your network, simplify your management, and future-proof your security with SonicWall TZ80.