If you don’t look past the surface, you might not immediately see the difference between NSa 6600 and 670 SonicWall firewall models. The best way to protect your business in the modern scope of cyber security is to always be one step ahead.
That in itself considers numerous factors in your network security toolkit, and firewall tech is a big part of it. Business owners, as well as IT teams, should always remember that it’s normal for firewall tech to go through cycles.
While the SonicWall NSa 6600 and 6700 are both currently in use, the 6600 will meet its end of life in May of 2026. This article focuses on the differences in specs between the two firewall models, showcasing the need to upgrade to meet current cyber security demands.
An Overview of SonicWall NSa 6600 vs 6700
While both firewall models hail from one of the best network security providers, one is bound to be a more suitable choice. Overall, it can’t be argued that the NSa 6700 offers better performance and scalability for several reasons.
For one, it’ll be in service for years compared to the end of life that’s coming for the 6600 in 2026. Making that transition is crucial before the time comes so you don’t encounter any vulnerabilities in your network. To truly understand the importance of upgrading here, you’ll want to get a look at the specs in each firewall.
What is the NSa 6600?
As we speak, there are many companies out there who are actively putting the NSa 6600 to use. Many of them aren’t too worried about upgrading either, as it’s a normal part of upkeep when it comes to firewall tech.
Here are a few specs in the SonicWall NSa 6600 that are great for a comparison:
- Firewall Inspection Throughput: 12 Gbps
- Full DPI Throughput: 3 Gbps
- Application Inspection Throughput: 4.5 Gbps
- Connections per Second: 90,000
- Site-to-Site VPN Tunnels: 6,000
If you know anything about firewalls, then you know this is barely getting into all of the details. However, it does act as a great reference point when you’re considering an upgrade to a newer model.
What is the NSa 6700?
The short answer is that the NSa 6700 is a stronger option but knowing exactly where helps to paint a clearer picture of performance. Rated for over 2,500 users and boasting a sizable throughput, the NSa 6700 brings a lot to business network security.
This is how the 6700 stacks up against the 6600 with comparable specs:
- Firewall Inspection Throughput: 36 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 19 Gbps
- Application Inspection Throughput: 20 Gbps
- Connections per Second: 153,000
- Site-to-Site VPN Tunnels: 6,000
Among the numerous upgrades found in the NSa 6700, there will also be a lot of similar specs as well. That’s why it’s important to focus on what changed, as this can have a lot to do with the needs for effective network security.
Side-by-Side Comparison of SonicWall NSa 6600 vs 6700
Regardless of your experience with firewall technology, we can all agree the details can get pretty technical. To help streamline your understanding of these SonicWall firewall models, the table below summarizes some of their key differences.
| Specifications | NSa 6600 | NSa 6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Inspection Throughput (Gbps) | 12 | 36 |
| Application Inspection Throughput (Gbps) | 4.5 | 20 |
| IPS Throughput (Gbps) | 4.5 | 20 |
| Anti-malware Inspection Throughput (Gbps) | 3 | 18.5 |
| Connections per Second | 90,000 | 153,000 |
| Site-to-Site VPN Tunnels | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| IPSec VPN Clients (max) | 2,000 (6,000) | 2,000 (6,000) |
| Interfaces | 4 x 10-GbE SFP+ 8 x 1-GbE SFP 8 x 1-GbE 1 GbE Management 1 Console | 2 x 40G 8 x 25G 4 x 10G/5G/2.5/1G SFP+ 4 x 10G/5G/2.5G/1G 16 x 1GbE 2 x USB 3.0 1 Console 1 Mgmt port |
| Power Supply | 1x250W | 1x350W |
It’s evident that the SonicWall NSa 6700 is a stronger machine at the end of the day. Going with this particular model sets you up for the long term. Even if the NSa 6600 serves many businesses just fine right now, it’ll soon be a relic of the past once 2026 rolls around.
Final Thoughts
Considering the specs, end-of-life dates and even the SonicWall firewall price are all important topics here. Whether your operation is small or large, the NSa 6700 would be the smarter choice for your business network security.
It’s a stellar mid-range option that acts as a very scalable option right now. If you ever find yourself getting curious about the SonicWall NSa 6700, chat with the Firewalls team for additional information.
