Can VPNs bypass web hosting firewalls? A cybersecurity perspective

In the ever-changing online world, VPNs have remained a rare example of an old-but-gold service that’s still used widely to obfuscate real IP addresses. Nowadays, we’ve got advanced VPNs capable of going around geo-restrictions and web hosting security systems.

Still, web hosting services have, in turn, evolved to tackle this problem. The best providers offer cutting-edge protection even from access attempts made through encrypted IP tunnels.

Still, the main question of whether a VPN can go past web hosting firewalls remains, and together with my team of Cybernews experts, I’ll be glad to break it all down for you.

VPN and web hosting 101

To give you an instant answer: yes, VPNs can bypass web hosting firewalls, but it widely depends on the hosting service, type, and security features. Think of it this way: a VPN hides your real IP address and encrypts the generated one to go around geo limits and similar restrictions.

Looking at it from the cybersecurity lens, a VPN can technically hide your destination from the security network. Still, the ground rules on the network remain the same, so there’s only so much that a VPN can do to help you break free from advanced firewalls and web hosting protection.

For instance, Liquid Web is among the web hosting service providers focused on the latest security trends. So, its dedicated cloud-based hosting comes with a fully integrated firewall capable of recognizing VPN access patterns and restricting their reach.

With a fully managed solution and dedicated technical support, Liquid Web is a perfect example of how a well-managed hosting solution can fine-tune VPN access blocking. Plus, root access allows users to monitor and manage their servers, and that reflects on protection from unauthorized access.

How a VPN can bypass firewalls

Despite the presence of multi-layered security features used in firewalls of prominent web hosting services, modern-day VPNs can still bypass those layers of protection. Here’s an overview of the main ways in which it can be done:

• Traffic obfuscation: Most VPNs utilize tunneling protocols in conjunction with traffic obfuscation tools to disguise their traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. Plus, the use of obfuscated proxies wraps encrypted traffic, while regular protocol switching makes it nearly impossible for the firewall to isolate an address.
• Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) bypassing: Another common safety measure used by web hosting providers is Deep Packet Inspection. With this, all data packets on the networks are independently scanned for patterns according to preset rules. Inspected data also leads to simpler application of intrusion and other systems for keeping the network’s traffic regulated. Still, modern VPNs use alternating packet sizes, together with advanced traffic encryption, which makes it harder to identify an address.
• Port-based bypassing: Many VPNs enable users to bypass web hosting firewalls through port and protocol manipulation. For instance, it’s possible to use dynamic port switching to avoid blocked ports.

What makes web hosting firewalls vulnerable to VPNs?

As a security network, a web hosting firewall potentially comes with several vulnerabilities that VPNs target. First things first, I’d point out the old-school IP tracking and blocking layer, which is the foundation of each web hosting firewall. Regularly, it would block any VPN traffic by recognizing IP address patterns.

However, advanced VPN solutions rely on dynamic IP rotation to tackle this. In other words, a user’s IP address frequently shifts, making it nearly impossible for the firewall to lock in on the address. Furthermore, they often use proxy-based technologies for shell networks that appear to be legitimate when scanned by the firewall.

Some VPNs also distribute access through various endpoints, making connection patterns harder to recognize.

Finally, the use of AI and automation has led to behavioral pattern mimicking, which is a powerful feature when trying to slip under the firewall’s radar. This way, a VPN can generate actions that make it seem as if it were used by a legitimate user. Naturally, some VPNs use a combination of these features to target firewall vulnerabilities.

How hosting providers tackle the VPN problem

Although some VPN services seem to be pretty effective, the methods of bypassing web hosting firewalls aren’t that much of a well-kept secret. In fact, I was able to find loads of information on the topic, and serious web hosting service providers like Liquid Web are even more aware of this.

So, they handle the problem by taking a multi-layered approach, which is based on firewalls designed to defend against unauthorized VPN access. Here’s how they do it:

• Hardware firewall integration: The brand’s hardware firewalls are designed with corporate-grade protection in mind, and they come fully integrated into the system components. They also use advanced traffic processing capabilities, which identify sophisticated bypass attempts. Plus, I’ve especially liked the idea of configuring your own firewall rules for tailored protection.
• Cloud firewall integration: As mentioned, LiquidWeb combines individual server protection firewalls like the CSF script with cloud-based solutions that cover entire networks. Aside from the multi-layered network, this also includes traffic analysis, which helps detect shady patterns and activities in real time.
• Network segmentation: Another effective way of handling the VPN issue is through network segmentation. LiquidWeb divides its networks into smaller sections and then isolates server-to-server communication from public addresses.
• Private networking: Finally, the service offers private networking options through isolated hosting environments, which enhance network security and minimize the threats specific to the public side of the internet.

Liquid Web hosting and firewall: overview & key facts

As a service with decades of experience in crafting dedicated servers, Liquid Web is a prime example of what web hosting firewalls can accomplish today. It uses a range of firewalls, but ultimately, it all boils down to the Basic one. It’s capable of filtering traffic based on rules set by the operator.

Still, it’s not entirely possible to keep the network safe from advanced VPN access requests. That’s why Liquid Web now offers two different types of firewalls for added protection:

• The ConfigServer Security Firewall (CSF): The CSF firewall is a perfect choice for those using Liquid Web services to run a dedicated server. To put it short, it’s more of a firewall script used to keep the traffic of a single server regulated and filtered according to the network rules.
• Cloud-based firewall: Unlike CSFs, cloud-based firewalls represent a more comprehensive solution, perfectly capable of ensuring that the traffic on the entire cloud network is filtered. Keeping your cloud environment safe is crucial for properly running hosted apps and storing data without any worries regarding access.

As you can see, the level of protection against VPN access depends on the firewall type and the services you’re using. It’s even possible to combine CSF and cloud firewalls for complete protection.

I’ve created a brief summary of what to expect from Liquid Web in this regard below:

More advanced security services

Aware of the rising VPN problem, Liquid Web has incorporated some of the latest protection protocols and features. The Server Secure Plus and Immunify360 Plus programs both provide comprehensive server hardening, which makes it more difficult for the VPN to target a specific part of the server.

Other services include real-time malware detection and removal software, as well as intrusion systems focused entirely on VPN-based attacks. Furthermore, the Clone System monitors for any signs of suspicious VPN activity and constantly evolves based on the latest advancements in VPN access.

But, all that’s not to say that Liquid Web and similar companies are entirely against VPNs. In fact, they highlight the relevance of these tools through dedicated VPN solutions designed with all relevant rules and regulations in mind.

Web hosting VPN barriers

These days, the best hosting services feature identification, prevention, and response systems to help deal with the VPN problem. These are some of the most common detection and prevention mechanisms that might prevent VPN access on the server:

• Traffic analysis features that monitor on-server traffic in real time, looking for patterns
• Machine learning models based on previous VPN breaches
• Dynamic firewalls that are capable of adjusting to VPN threats
• Automated response systems with the chance to block suspicious traffic
• Shared infrastructure for implementing blocks and anti-VPN tools across different servers

Our take: can VPNs truly bypass firewalls?

As you can see from this guide, the answer to our ultimate question is: yes, VPNs can truly bypass web hosting firewalls. So, while it’s impossible to prevent someone from attempting to do that, experienced hosting companies can improve their prevention and detection systems.

These days, such service providers craft more resilient, automated, and multi-layered firewalls that can fundamentally block any VPN access. Sure, modern-day VPN services are also evolving to allow users to unblock restricted servers.

Considering that VPNs are known for the potential of carrying encrypted malware, I’d say that relying on the services of LiquidWeb and similar providers with dedicated security systems is the best way to go about it.

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