Exclusive: SonicWall’s Yuvraj Pradhan discusses 2025 security innovations

SonicWall is looking to redefine cybersecurity in 2025 with a focus on innovative platforms and global expansion.

Speaking exclusively to us, Yuvraj Pradhan, Senior Director for the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, shared insights into the company's plans, challenges, and the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

"Our number one focus is keeping customers secure," Pradhan explained. "We aim to provide solutions that help customers protect their environments, whether it's at the endpoint, the network, or the cloud."

SonicWall, founded over 32 years ago, has long been synonymous with network security.

Over time, the company has transitioned from being primarily a firewall provider to a platform-based organization. Pradhan noted that this shift aligns with the company's broader mission to deliver comprehensive security solutions.

"We've grown into a platform-based company, offering not just products but managed services as well," he said.

Operating in key regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, SonicWall employs approximately 2,000 people globally, with a significant portion based in APJ.

"In this region, we have over 500 employees in India alone, supporting development, research, support and sales," Pradhan added. "We also have teams in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia."

Innovations Driving 2025

Pradhan highlighted the company's recent acquisitions as a key driver of innovation. "Last year, we acquired three companies," he said. "SGI focuses on managed security services, Banyan Security provides zero trust network access solutions, and TRAPMINE enhances endpoint detection and response."

In addition to acquisitions, SonicWall has invested in in-house development.

The SonicWall Platform, set to launch in 2025, is designed to provide customers with a "single pane of glass" for managing and monitoring security solutions. "Customers are seeking simplicity," Pradhan explained. "This platform will integrate various products from the Sonicwall stack with plans to integrate  third-party solutions in the future, offering a consolidated view of their security landscape."

SonicWall's next-generation firewalls, another focus for 2025, will include higher performance , advanced capabilities for threat detection and prevention.

"These firewalls are designed to offer better performance and speed while addressing emerging cyber threats," he said.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are at the heart of SonicWall's security strategy. "We've been collecting telemetry data for decades, which we're now using to enhance threat detection," Pradhan noted. "This includes identifying bad hashes, URLs, and domains to improve our products."

The company is also exploring the potential of generative AI.

"We're using Gen AI for tasks like health checks, troubleshooting, and incident analysis," Pradhan explained. "This technology helps us not only detect threats but also improve productivity for our customers."

Responding to Market Trends

According to Pradhan, rising cyber threats and technological complexity are driving demand for SonicWall's solutions. "The volume and sophistication of threats like ransomware and IoT-based attacks continue to grow," he said. "Customers are also seeking ways to reduce complexity and consolidate their security systems."

SonicWall's managed security services address these concerns. "We offer MDR (managed detection and response) solutions for endpoints and cloud environments," Pradhan noted. "These services ensure 24/7 monitoring, which is crucial given that many attacks occur during holidays or weekends."

Channel-Driven Success

SonicWall's success is closely tied to its channel partner network. "Globally, we work with 17,000 partners," Pradhan said. "In APJ, many of our partners have been with us for over 20 years."

The company's partner program is divided into two tiers: Mastery partners, which include Platinum and Gold members, and Velocity partners, encompassing Silver and Bronze levels.

"Around 70% of our partners fall under the Master category," Pradhan added.

Looking Ahead

SonicWall's roadmap for 2025 includes not only product and service innovations but also continued global expansion.

 Pradhan said. "Our goal is to protect customers at every exposure touchpoint."

When asked why customers choose SonicWall, Pradhan highlighted the company's legacy and reliability.

"We've been fighting cybercriminals for over 30 years," he said. "One of the best compliments we receive is that when customers deploy SonicWall, it just works. We help them sleep well at night."