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How SonicWall Adheres to GDPR Requirements

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On May 25, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will officially go into effect. Like with any major legal reform, questions arise about timing, application, ramifications and more. With the GDPR mandate’s focus on privacy and related data, questions have increased tenfold.

SonicWall is working hard to ensure compliance with GDPR requirements. SonicWall takes information security seriously and has implemented policies and procedures for safeguarding personal data that is stored, processed and/or transferred by SonicWall.

These policies and procedures include, without limitation, physical and logical access restrictions, data classification, access rights, credentialing programs, record retention, data privacy, information security and the treatment of personal data and sensitive personal data throughout its lifecycle.

To help clarify how SonicWall products and services are impacted by GDPR policies, please review the following.

What is the GDPR?

The GDPR is legislation enacted by the European Union (EU) to protect all EU citizens from privacy and data breaches. The GDPR applies to companies and organizations located in the EU, as well as to companies outside the EU that collect, use, transmit or store personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the activities take place. At a high level, GDPR:

  • Takes effect on May 25, 2018
  • Applies generally to organizations located in the EU, as well as those outside the EU that handle the personal data of EU citizens
  • Applies specifically to data controllers and data processers; with a controller being a company that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data, while a processor is responsible for processing personal data on behalf of a controller
  • Is designed to protect the personal data of EU citizens, which is defined as any information about an identifiable person
  • Requires organizations to give individuals access to and control over their data, and to take reasonable measures to protect it

Does the GDPR apply to SonicWall products?

Yes, but only to a very limited extent. SonicWall products help customers enable security in their networks (and to thus better comply with the GDPR), but SonicWall generally does not have access to, nor does it collect or use, the personal data of individuals.

The GDPR, therefore, does not apply to SonicWall products in most cases. Our customers’ use of our products by itself does not subject SonicWall to GDPR.

However, if SonicWall hosts a solution that is sold to a customer and the hosted solution allows a customer to access or use personal data in that hosted environment, then SonicWall may be subject to certain aspects of the GDPR. In those cases, SonicWall must ensure that adequate security is in place to protect that hosted environment.

In summary:

  • SonicWall typically does not collect, store or transmit the personal data of natural individuals in the EU
  • The GDPR does not apply to SonicWall firewall hardware appliances without a subscription to the SonicWall Capture Advanced Threat Protection sandbox service
  • GDPR may apply to the SonicWall Capture Cloud Platform to the extent it enables end-user designated personnel to access their network data in an environment hosted by SonicWall
  • Where GDPR applies, it requires SonicWall to have adequate network security for its hosted environment
  • SonicWall expects to be compliant with the GDPR by May 25, 2018, to the extent it applies to the company’s range of security solutions and services
  • SonicWall is undertaking a comprehensive third-party audit to confirm the compliance of its products and solutions

GDPR and SonicWall hosted solutions

Presently, SonicWall directly maintains a majority of the systems used for our hosted solutions versus outsourcing this activity to a third party.

In the limited circumstances that SonicWall leverages third-party services, SonicWall works to ensure that it and its third-party provider have the appropriate safeguards in place to protect personal data as required by GDPR. SonicWall uses a number of technological and operational approaches in its physical security program to mitigate security risks to the extent reasonably practicable.

Our team is working to determine that appropriate measures are in place to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to systems within which data is processed and continually monitor any changes to the physical infrastructure, business and known threats.

We are also considering best practice measures used by others in the industry while balancing its approach toward security by considering elements of control that include architecture, operations and systems.

SonicWall customers are given the opportunity to choose the location of their primary data center where their information will be hosted. However, limited data may be transferred to other SonicWall locations for the purpose of providing services to our customers.

Can SonicWall help companies become GDPR-compliant?

SonicWall acts as a provider of network security and content-based security solutions, and security of data is a key aspect in achieving data privacy principles.

We assist companies to secure their data in a smarter way. In the wake of burgeoning legislation and increased hacker intelligence, it is vital for organizations to encrypt their traffic and files, whether these are stored online or offline.

Using high-performance Deep Packet Inspection, SonicWall can spot malware and other nefarious traffic and behavior from among encrypted files, further safeguarding an organization.

SonicWall provides industry-leading machine learning technology to detect and block zero-day malware. We address advanced cyber threats, “malware cocktails” and related ransomware no matter if they are encrypted or clear, in email, on the web or in file exchange, regardless of the device in use. Our expertise in automated breach prevention means we don’t just spot malware, we prevent attacks from becoming successful.

To learn more about how GDPR applies to SonicWall products and services, please review the official SonicWall Privacy Statement.

The E-rate ‘Fear Less’ Solution

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The E-rate program is critical for K12 organizations that lack the funding to procure appropriate technology, such as networking and cyber security solutions (e.g., firewalls, wireless network security, etc.). But understanding the program — as well as confirming your E-rate eligibility — can be daunting.

Episode Three: The E-rate Fear Less Solution

On the third episode of the E-rate Fear Less series, Komplement CEO Holly Davis discusses school eligibility, discounts levels and the competitive bidding process.

E-rate discounts are based on the category of service requested, level of poverty, urban/rural status of the population served and the level of participation of students in the Nation School Lunch Program (NSLP).

  • School districts derive their discount, for purposes of determining their level of poverty, from the total percentage of students eligible for the NSLP in the school district.
  • Libraries derive their discount, for purposes of determining their level of poverty, from the NSLP eligibility percentage of the public-school district in which the main branch of the library is located.
  • Rural discount eligibility is determined at the school district or library system level. If more than 50 percent of the schools in a school district or libraries in a library system are considered rural, the district or system is eligible for the rural discount. Note: Non-instructional facilities (NIFs) are not included in this percentage calculation.

Once eligibility is confirmed, it is very important to understand that the government requires a fair and competitive bidding process. Please contact a SonicWall E-rate expert to help guide your organization through the rules and guidelines of the E-rate process.

Episode Archive

E-rate technology discounts with SonicWall

Applicant Steps & Resources

Prep: Before You Begin
Step 1: Competitive Bidding
Step 2: Selecting Service Providers
Step 3: Applying for Discounts
Step 4: Application Review
Step 5: Starting Services
Step 6: Invoicing 

Resources provided by USAC

SonicWall network and cyber security solutions meet the needs of school districts at the highest efficacy — all at price points that fit within K12 budgets.

If you are utilizing E-rate funding to assist you in buying your networking and cyber security solutions, SonicWall can help. Our team of E-rate funding experts ensure your SonicWall solution aligns with the rules and regulations of the E-rate program. SonicWall provides services in the following areas:

  • Managed Internal Broadband Services
  • Internal Connections
  • Basic Maintenance for Internal Connections

With the most comprehensive channel program in the industry, combined with additional E-rate discounts, SonicWall and its partners are best positioned to meet the needs of K12 customers and help them take full advantage of the funding E-rate provides for securing their networks.

If you are an eligible K12 organization, please contact your preferred SonicWall reseller for information on E-rate benefits and discounts, or visit the SonicWall E-rate page for information, tools and guidance.

Know the E-rate Terminology

The E-rate program is replete of acronyms, form numbers and other unique nomenclature. Learn the key terms to successfully guide your K12 organization through the E-rate process.

VIEW THE GLOSSARY

What is E-rate?

To help offset funding and staffing shortages, the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC launched the E-rate program, which helps make telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools, campuses, districts and libraries.

The E-rate program is operated by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which has a core focus of providing underfunded verticals the access to affordable technology and security services. This includes schools, libraries, rural healthcare organizations and more.

USAC provides a yearly Eligible Services List (ESL), which outlines which types of products and services can be procured via E-rate program discounts.

Navigating the E-rate Program: Forms, Filling Cycles & Rules

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Participating in your first E-rate season can be overwhelming. It is important to understand eligibility requirements of the program since the forms and terminology can become confusing. To better understand the ins and outs of the E-rate program, watch Episode 2 of the SonicWall Fear Less E-rate video series below.

Episode Two: Navigating the E-rate Program

On the second episode of the E-rate Fear Less series, Komplement CEO Holly Davis highlights key elements of the E-rate program to help you navigate the process. You will learn about the filling cycle, ESL, 470 and 471 forms, and rules of the program.

Before you get started, it’s important to remember some key dates. First, the E-rate program operates on a fiscal year (FY) calendar. This year, FY2019 is July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. From here, there are two primary dates to remember:

  • 470 Filing: July 1, 2018 (RFP Posting)
  • 471 Filing: January 11, 2019-March 22, 2019

Applicant Steps & Resources

Prep: Before You Begin
Step 1: Competitive Bidding
Step 2: Selecting Service Providers
Step 3: Applying for Discounts
Step 4: Application Review
Step 5: Starting Services
Step 6: Invoicing 

Resources provided by USAC

Each year, before the FCC Form 471 application filing window opens, the FCC releases Eligible Services List (ESL) for the upcoming funding year (it is typically released between September and November).

The ESL contains a description of the products and services that will be eligible for discounts, along with additional helpful information such as eligibility conditions for each category of service for each specified funding year.

Be sure to review the list before you post a form 470 request for services to properly align your products and service needs.

Episode Archive

SonicWall and E-rate

Dates to Remember

470 Filing: July 1 (RFP Posting)
471 Filing: January 11-March 22

Through its global channel of more than 23,000 technology partners, SonicWall is actively involved in helping K12 education organizations cost-effectively obtain and deploy network security solutions.

SonicWall provides a broad array of E-rate-eligible products and services, including firewalls and turnkey Security-as-a-Service solutions.

SonicWall can discuss its products and services prior to the posting of a school/library Form 470, which begins the competitive bidding process. Once Form 470 is filed, SonicWall and its partners are restricted to rules and regulations of the program and are respondents to the bidding.

If you are utilizing E-rate funding to assist you in buying your networking and cyber security solutions, SonicWall can help. Our team of E-rate funding experts ensure your SonicWall solution aligns with the rules and regulations of the E-rate program. SonicWall provides services in the following areas:

  • Managed Internal Broadband Services
  • Internal Connections
  • Basic Maintenance for Internal Connections

SonicWall integrated solutions meet the needs of school districts at the highest efficacy and at price points that fit within K12 budget constraints. SonicWall helps reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) for these under-funded organizations.

If you are an eligible K12 organization, please contact your preferred SonicWall reseller for information on E-rate benefits and discounts, or visit the SonicWall E-rate page for information, tools and guidance.

What is E-rate?

To help offset funding and staffing shortages, the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC launched the E-rate program, which helps make telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools, campuses, districts and libraries.

“Eligible schools and libraries may receive discounts on telecommunications, telecommunications services and internet access, as well as internal connections, managed internal broadband services and basic maintenance of internal connections,” explains the FCC website. “Discounts range from 20 to 90 percent, with higher discounts for higher poverty and rural schools and libraries. Recipients must pay some portion of the service costs.”

The E-rate program is operated by Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), which has a core focus of providing underfunded verticals the access to affordable technology and security services. This includes schools, libraries, rural healthcare organizations and more.

USAC provides a yearly Eligible Services List (ESL), which outlines which types of products and services can be procured via E-rate program discounts.

A New Cyber Security Certification: SonicWall Network Security Administrator Course

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SonicWall has spent the last 12 months deeply focused on training and enablement for our partners, customers and employees. Based on student feedback and market requirements, the company’s Education Services Organization is introducing the SonicWall Network Security Administrator (SNSA) course; a completely new training course and certification exam that will replace the Network Security Basic Administration (NSBA) class.

The SNSA training curriculum is designed to teach students specific SonicWall network security technology. The course will provide students with the skills to successfully implement and configure SonicWall firewall appliances and security services.

Improvements included with SNSA:

  • Two days of instructor-led classroom training, with 80 percent hands-on labs and 20 percent lecture
  • Six hours of online learning modules, which may be completed before or after the classroom portion
  • Based on the recently released SonicOS 6.5 firmware
  • Generic network security theory is removed and provided in supplemental training material

Consistent SonicWall training across the globe

To support the launch of the SNSA course, SonicWall Education Services is also launching a new Authorized Training Partner (ATP) strategy to enhance consistency in the delivery of training content and guidance. This new strategy encompasses:

  • Coverage provided by three global strategic training partners, augmented by key regional partners
  • Global fulfillment of materials and virtual labs via a single strategic training partner
  • Price adaptation to fit local-market currencies and demand
  • SonicWall global ATP managers to ensure content, delivery and lab experience are consistent worldwide
  • Proctoring service to ensure certification authenticity for both students and sponsoring partners

What happened to Network Security Basic Administration (NSBA)?

For the last 10 years, SonicWall offered a series of technical certification courses to its partners, customers and employees. The core certification training was focused on foundational understanding of network security, particularly basic administration found in the SonicWall Network Security Basic Administration (NSBA) course.

With a focus on training network security administrators, NSBA provided students with a broad overview of network security technology and the skills needed to configure and administer a basic SonicWall firewall appliance.

While this course satisfied initial learning objectives, student feedback indicated the content was not sufficient to meet the needs of deeper skillsets (e.g., installation, management and troubleshooting). Students left the course feeling they needed additional in-depth technical training and expertise.

In addition, due to a widespread number of ATPs around the world, student experience varied by geography and instructor. The changes to the course and the improvement of the ATP strategy ensure SonicWall will deliver best-in-class technical training to its partners and customers.

For individuals who completed the NSBA exam and hold a current CSSA certification, SonicWall will continue to acknowledge these important certifications through March 2020. Students wishing to re-certify an expiring CSSA certification will, however, be required to complete the new SNSA course and certification.

To enroll in the new SNSA program, students may access the newly launched external SonicWall University site.

SonicWall Security Certification Courses

SonicWall offers other training and certification courses to support the needs of our partners, customers and employees. These include:

Network Security Advanced Administration (NSAA) Course

Designed to further enhance an individual’s network security technical skills, the NSAA course is available to students who have achieved either the CSSA or the SNSA certification.

This two-day, instructor-led course provides students with the latest information on application control, bandwidth management, troubleshooting and advanced networking. Completion of this course prepares students to complete the Certified SonicWall Security Professional (CSSP) certification exam.

Secure Mobile Access Basic Administration (SMABA) Course

The SMABA course provides students with the technical skills necessary to administer and manage SonicWall Secure Mobile Access (SMA) appliances.

The SMABA course covers the use of Appliance Management Control to provide secure access — to any application from any network — based on secure authentication and authorization policies. Completion of this course prepares students for the Certified SonicWall Security Administration (CSSA-SMABA) certification exam.

Secure Mobile Access Advanced Administration (SMAAA) Course

Recommended for engineers or administrators of SonicWall SMA devices installed in larger networks, the SMAAA course provides students with in-depth technical training covering deployment options, authentication and authorization policies and troubleshooting.

Completion of this course prepares students for the Certified SonicWall Security Professional (CSSP-SMAAA) certification exam.

2018 CRN Channel Madness Tournament Is Here: Vote Steve Pataky!

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Updated: 3/22/2018

Steve Pataky

It’s that time of the year again when we start to eagerly peruse the bracket for the CRN Channel Madness Tournament of Chiefs. You can vote for 32 excellent candidates, each with unique qualities that make them worthy of Channel Madness greatness. The competitors have been picked from four different camps: Infrastructure, Cloud, Hardware, and Security.

Representing SonicWall in the Security division is Steve Pataky, SVP and Chief Revenue Officer. A relative veteran of Channel Madness — he was part of last year’s Tournament of Chiefs bracket as well — Steve is poised to be a favorite in this year’s competition. Keep this page open on an available browser tab to follow the round-by-round coverage.

Round 1: Pataky takes down Palo Alto Networks

A deep, genuine thank you to everyone who participated in the 2018 CRN Channel Madness Tournament. With your consistent and loyal support, we’re thrilled to announce that Pataky was victorious in Round 1, toppling Palo Alto Networks’ Ron Myers with 76 percent of the vote.

Round 2: Pataky to face McAfee channel veteran

The bracket only gets tougher from here. In Round 2, Pataky is matched against a long-time security veteran, McAfee’s Ken McCray. Round 2 voting will remain open until Tuesday, March 27, at 12 p.m. EDT. There is no limit on the number of votes you may submit, so please continue your gracious support.

 

Vote Now

Why Vote for Steve Pataky?

Steve brings vast experience in the channel field and great results from his stellar leadership. Under his watch partner growth numbers have quintupled and over 7,700 new technology and services providers have joined the SonicWall SecureFirst partner program. He oversaw the launch of the Partner Enabled Services Program which effectively equips partners to deliver specialized security services. In addition, Steve was instrumental in the design and launch of SonicWall University, a revolutionary educational platform that is designed to keep partners at the forefront of today’s cybersecurity threats and solutions.

About the CRN Channel Madness Tournament

CRN’s Channel Madness Tournament of Chiefs is a chance to pit some of the industries finest against each other in a bracket-style competition to see who will emerge victorious. The Tournament kicks off on March 15th but before that take the chance to submit your own prediction bracket for a chance to join the action early.

SonicWall CEO Bill Conner Joins Cyber Security Panel on Capitol Hill

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Cybercrime is a lucrative and booming industry, with recent reports estimating $600 billion in damages to businesses. With the introduction of innovative cyber security technologies and new cyber attack variants, the race is on for private and public organizations to arm themselves for a battle that is being waged in a dynamic threat landscape.

Bill Conner Portrait

On March 6, cyber security experts and policymakers will come together in a panel discussion to address the current threat landscape and its impact on the U.S. economy. Featuring Congressman Lamar Smith, SonicWall CEO Bill Conner and the Honorable Secretary Michael Chertoff, the panel will foster dialogues that focus on the preventative measures organizations should take to thwart cyber attacks, as well as the joint efforts of government and law enforcement agencies combatting modern-day cyber attacks, cybercriminals and threat actors.

Preceding the event, Conner and Chertoff penned an opinion piece, “SEC, Congress take steps toward cyber accountability and transparency,” on The Hill.

Michael Chertoff Portrait

“Cyber risk affects virtually every kind of enterprise. It is not a matter of if, but when,” they wrote on The Hill. “Companies should start with the presumption that they will be attacked and have a comprehensive incident response plan in place. An incident response plan should include a consumer notification process especially when sensitive data such as Social Security numbers and financial information is corrupted.”

Event: Cybersecurity Panel Discussion – 2018 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report
Date: Tuesday, March 6, 12:30 p.m. EST
Location: Committee Room 2325, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C.
Panel:

  • Chairman Lamar Smith, Congressman, 21st Congressional District of Texas
  • Honorable Secretary Michael Chertoff, former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Bill Conner, President and CEO, SonicWall
  • Michael Crean, CEO, Solutions Granted

The panel also will leverage and discuss the findings and intelligence from the 2018 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report, which provides key advances for the security industry and cybercriminals; exclusive data on the 2017 threat landscape; cyber security predictions for 2018; cyber security guidelines and best practices.

Get the 2018 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report

The cyber arms race is a challenge we face together. And it’s the core reason we’re committed to passing our findings, intelligence, analysis and research to the global public via the SonicWall 2018 Cyber Threat Report.

Get the Report

Wireless Security: Why You Need to Take It Seriously In 2018

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When waves of cyber attacks hit last year, such as WannaCry and Not Petya ransomwares, businesses lost billions of dollars in high-profile breaches. In addition, more than half of the U.S. population’s Social Security information was compromised in the Equifax breach. It was a record-breaking year.

Perhaps the only good that came out of these fiascos is that users became more aware of the importance of cyber security. But it is no longer sufficient to only care about wired network security. Organizations and businesses also have to pay attention to other aspects of security, such as physical security and wireless security.

In line with multiple cyber security forecasts, such as our 8 Cyber Security Predictions for 2018, organizations need to watch out for more sophisticated attacks in 2018. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, more than 9 billion wireless devices will be used in 2018. Gartner forecasts connected devices to rise from 11 billion in 2018 to over 20 billion by 2020. With the proliferation of wireless-enabled and IoT devices, wireless network security is vital.

However, not all wireless security solutions are equal. Last year, for example, many dealt with KRACK (Key Reinstallation Attack), which leveraged a WPA2 vulnerability that could lead to man-in-the-middle attacks. While many wireless vendors suffered this vulnerability, SonicWall wireless access points were not vulnerable.

How do I choose a wireless security solution?

It can be easy to get drawn in by sales pitches that show you pretty dashboards, features that you don’t need or seldom use, or super-expensive gear that you pay a premium for just because of the brand name.

Instead, take a step back and think of what you really should care about: a Wi-Fi connection that actually works with unfaltering security. Make sure you are committing yourself to a vendor that takes security, user experience and reliability very seriously.

How can I make my Wi-Fi secure?

Organizations, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB) and individual users can implement cyber security best practices to drastically reduce Wi-Fi vulnerabilities.

  • First and foremost, make sure that you are not broadcasting an open SSID (how others see and connect to your wireless network)
  • Adjust the transmit power on your access points to serve just the area of coverage that is required
  • For corporate networks, separate guest users from internal users
  • Turn on rogue detection and ensure that firewall settings, such as DPI-SSL/TLS are enabled on your network
  • To further improve security, add a firewall to your network

Wireless is an overlay to your wired network. Adding a firewall with an integrated wireless controller capability to your network will further enhance the security of your entire network. The benefits of adding such a firewall include:

  • Complete management of wireless and wired infrastructure
  • Granular application identification, control and visualization
  • Discover and block advanced threats and vulnerabilities
  • Improved security posture and performance that scale to your business requirements

Though there are many wireless security features that can enhance your wireless security, some are more critical than others. Basic functionalities like Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS) and Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS) must be supported across wired and wireless infrastructure.

Others cyber security capabilities, like application control, content filtering and deep-packet inspection (DPI) even over encrypted traffic, are all essential.

Adding multi-layered security protection to your overall network infrastructure will help minimize network breach success. In order to support the next-generation mobile workforce, BYOD and ability to implement wireless guest services is significant. Site tools can be used to survey wireless signals to optimize the required area of coverage.

These wireless security capabilities, coupled with single-pane-of-glass management, makes it effective and efficient for network admins to have visibility into the network and detect threats on a real-time basis.

Should I buy a SonicWall wireless access point?

SonicWall is a pioneering leader in cyber security, providing seamless security and comprehensive breach detection across wired, wireless, cloud and mobile networks. Best-in-class security latest 802.11ac Wave 2 technology, and an attractive price point make SonicWave wireless access point solutions a sound choice for organizations of all sizes and industries.

[foogallery id=”5554″]  
SonicWave wireless access points come in three options:

  • SonicWave 432i (internal antenna version)
  • SonicWave 432e (external antenna version)
  • SonicWave 432o (outdoor access point)

The SonicWave 432 Series comes with a built-in third radio for dedicated security scanning. While many companies provide security and wireless products, SonicWall offers a true end-to-end secure wireless solution.

Need more information about wireless access security? Read our executive brief, “Why You Need Complete Wireless and Mobile Access Security.” Together, let’s make sure your network is ready to face these challenges, and create a fail-proof network for a secure, next-generation user experience.

SonicWall’s Steve Pataky, Chris Auger Named to CRN’s 2018 Channel Chiefs List

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Today CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, named two SonicWall executives, Chris Auger and Steve Pataky, to its exclusive 2018 list of Channel Chiefs.

CRN’s editorial staff chose the executives on this elite annual list on the basis of their professional accomplishments, industry reputation and dedication to the channel partner community. Each of the 2018 Channel Chiefs have distinguished themselves by building strong partner programs and evangelizing the importance of channel partnerships.

Robert Falerta, Executive Chairman of The Channel Company, shares insight into how the list was finalized:

“The executives on CRN’s 2018 Channel Chiefs list stand out for their exceptional leadership, vision and commitment to the channel. These individuals deserve special recognition for their development and support of robust partner programs, innovative business strategy and significant contribution to the overall health of a vigorously growing channel. We applaud each Channel Chief’s impressive record of accomplishments and look forward to their future successes.”

Since Pataky and his team launched the SecureFirst Partner Program in November 2016, SonicWall has seen record partner growth numbers with an increase of 500 percent since May 2017 with more than 21,000 registered partners, 7,700 of which are new to SonicWall. In 2017, Pataky oversaw the launch of the Partner Enabled Services Program, which equips partners to deliver specialized security services including design, implementation, configuration and training to optimize customers’ SonicWall investments. Through the program, partners are vetted, granted status as a SonicWall Authorized Services Partner and given access to exclusive training, tools, sales, marketing and technical resources.

In addition to being named on the 2018 Channel Chiefs list, Steve Pataky has the additional honor of being named on CRN’s exclusive 50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs list.

Steve Pataky
SVP, Chief Revenue Officer

Chris Auger

Chris Auger joined SonicWall in December 2015 and has been instrumental in reestablishing SonicWall as a 100 percent channel company. Just four months after launching SecureFirst, Auger’s team launched SonicWall University to equip partners with the sales and technical skills needed to provide industry leading cybersecurity expertise. SonicWall University is a key component of SecureFirst, with curriculum based on intelligence gathered from SonicWall Capture Labs and threat researchers who analyze real-time data analytics derived from more than 1 million sensors worldwide.

Chris Auger
Vice President, Sales, Americas

The 2018 CRN Channel Chiefs list, including the 50 Most Influential Channel Chiefs, is featured online at www.crn.com/channelchiefs and will appear in the February 2018 issue of CRN.

SonicWall and our Channel Partners Team to Deliver New High-Value Security Professional Services to Fight the Bad Guys

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I can only imagine the pressure that comes with the job of being responsible for a company’s network security.  These individuals are not only entrusted with protecting company and customer data, but the reputation of the company and its brand.  In the case of smaller businesses, the stakes are particularly high, where a network breach and data loss can threaten the very existence of the company. According to the Ponemon Institute Cost of a Data Breach 2017, the average cost of a breach for the average total cost of a data breach is $3.62M, and over 60 percent of SMBs cease to exist 6 months following a data security breach. Add to these grim statistics the incredible rise in malware, ransomware and other advanced threats in a constantly evolving cyber threat landscape and you have the plot of a very scary true (cyber) crime movie – the good guys vs. the bad guys.

Network security vendors like SonicWall and the channel partners who integrate our products in to security solutions for their customers are most often the first line of defense to help organizations defend against the bad guys. These organizations rely on SonicWall to deliver highly efficient security products that can stop today’s known and unknown threats. And they rely on our channel partners as their trusted advisors to deliver their security solution. With so much at stake, it is critical that the right SonicWall products are designed in the security solution. And just as critical that the solution is implemented properly and optimized for the customer’s environment and business requirements. Even the best security products, if not properly spec’d and implemented, can leave an organization vulnerable. To address this reality, SonicWall has announced the launch of a new lineup of valuable professional security services to help customers and channels design, implement and operate SonicWall security solutions that keep the bad guys at bay and defend against their relentless cyber attacks.

Organized around three areas of competency, the security professional service offerings were jointly developed and blueprinted by SonicWall and a group of channel partners (the good guys) with deep security services expertise. Each service incorporates the real-world services experience of these partners, essential knowledge gained through hundreds of services engagements.

The services include:

  • Implementation Services – compliance audit prep, remote and onsite implementation services for SonicWall products
  • Solution Services – security health checks,  wireless security deployments, campus network and distributed network solutions.
  • Architecture Services – more complex or large-scale solutions and customer environments, such as DPI-SSL deployment or SuperMassive next-gen firewall implementations.

It makes so much sense to have these types of services surround the SonicWall product portfolio, as a means to ensure our customer have the best possible protection. As SonicWall’s Channel Chief, I’m equally proud of the new services as I am of the way in which they are delivered.

This is where our new Partner Enabled Services Program comes in. Just launched, the program identifies and showcases SonicWall SecureFirst channel partners who have a security focused professional services practice and enables them to deliver the new services. These partners are vetted, granted status as a SonicWall Advanced Authorized Services Partner and given access to exclusive training, tools, sales, marketing and technical resources. All of the services are branded and sku’d by SonicWall, so the entire SonicWall channel can resell them. Once sold, the services are delivered by the Advanced Services Partners.

This breakthrough approach to delivering professional security services is only possible due to the collaboration and trust that exists within the incredible SonicWall channel partner ecosystem – one that has developed over the last 25 years. SonicWall channel partners genuinely trust each other to engage respectfully with their customers to deliver high-grade professional security services and, in doing so, they deliver the most effective security solution and drive incremental opportunity for their business. With this program, SonicWall’s broad channel, our Authorized Services Partners, and most importantly, our customers, can join forces to fight the bad guys and win the war against cyber attacks. Score one for the good guys!

Feedback from our channel on this approach to services offer creation and delivery has been fantastic.

“This year marks 20 years of our relationship with SonicWall and we are excited about deepening our engagement with SonicWall and showcasing our SonicWall based services expertise through the Partner Enabled Services Program. The Exertis team is highly skilled in SonicWall distributed architecture deployments, proven time and again to be the real leader when customer security is at stake,” Jason Hill, Security Sales Director of Exertis in United Kingdom, a leading SonicWall distributor in Europe..

“As a dedicated SonicWall Platinum Partner with a mature services practice, we are delighted to see SonicWall making such significant investments in driving partner growth in security services.  Our team of security experts have a passion for security and phenomenal service,” said Timothy Martinez, President of Western NRG Total Internet Security, based in Camarillo California. “With more than 15 years of SonicWall implementations, we go to battle for our customers in the cyber arms race. The Partner Enabled Services Program is an excellent opportunity to grow our services further with SonicWall.”

“Our unwavering commitment is to protect and empower our customers against today’s most damaging cyber attacks,” said Michael Crean, CEO of Solutions Granted, a SonicWall SecureFirst Platinum partner in Virginia. “In our case, as one of SonicWall’s longest-term Managed Security Services Providers, this requires additional services and expertise to ensure we’re delivering the value and guidance our customers require to be secure. SonicWall understands our needs and, yet again, delivers the structure, resources, training and incentives to enhance customer loyalty, satisfaction and market recognition.”

Customers interested in the new security professional services should contact their SonicWall channel partner.  For interested SecureFirst Partners, we have a webinar planned for Nov. 30 at 8:30 am PT: Grow your Services Business with the New Partner Enabled Services Program.

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SonicOS 6.5, the Biggest Update in Company History, Delivers Powerful Security, Networking and Usability Capabilities

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Keeping organizations running safely, while improving business and user productivity in today’s accelerating threat environment, continues to be a non-trivial task for IT leaders. At the current pace of cyber attacks, we understand all too well that the effects of recent events, such as the Equifax, WannaCry and NotPetya attacks, have demonstrated their capacity to change the global business environment from normal to total hysteria in the blink of an eye.

When news breaks on new data breaches, we see a surge in conversations with our SonicWall partner and customer communities about security and risk assessments. These engagements reinforce our development commitment to ensure every new product release delivers more tools and capabilities to protect their networks and data, and subsequently avoid the unnecessary breach.

Delivering on that commitment, I am thrilled to introduce SonicWall’s biggest firewall feature release in its history. SonicWall SonicOS 6.5 is packed with powerful security, networking and usability capabilities, and meets the security operation requirements of organizations of various sizes and use cases. SonicOS 6.5 focuses on empowering IT leaders and their security teams to:

  • Elevate their breach detection and prevention capacity
  • Manage and enforce security controls across the entire organization
  • Bring the latest in wireless speed, performance and security for cloud and mobile users
  • Scale firewall networking, connectivity and performance for uncompromised, uninterrupted network services

SonicOS 6.5 delivers the following customer-focused outcomes as part of SonicWall’s expanding Automated Real-Time Breach Detection and Prevention Platform.

1. Bolster breach prevention capabilities for wired, wireless and cloud-enabled network environments

  • SonicOS 6.5 includes 60-plus new features, nearly half of which focus on enabling the latest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac Wave 2, to deliver matching network security performance, connectivity and security between wired and wireless networks.
  • The combination of SonicWall firewalls and the new SonicWave 802.11ac Wave 2 series of wireless access points gives customers the assurance that their users have uninterrupted, secure and fast access to business services and resources over wired and wireless connections.
  • Built-in features, like Wireless Deployment Tools, greatly aid in planning and building a robust wireless infrastructure, while Band Steering, Airtime Fairness and others improve the overall wireless service quality and performance to give users a safe, productive wireless experience. This helps eliminate dropped connections and slowness anytime, anywhere and in any environment within the workplace. Moreover, Dynamic VLAN assignment segments wireless users based on their roles and group associations to prevent advanced threats from spreading.
  • SonicOS 6.5 expands the threat API capabilities to help customers establish a path toward security automation. Through greater firewall collaboration with third-party security ecosystem, the firewall can automatically pull external intelligence sources for threat detection and protection, and security policies enforcement. For example, our Dynamic Botnet List feature enables customers to program their firewalls to download private third-party lists that contain desired security information, such as malicious IP and URL addresses, that they want the firewall to block for additional threat coverage.
  • For distributed organizations that have offices operating on different network domains, the new multi-domain security management capability in SonicOS 6.5 helps them manage and enforce discrete security policies across those domains. Based on service levels, risk tolerance, compliance and/or legal requirements, administrators can apply identical security controls to all domains or specific policy to a single domain or group of domains. This flexibility helps reduce the attack surface, eliminate security gaps, isolate risks and prevent any lateral movement of backdoor, network-based attacks, such as WannCry and NotPetya.

2. Increase scalability and connectivity of the firewall system

  • Advances in Layer 2/3 network and connectivity help customers optimize system availability and performance, and scale the firewall to deliver uncompromised, uninterrupted threat protection for every connected network domain. Supported on all SonicWall next-generation firewall (NGFW) models, including the newest NSA 2650, SonicOS 6.5 also supports daisy-chaining and management of Dell X-Series switches, Virtual Wire Mode, Dynamic LAG using LACP and Equal Cost Multi-Path (ECMP).
  • Using multi-domain security management in conjunction with virtual wire mode gives customers the ability to micro-segment and manage their virtual networks. These also provide independent security management, policies, controls and scanning to each virtual network with its separate security zone.

3. Improve ease of use and firewall management

  • SonicOS 6.5 introduces a completely redesigned user interface (UI) for a fresh, productive user experience (UX). This new UI gives users an executive dashboard loaded with security, user and traffic information. It also offers an organized, familiar and easily-understood menu-driven security management console. The dashboard presents a consolidated view of the live firewall security environment. This view includes a threat index, security events and data, network performance and connectivity, and application and bandwidth usage. The intuitive UI lets users complete security tasks faster, and with greater ease, from a single-pane-of-glass.
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