VPN vs. Firewall: Why Businesses Need Both

VPN-vs.-Firewall_-Why-Businesses-Need-Both

Where most companies focus on the implementation of either a VPN or a firewall, by having only one or the other, this can create an area that remains insufficiently covered with security. Both the technologies are important, but they each hold different purposes. Understanding this difference will give you the ability to cater in building a defense against cyber threats.

This post will go further to consider how VPNs complement firewalls and why both are essential in the integration of a solid security setup.

What is a VPN?

A globe connected to a laptop with location pins and a VPN shield, symbolizing worldwide VPN connectivity and privacy.

A VPN secures your online activities and data by building a strong and encrypted connection. This way, it assures that anything you pass through the given connection is safe from prying eyes, including hackers or your internet service provider.

The best part of this, particularly for any business, is that it safeguards sensitive information—be it client data or even just internal communications. Through VPNs, your workers can securely access your company network from anywhere.

The Role of VPNs in Business Security

A person sitting with a laptop under a VPN shield symbol, with a world map in the background, symbolizing global VPN protection.

VPNs are multitasking security systems that can encrypt data and secure the communication conducted by businesses. With a VPN service, for instance, an employee’s data would be encrypted and essentially unreadable to anybody who would pick it up when surfing the internet.

Encryption is crucial as it safeguards important data from financial transactions, giving an organization exclusive rights over its intellectual property. Additionally, VPNs provide a secure way of accessing the company network by employees remotely so that they remain in contact with the company while keeping their activity private. This is particularly important for today’s increasingly distributed workplaces, which require access to organizational resources from around the globe.

The Role Of Firewall In Business Security

A person sitting with a laptop under a VPN shield symbol, with a world map in the background, symbolizing global VPN protection.

A firewall is an extremely critical device in monitoring and controlling data traffic moving between an internal network and the external environment. It is used to determine traffic patterns, to which security rules are applied so as to eliminate any form of unauthorized or suspicious activities that might occur.

When setup correctly, the firewall should prevent any possible intrusion or cyber attack from reaching critical systems. Firewalls have the capability to send real-time alerts to IT teams for further action in case of security challenges. They help create a controlled environment for data exchange and make an important component of a comprehensive security strategy.

Why Businesses Need Both: VPNs and Firewalls?

A laptop, firewall, and security shields surrounding the globe, representing internet security using firewalls and encryption.

Although both VPNs and firewalls serve some great security functions, they cover totally different aspects of cybersecurity. VPNs concern themselves with the act of encrypting data and offering protection when accessing it remotely, in order to ensure that the information remains secure while transiting over the Internet. Firewalls work as a mechanism of defense; they control and monitor network traffic as a way of suppressing any malicious activity.

Both of them in conjunction deliver security in depth. It is this kind of layered defense that guarantees your data is protected as it moves and, at the same time, shields your network from access breaches and potential threats. Together, they make a more comprehensive security strategy that protects your business from a wide range of cyber risks.

Integrating VPN and Firewall Solutions into PureWL

Two people turning large gears with checkmarks above them, symbolizing collaboration and process optimization.

Combining VPN from PureWL with your firewall solutions does create a strong layered defense addressing the areas of both data and network protection, providing full protection to your business against all sorts of cyber threats.

It is, therefore, an important merger of VPNs with firewalls into a strong business security strategy. The virtues that make VPNs valuable are their provision of encrypted communications and secure remote access, while firewalls work by controlling network traffic to prevent unauthorized intrusion. An integration of the two technologies would enable a business to address various cyber threats and ensure data and networks are safe. We offer an integrated security solution that covers all bases. Consider our offerings, combining advanced VPN solutions to keep your business secure and resilient against evolving cyber threats.