Managed service providers face a fundamental scaling problem: comprehensive security requires multiple specialized tools with separate management interfaces, license schedules, and administrative overhead. Platforms that unify security management interfaces have emerged to address these issues and help deliver consolidated administration and intelligent automation.
To explore this approach, The Tolly Group spoke with Sarah Wilkinson, Senior Product Marketing Manager at SonicWall, who oversees SonicWall Unified Management (SUM) and managed security services portfolio.
The MSP Efficiency Problem
"Our partners kept telling us the same story," Wilkinson explained. "They were burning time jumping between dashboards just to answer simple questions. What alerts matter right now? Which customers need renewals next month?"
This administrative burden compounds as customer bases grow. An MSP managing 100 customers with four firewalls each faces 400 devices across potentially dozens of different renewal schedules, multiple alert systems, and separate policy management interfaces. The business impact is measurable. Tasks that should take two clicks often require twenty clicks across multiple platforms. Engineers spend time hunting for information rather than solving problems. Critically, important items like license renewals are overlooked because they're buried in separate systems with different notification schedules.
Technical Solution: Consolidation and Automation
SonicWall's approach consolidates what were previously separate interfaces (Wireless Network Manager, Network Security Manager for firewalls, Capture Security Center for endpoints) into one SaaS platform providing single-pane-of-glass security management. The system addresses three specific bottlenecks: alert prioritization across all customer tenants, streamlined license provisioning from the main interface, and automatic role-based access control propagation across all services.
The platform's core design principle centers on one metric: engineer minutes saved. MSPs managing hundreds of customers with staggered renewal schedules can now see all upcoming expirations on one dashboard instead of checking multiple systems throughout the year. Deploying a new firewall or endpoint tool requires just a few clicks through smart provisioning workflows rather than navigating separate consoles. License renewals, policy updates, and user access modifications all operate from the same central interface, eliminating the time-consuming process of logging into multiple platforms.
The platform also integrates an AI assistant called SAMI that currently handles queries about firewall status and license expirations. Phase two development will enable SAMI to execute administrative actions including tenant provisioning, renewal processing, and bulk policy orchestration. This evolution from search to actionable automation further reduces the manual overhead that prevents MSPs from scaling efficiently.
Integration with Existing MSP Workflows
SonicWall Unified Management integrates with Professional Service Automation (PSA) and Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools for billing and incident tracking. The platform pushes API calls directly into PSA systems so every automated response and blocked attack becomes documented billable events. This integration enables accurate billing while providing concrete evidence of security value to customers.
The unified MSP security dashboard offers building-block managed services for scaling without additional staffing. MSPs can offload lower-margin monitoring through SonicWall's SOC and firewall-as-a-service options while maintaining primary customer relationships. This modular approach lets MSPs expand service offerings by leveraging SonicWall's infrastructure for routine tasks.
Implementation Reality and Scaling Benefits
SonicWall has been gradually deploying SUM since late 2024, with full availability expected by October 2025. Currently, some functions still cross-launch into legacy tools, though Wireless Network Manager integration is complete and operates natively. Network Security Manager and Capture Security Center migrations are next, with all SonicWall products operating natively by October 2025.
"Because SonicWall Unified Management consolidates every SonicWall service, MSPs gain leverage as they grow," Wilkinson explained.
Engineers work within a single interface paradigm rather than learning multiple management consoles, simply extending existing tenancy structures as new customers are added. This consolidation enables MSPs to scale their customer base without proportional staffing increases, providing direct margin preservation benefits as channel economics tighten.
Market Implications
The managed services market continues expanding while budgets face increasing constraints. Platforms offering measurable administrative overhead reduction have evolved from convenience features to essential tools for cost savings. SonicWall's investment addresses converging market pressures: software fragmentation reaching unsustainable levels for mid-tier MSPs, AI assistant maturation enabling actionable automation, and the strategic value of unified platforms for increasing partner retention.
Key Takeaways
Tool sprawl forces MSPs to manage 20+ clicks for simple tasks like license renewals across multiple dashboards
SonicWall Unified Management consolidates firewall, endpoint, and wireless management into a single interface with AI-powered automation
PSA and RMM integrations automatically document security incidents as billable events, improving customer retention
Building-block managed services allow MSPs to offload monitoring while maintaining customer relationships
Complete native integration across all SonicWall products eliminates legacy dependencies by October 2025
Learn More
For additional information about SonicWall Unified Management, visit: https://www.sonicwall.com/products/sonicwall-unified-management