SonicWall has introduced the Gen 8 NSv XS, a subscription-based virtual firewall designed for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). The solution is intended for small and distributed environments and brings Gen 8 platform security capabilities into virtualised settings with a recurring subscription model.
The launch responds to changes in the cybersecurity landscape. The 2026 Cyber Protect Report recorded a 20.8% increase in high and medium severity attacks over the previous year, reflecting increasingly sophisticated attack methods rather than a rise in attack frequency. With more than half of enterprises running most of their infrastructure in the cloud, perimeter-only security is considered insufficient, and the NSv XS extends protection into cloud and virtual environments.
The NSv XS is aimed at MSP-managed environments such as small offices, micro-SMB clients, and distributed branch locations. While designed for smaller deployments, it includes performance improvements over its predecessor, including increased threat prevention throughput and expanded encrypted traffic inspection capacity.
It includes high availability and embedded cyber warranty coverage via Cysurance as standard. The solution supports deployment across VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, KVM, AWS, Azure, and Proxmox, aligning with a range of virtualisation and cloud platforms.
The NSv XS is offered in three subscription tiers:
- Secure Connect Tier – Provides secure connectivity and centralised management, with high availability included.
- Advanced Protection Security Suite (APSS) – Adds full-stack threat prevention and cloud management, with up to $100K in cyber warranty coverage.
- Managed Protection Security Suite (MPSS) – Includes co-managed security via SonicSentry’s NOC team, enhanced support, and up to $200K in warranty coverage.
The solution is designed to support scalable deployment of managed security services across distributed environments, with built-in protection and flexible subscription options.
