Help with Router blocking works VPN

[Smiljan]

Could someone have a look at my router settings in the picture and let me know if it's safe or not to have it as it is.

I occasionally have to use my works laptop from home and for a lot of the company systems I have to go through Pulse Secure VPN.

Its been really flaky and although it always connects, it often blocks stuff like Microsoft Outlook from getting through while allowing access to the works LAN and other systems. I can't find any correlation between what I can and can't access through the VPN.

Our sharepoint, Outlook, intranet etc... you don't need the VPN for and generally work ok but as soon as I connect via the VPN Outlook stops connecting.

My home internet is through EE and I use their hub as supplied.

The only way I've found to get everything working and connecting reliably whilst using the works VPN is to have the settings as shown in the photo.

Question is - does this put me at risk of someone getting into my stuff from outside?

Firewall disabled in the router - am I still safe?

DMZ I tried with it on and it made no difference.

UPnP and UPnP security - I've no idea what these do. Would I need them on for other things to work ok? Doesn't seem to have caused any issues with my phone, tablet or personal laptop connecting.

Sorry for the dumb questions, I'm not really up on IT and googling the issue gives me so many conflicting answers.

Thanks for the help.

[Taita]

I wouldn't be on the internet without some form of firewall in front of my machine - Windows, Linux or Mac.

Even a bog standard ISP grade router fw is better than nowt imo.

[Smiljan]

Thanks Taita, what sort of risk am I running having it turned off realistically?

[buggalugs]

This sounds like a laptop issue more than a router issue to be honest, do you vpn from anywhere else and is it OK? Can you try tethering to your phone for a few hours and see if it improves?

[Smiljan]

I think you’re right, I turned on the laptop again this afternoon same settings on the router and bang back to where it was before,

Tried tethered to my phone and same issues.

Any tips for somewhere to look on the laptop before I go do battle with our IT support system.?

[nickd01]

So, the only issue is that Outlook can't connect when the office VPN is on?

I assume you're on Office 365, and not a private hosted Exchange server.

Try running this with the VPN running - it might give some clues.

https://connectivity.office.com/

[sgrimshaw]

Sounds like the VPN is blocking access for Outlook, have a chat with your IT department

[Smiljan]

Thanks both, it is a little flaky now and again for everything but mostly just Outlook, OneNote etc.. that it likes to block.

Only the desktop versions are affected. I’ll try that link thanks and update back.

[Smiljan]

nickd01 said:

So, the only issue is that Outlook can't connect when the office VPN is on?

I assume you're on Office 365, and not a private hosted Exchange server.

Try running this with the VPN running - it might give some clues.

https://connectivity.office.com/

Thanks for that, I just tried it but it needs to install some .net desktop runtime which I can't do without admin access

Looks like a call to India it is

[Mr Pointy]

Is your Windows Defender firewall turned on? Try turning that off.

[frisbee]

I use Pulse Secure. I haven't had to change any router settings.

Recently Outlook fails to connect until I've opened Internet Explorer and hit refresh a couple of times until the Intranet homepage appears.

[Smiljan]

Thanks for the windows defender tip, that's admin controlled too so I can't turn it off.

It's driving me mad. I came back to the computer after a an hour again this afternoon and fired it up and everything works through the VPN. I'm wondering if its something to do with Microsoft authenticator that buts in at random and asks for authentication through my phone or watch.

Seems like it never does this when the VPN is in use and maybe it can't and this is stopping Outlook etc.. from working.

If I could get it to be totally consistent it would make like easier. The only other place I use it is work where it's either on an ethernet connection at a desk or company secure wifi out on jobs around the place.

Seems like we've ruled out my home router, thought I'd nailed it earlier turning off the firewall but it's all working now with the firewall back on in the router.

[grumbledoak]

Are you wired to the router?

That makes a big difference for my work VPN...

[Smiljan]

I have tried wired but it doesn't seem to make much difference. A few colleagues have said that helps for them but I wonder if that is more weak / dodgy wifi than anything else?

[buggalugs]

Smiljan said:

Thanks for the windows defender tip, that's admin controlled too so I can't turn it off.

It's driving me mad. I came back to the computer after a an hour again this afternoon and fired it up and everything works through the VPN. I'm wondering if its something to do with Microsoft authenticator that buts in at random and asks for authentication through my phone or watch.

Seems like it never does this when the VPN is in use and maybe it can't and this is stopping Outlook etc.. from working.

If I could get it to be totally consistent it would make like easier. The only other place I use it is work where it's either on an ethernet connection at a desk or company secure wifi out on jobs around the place.

Seems like we've ruled out my home router, thought I'd nailed it earlier turning off the firewall but it's all working now with the firewall back on in the router.

If your work's IP is whitelisted for authenticator then Office apps being happy when connected via vpn but not otherwise might indicate an issue with that. i.e. you're not authenticated correctly with authenticator. You could try signing out of the account under settings, accounts, work or school then adding the account again. While not on vpn.

Also in Word go to accounts and try pressing sign out until there are no accounts left. Then sign in again. not on vpn.

And people said the cloud was the end of needing IT

[Smiljan]

Thanks I’ve just signed out and then signed in again with VPN off. All good.

As soon as I run the VPN all the Office desktop programs don’t have a connection to the internet anymore.






If I then try to sign in to the office account while on the VPN it doesn’t work either as there’s no connection.

Using the web apps and signing in all is good.

Really weird that it only blocks Microsoft office programs and nothing else. Even then very occasionally it all works fine no issue. I had it plugged in with and Ethernet cable tonight as suggested too.

Any more things worth trying?

[acd80]

Smiljan said:

Thanks I’ve just signed out and then signed in again with VPN off. All good.

As soon as I run the VPN all the Office desktop programs don’t have a connection to the internet anymore.






If I then try to sign in to the office account while on the VPN it doesn’t work either as there’s no connection.

Using the web apps and signing in all is good.

Really weird that it only blocks Microsoft office programs and nothing else. Even then very occasionally it all works fine no issue. I had it plugged in with and Ethernet cable tonight as suggested too.

Any more things worth trying?

Speak to your IT team. This looks like your Outlook bandwidth is being throttled by one of their policies. Get them to increase the bandwidth to see if that will solve it. I'd strongly advise reverting back to your router's normal security settings - having a firewall disabled is a big no-no. And it could possibly contravene your company's WFH Infosec policies as well (even though they might be causing the issues).

[Smiljan]

Thanks I have put the router settings back where they were a few hours ago. I really appreciate all the helpful advice on here today and I’ll pop back on and update if I ever find out what the issue is.

[Smiljan]

Just as a quick update, ticket raised with IT and apparently it’s part of a bigger issue they’re working on fixing so they’ve tagged my ticket onto that issues. Will pop back on here if it ever gets sorted .

[sparkyhx]

I used to have similar situation with work VPN when Outlook was already connected, I just closed it down and started again.
Similar when I start personal O365 and then start my NORDVPN, I just stop and restart outlook.