As a tech person, people always ask me if they have a built-in Firewall in thier system then why do they need a separate VPN service?

Actually, they are not superficial or wrong. VPN and Firewall provide almost similar features, except VPN has the ability to hide you from the rest of the internet world.

A firewall is used for Security reasons such as protecting from malware and other online threats. One step further, VPN protects you from threats and hides you from thier eyes.

That’s the basic difference between VPN and Firewall.

In this guide, I will walk you through the work of VPN and Firewall so that you can differentiate between them and use them according to thier needs.

I will side by side compare VPN Vs Firewall to help you understand thier work in an easy way.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the comparison between VPN and Firewall.

First off,

What is VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online security technology that allows you to build a secure and encrypted connection over the internet.

VPN provides privacy and security to your online activities.

VPN providers use servers located in different countries to establish a virtual network that enables users to send and receive data through that private network.

VPN keeps you anonymous even when you are using a public or unsecured network.

VPN provides several benefits to the users. Such as,

• Privacy by masking users’ IP address
• Security by encrypting the transmitted data
• Access resources
• Bypass restrictions
• Make you anonymous

What is Firewall

A firewall is a network security technology in the form of a device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.

It monitors all the traffic based on a set of predetermined security rules or policies. The primary purpose of a Firewall is to make a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, like the Internet.

This arrangement prevents unauthorized access, protects against cyber threats, and ensures the security and privacy of your data.

There are different types of Firewalls exist. Some of them are,

• Packet-Filtering Firewalls: These Firewalls filter network packets and allow the trusted data to the network.
• Circuit-Level Gateways: CLG Firewalls monitor the TCP handshakes which actually ensure that the incoming and outgoing connection is legitimate.
• Stateful Inspection Firewalls: These types of Firewalls maintain a state table to keep track of active connections and filter the traffic based on predetermined presets.
• Application-Level Gateways (Proxy Firewalls): ALG or proxy Firewalls inspect and filter traffic at the application layer.
• Next-Generation Firewalls: These Firewalls combine all the above functions in one application.

VPN Vs Firewall

Why VPNs are Essential

In today’s scenario, VPN is an essential tool for internet users. It protects you from hacking and potential threats.

VPN protects data during transmission from potential threats and makes you anonymous.

Here are the key benefits of using VPN. This will give you an idea, why it’s so important for you.

1. It gives you enhanced security: VPN encrypts all your data when you are online. It creates an extra layer of security.
2. Privacy protection: VPN masks your IP address and makes it difficult for websites, advertisers, hackers and others to track your online activities.
3. Bypass geo-restrictions: VPNs allow you to access content or services that might be blocked in your region by bypassing geo-restrictions. Whether you are a streamer, remote worker, or just want to access restricted websites, VPN helps you with this.
4. Network security: If you are an employer, VPN gives you an extra layer of security for your sensitive data when remote workers work in your organization.
5. Prevents data interception: VPN prevents data interception by hackers which keeps you from cyber frauds and identity theft.
6. Safe torrenting: If you frequently download files from torrent sites then VPN makes it anonymous for you. You can download files from torrent sites without exposing your identity.
7. Bypass censorship: Some countries censor the internet. In those countries, VPN can be used to unblock restricted content.
8. Secure communication: With VPN you can do secure communication with your remote employees.

The Role of Firewall in Network Security

Firewalls play an important role in network security. It serves as a protective barrier between the internal network and the internet.

Firewalls regulate incoming and outgoing traffic in the network where it is installed based on pre-defined security policies which can be set by the Firewall owner.

The owner can decide which data packets are allowed or blocked, so we can say the Firewall acts as a gatekeeper.

Firewall inspects network packets and filters them based on set security policy criteria such as IP addresses, port numbers, and protocols.

We can say that Firewall is the first line of defense against cyber threats, such as malware, viruses, worms, and intrusion attempts.

A firewall adds network segmentation and divides the organization’s network into security zones. This setting limits lateral movement by attackers.

Firewall allows you to monitor and analyze network activity for potential security breaches.

Why Should You Use VPN and Firewall Together

We can use VPN (Virtual Private Network) and a firewall together. In fact, they enhance network security when working together.

VPNs and firewalls are used for different complementary purposes. Such as Firewalls act as a barrier to block unauthorized access while VPNs provide secure, encrypted communication on the internet.

When we combine firewall and VPN this setting creates a better defense-in-depth strategy.

Both provide multi-layered security that ensures fullproof internet usage.

VPN provides anonymity by masking the user’s IP address and creates a security tunnel that is almost impossible to break while Firewall secures your home network from breaches even when you are not browsing the internet.

So, using both together is a wise decision for individuals and organizations. However, it needs some technical knowledge to setup both for working together. You can seek professional guidance in setting up Firewall and VPN together.

Risks Associated with VPNs

However VPN is a valuable tool in the context of security and privacy, there are some risks associated with it.

Let’s discuss the risks of using VPN.

1. Security Risks: However VPN is designed for better security, it can still be vulnerable to security breaches. If you cannot configure it properly or if you are using an unreliable VPN service you can lose your data to unauthorized persons.
2. Logging Policy Risks: Some VPNs, especially free VPN services are associated with hackers and ad agencies to sell your logging data who then use it against you.
3. Data Leaks: There have been some cases in the past where VPNs companies suffered from data leaks, These types of data leak incidents may expose your real IP address or DNS requests.
4. Slow Speed: VPN slows down the internet which actually interrupts your gaming and streaming experiences.
5. Limited Accessibility: Some online services and websites block or restrict access to VPN servers which makes it difficult to access those websites.
6. Cost: VPN costs you monthly rental. However, there are free VPNs available but I don’t recommend them due to some reasons. So you have to pay monthly rent to use a good VPN service.
7. Legal and Regulatory Issues: VPN may affect legal and regulatory laws which can take you into legal action. So first check the VPN usage policies in your country then use a VPN.

Potential Vulnerabilities in Firewalls

Firewalls are essential for network security but they can have vulnerabilities that could be used by attackers to exploit you.

Let me explain the potential vulnerabilities of firewalls so that you can evaluate Firewall with VPN.

1. Firewalls commonly have weak and easy-to-guess passwords which may be exploited by the attackers.
2. If you are using outdated Firewall software then it becomes easy to find backdoor vulnerabilities in the system.
3. Sometimes wrong configurations also make Firewalls vulnerable.
4. Limited inspection of network traffic also invites attackers to find ways to exploit your network.
5. Firewalls are commonly targeted with denial-of-service attacks which overwhelm their capacity and shut down the network.

Conclusion

For security and privacy purposes, both Firewall and VPN are effective, however, VPN is more flexible and gives you more privacy and security, even if you are using the internet.

But, when you are using both together then the security and privacy system becomes an impenetrable fort.

So, we cannot compare them side by side, but we should use them together to build a highly secure network.

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