Choosing a Firewall with Next-gen VPN & Remote Access Security

I’ve been working in networking and cybersecurity for more than 30 years—enough time to remember that remote access used to mean calling into a modem bank and praying that your PSTN line didn’t drop. And yes, I was there when the Slammer worm swept through our networks, giving a generation of IT admins (myself included) how important the lesson was that patching isn’t optional.

Now, I operate PJ Networks Pvt Ltd protecting financial institutions, enterprises, and government agencies. And recently, one pressing question keeps surfacing with my clients: How do we protect our remote workforce with a firewall that doesn’t become a management nightmare?

The thing is, VPN security is kind of a big deal. Remote workforces are now the new normal, and bad actors aren’t waiting long to take advantage of weak setups. Therefore if your firewall isn’t engineered for advanced VPN security, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Let’s break this down.

Challenges Related to VPN & Remote Working Security

First, let’s explore why the security of your VPN is crucial now more than ever.

1. A VPN is no longer sufficient on its own

A decade ago, simply having a VPN was almost security sufficient. Now? Hackers do not waste time hacking VPN appliances indirectly—misconfigured policies, outdated firmware, etc.

2. The majority of users still use weak passwords

I don’t care how many times we tell them—users love their knuckleheaded passwords. And attackers know it. What This Means: If your firewall doesn’t enforce strong authentication, you might as well leave a key under the doormat.

3. Zero-trust is not just a catchy term

I just took three banks to a real zero-trust model. Why? Because implicit trust on your network is a huge security risk. You must authenticate all requests, each time. It requires your firewall to support it.

4. Ransomware is evolving

Attacks on remote access VPNs are popular with attackers. If even one compromised credential makes it through, ransomware can spread laterally — making your whole network into a hostage situation. Your firewall needs to segment and watch every connection.

What to Consider in a Firewall

What makes for a great firewall for VPN security and remote workforces? Firewalls aren’t all created equal. Some are focused entirely on raw performance, and others on ease of use. But you need security-first.

• Built-in VPN with powerful encryption. Skip it if your firewall supports less than IPsec and SSL VPN, AES-256 encryption.
• Support for multi-factor authentication (MFA). No MFA? No deal. Push notifications, TOTP, and biometrics must be implemented out-of-box.
• ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access). Others promise “zero trust” but ultimately are still dependent on implicit access models. True ZTNA firewalls validate the health of a device, the identity of a user, and least privilege policies on every connection.
• Deep packet inspection (DPI). Your firewall will need to inspect encrypted traffic without compromising security—if you have a weak DPI engine, it means attackers can hide in SSL tunnels.
• Intrusion prevention system (IPS). Ideal next-gen firewalls (NGFW) catch and prevent exploit attempts before they hit your endpoints.
• Fine-grained controls for remote access. Empower the right employees with the right levels of access to the network. Does your firewall provide role-, device-, and behavior-based access controls? If not, rethink your approach.

VPN Firewall Features of Fortinet

At PJ Networks, we partner with various security vendors — but when talking about securing VPNs, Fortinet does it like no other.

Now, before anyone accuses me of bias, let me say this: There’s no such thing as a perfect vendor. But Fortinet firewalls check all the boxes for securing a remote workforce without adding pain to managing that workforce.

Why Fortinet for secure remote access?

• IPsec and SSL VPN with high-performance encryption for FortiGate NGFWs.
• Built-in Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). This is part of the OS, unlike add-on solutions.
• Built in MFA and endpoint compliance checks — kick compromised devices off your network.
• Advanced threat protection & AI-driven IPS — Fortinet’s behavioral analysis actually works.
• Policy enforcement at application and user layers. Segregate VPN traffic by job role, device type or risk level.

And I’ll say that Fortinet firewalls are built for enterprise security in the real world. I’ve installed them in banks, government data centers — and fast-scaling startups requiring fortress-like IT security.

For organizations that need a heavy-duty security device with a clear emphasis on VPN and remote access security, Fortinet meets the task without breaking the bank.

Remote Security Services | PJ Networks

Here’s the deal — getting the right firewall is the first step. But only if it is set up properly.

I’ve seen far too many companies roll out an awesome firewall… and then have critical security settings still left to fate.

We are PJ Networks Pvt Ltd and we do not simply sell the firewalls, we secure them for real businesses:

• Deployment & optimisation of Firewall (How to get the most out of your investment.)
• Advanced configuration for VPN policies (Limit users’ access.)
• Zero Trust implementation (Verify, don’t trust—EVER.)
• Remote security monitoring around the clock (Because attackers don’t keep business hours.)
• Security audits & penetration testing (Identify your weaknesses before the hackers do.)

There is a strategy behind securing remote workforces, beyond the box you purchase.

Conclusion

The future of work is remote. That’s not changing. But if your firewall doesn’t precisely secure your VPN connections, there’s a risk of your network every second of the day.

Your firewall must:

• Be pre-configured with strong VPN & encryption.
• Provide zero trust access controls.
• Implement multi-factor authentication.
• Monitor traffic as it traverses the network.
• Have robust, current threat protection.

At PJ Networks Pvt Ltd, decades of experience mitigating evolving threats while securing networks. And believe me—picking the right firewall now will save you thousands (or even millions) in preventable breaches tomorrow.

So—is your firewall prepared for secure remote work? If not, let’s fix that. Now.