Regardless of the size of your organization, scaling your firewall solutions alongside your network demands is a must. In the realm of small businesses, a common consideration in firewall hardware includes the SonicWall TZ215 vs SonicWall TZ270.
The 215 met its end of life back in 2020, leaving many companies wondering what the best next step is. While the TZ80 is another obvious choice, some people were looking for a firewall that packed a bit more of a punch. Next in line would be the SonicWall TZ270, which is a great comparison for those who worked with the TZ215 in the past.
For this article, you’ll get a breakdown of the core differences that make the TZ270 the obvious choice for those who have outgrown the SonicWall TZ215.
Looking Into SonicWall TZ215 vs TZ270
It’s easy to get lost in the numerous SonicWall network security appliances they’ve brought to the market. Although the TZ215 isn’t available anymore, the TZ270 currently stands strong as a top choice for growing small businesses.
Aside from its target market, the TZ270 comes with a feature set that’s more than capable of supporting your network for years. SonicWall is one of the best network security providers you could work with. This comparison isn’t so much about why one is better or worse, but more about where to look when it’s time to scale.
What is the SonicWall TZ215?
You won’t be able to grab a TZ215 in today’s world, but that doesn’t mean its specs are archaic by any means. Newer models have definitely outpaced it, but it still comes with features and capabilities that are more than viable for small businesses.
Here are a few leading specs about the physical firewall for reference:
- Firewall Throughput: 500 Mbps
- DPI Throughput: 60 Mbps
- IPS Throughput: 110 Mbps
- VPN Throughput: 150 Mbps
- Connections per Second: 1,800
Although the capabilities can seem somewhat rudimentary, keep in mind they’re geared toward businesses that don’t need much. In comparison, it won’t be hard to see where the upgrades are when it comes to the SonicWall TZ270.
What is the SonicWall TZ270?
A very popular firewall model from SonicWall, the TZ270 still stands strong in today’s market. It’s far from any end-of-life date, and comes with many features that businesses need to face modern cybersecurity challenges.
The specs below offer a quick comparison to the TZ215:
- Firewall Throughput: 2,000 Mbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 750 Mbps
- IPS Throughput: 1,000 Mbps
- VPN Throughput: 750 Mbps
- Connections per Second: 6,000
Of course, both physical firewall models are more than these surface-level details. To get an accurate look at how SonicWall has evolved over time, it can help to push these two firewalls side by side.
Comparing the SonicWall TZ215 vs TZ270
This isn’t so much about which one to choose as the TZ215 simply isn’t available anymore. However, looking at the jumps between specs can give an idea of what your network might need and what you can expect from upgrades down the road.
| Specifications | SonicWall TZ215 | SonicWall TZ270 |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput (Mbps) | 500 | 2,000 |
| Threat Prevention Throughput (Mbps) | N/A | 750 |
| DPI Throughput (Mbps) | 60 | N/A |
| IPS Throughput (Mbps) | 110 | 1,000 |
| VPN Throughput (Mbps) | 150 | 750 |
| Application Inspection Throughput (Mbps) | 110 | 1,000 |
| Connections per Second | 1,800 | 6,000 |
| Max Connections (SPI) | 48,000 | 750,000 |
| Site-to-Site VPN Tunnels | 20 | 50 |
| Interfaces | 7 x 1 GbE 2 USB 3.0 1 Console | 8 x 1 GbE 2 USB 3.0 1 Console |
Many firewall models will showcase similarities, but it’s the differences that you want to look for. For multiple reasons, the TZ270 is an easy choice for smaller organizations. Then again, you won’t truly know what you’re getting unless you know where the newer models come from.
The Bottom Line
Debates between one firewall to the next will always be a hot topic. To help streamline your network setup or hardware transition, aim to focus on the specs first.
This will always tell you what you need to know, but that also comes with a lot more technicalities than you might expect. Work with the experts to help avoid trial and error, and give our Firewalls team a shout if you’d like to learn more about small business firewall solutions.
