Cybersecurity
Jun 10, 2020
Sep 17, 2025
•
3 min read
SonicWall has officially announced that this product line will reach end-of-life (EOL) on October 31, 2025. After this date, the devices will be deactivated—leaving businesses with no choice but to migrate.
The reason? Severe and repeatedly exploited security vulnerabilities. CISA advisories and community reports confirm that attackers have consistently targeted the SMA 100 Series. For SonicWall, the risk has become untenable, and the company is pushing customers toward its cloud-only solution.
But for many IT teams, that shift raises questions:
- ● What if cloud-only doesn’t fit your infrastructure or compliance needs?
- ● What if you prefer to maintain control over your data and remote access environment?
- ● And what if you’re concerned about the cost and complexity of another vendor lock-in?
The good news is, you have options.
A Proven Alternative: OpenVPN Access Server
If you’re searching for a secure, stable, and cost-effective replacement for SonicWall SMA 100 Series, look no further than Access Server.
Unlike cloud-only offerings, Access Server gives you the flexibility to choose your deployment model—on-premises, in your private cloud, or through a supported marketplace like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or Oracle Cloud. That flexibility allows you to maintain control, meet compliance requirements, and tailor your environment to your exact needs.
Here’s why Access Server is a strong alternative:
Better Performance
Access Server leverages kernel processing and multi-threading for higher VPN throughput and faster connection speeds. Your workforce gets the reliable performance they expect—without bottlenecks.
Superior Security
While SonicWall’s SMA 100 Series has been plagued by widely exploited vulnerabilities, Access Server has no known exploited vulnerabilities according to CISA. Security is baked into the foundation of our product, giving you peace of mind in today’s threat landscape.
No Hidden Costs
With Access Server, your subscription includes support and future software upgrades. There’s no nickel-and-diming for features, patches, or basic support. The result: a lower total cost of ownership compared to many alternatives.
|
Feature |
OpenVPN Access Server |
SonicWall SMA |
|---|---|---|
|
Deployment |
- Self-hosted flexible deployment, software, cloud, on-prem, virtual machine, pre-configured images on AWS, GCP, Azure, or Docker. - Supports Linux & offline/air gap deployments |
- Offers hardware-based, appliance |
|
Scalability |
- Horizontal scaling & clustering allowing thousands of users concurrently |
- SMA 210 limited to 200 users |
|
Performance |
- Commonly 1Gbps VPN throughput, depending on host - Offers failover with second server to minimize downtime |
- SMA 210 offers 560 Mbps VPN throughput |
|
Admin Experience |
- Simple web portal |
- Advanced |
|
Authentication |
- LDAP, RADIUS, SAML, MFA |
- LDAP, MFA |
|
Setup Cost / TCO |
- Low |
- High |
Don’t Wait Until October
You don’t have long to plan your migration — and it's important to remember that SonicWall devices are not just being sunset by lacking new updates, but will be actively decommissioned. Waiting until the last minute risks disruptions, rushed decisions, and unnecessary costs.
Now is the time to evaluate alternatives and design a remote access strategy that works for your business—on your terms.
With Access Server, you’ll get:
- + Proven, enterprise-grade VPN software trusted by millions worldwide.
- + Deployment flexibility: self-hosted, private cloud, or public cloud.
- + Secure, stable performance—without surprise costs.
Ready to explore your SonicWall replacement options? Learn more about Access Server and start your migration plan today.
