SonicWall: zones, access rules, security services and firmware
Administering SonicWall firewalls with SonicOS as SonicWall documents it: zones and the default stateful access rules, adding and prioritizing access rules, NAT policies paired with access rules, security services enabled globally and per zone (with SonicOS 8's secure-by-default services), Capture ATP, content filtering, SSL VPN with NetExtender, Network Security Manager, and backing up settings before a firmware upgrade.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 50 minutes
- Contents
- 3 lessons · 1 video · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 2 Oct 2026
- SonicWall
Skills you'll practise
- Describe SonicWall's default stateful access rules between LAN, WLAN, DMZ and WAN zones
- Add an access rule and explain Auto Prioritize, Insert at the end and resetting a zone pair to defaults
- Publish an internal server with a NAT policy paired with an Allow access rule
- Explain how security services such as Gateway Anti-Virus and IPS are enabled globally and per zone, and what Capture ATP adds
- Configure SSL VPN access with NetExtender at the level of zones, users and VPN access lists
- Back up settings and choose the right firmware release and boot option for an upgrade
Course outline
- 1.SonicWall: zones, access rules, security services and firmwareVideo · 2 min
- 2.Zones, access rules and NATLesson · 17 min
- 3.Security services, Capture ATP and content filteringLesson · 17 min
- 4.SSL VPN, NSM and firmwareLesson · 16 min
- 5.SonicWall: zones, access rules, security services and firmware: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 15 questions
- 6.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- SonicWall: SonicOS 7.1 Rules and Policies Administration Guide for Classic Mode (access rules, default rules, NAT policies, content filter policies)
- SonicWall: SonicOS 8 Security Services Administration Guide (default security services, Gateway Anti-Virus, IPS, App Control, Content Filtering, per-zone enablement)
- SonicWall: SonicOS 8 SSL VPN Administration Guide (NetExtender, SSL VPN access on zones, client routes, VPN access)
- SonicWall knowledge base: How can I upgrade SonicOS firmware? (backing up settings, release types, boot options)
- SonicWall knowledge base: How can I download the latest SonicOS firmware version for your SonicWall?
- SonicWall: Network Security Manager (NSM) product overview
- SonicWall: Capture Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) product overview
- SonicWall PSIRT: security advisories
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