VPN router

Howdy and thanks for reading....

2010 timeframe I had a VPN connection that I established at work, with a NETGEAR 318 VPN router and used VPN Tracker at home. That actually worked.

Multiple iterations of computers since then. Back to my mac helped but is gone.

I would like to be at home, on a client computer, and use a database on a machine at work.

The work office is fiber through ATT, that interfaces with the ARRIS NVG595; the ARRIS handles the firewall and routing; apparently it supports IP Passthrough, but not a bridge mode, so it can be seen by service reps for ATT....

I think I need:

That ARRIS in IP Passthrough mode, with a new VPN capable router behind it. I was considering a SONICWALL product. The more you read about the VPN routers, the more people seem frustrated.

OR

Jump ship to a different ISP if I can get a device from them that allows actual bridge mode, then get my VPN router, etc.

NEWBIE question:

Am I correct that I definitely need a VPN router (hardware) in my office space to create this tunnel I would connect to (I.e. no software only solution with my current hardware)?

Also, has the Mac OS VPN (on the home client) morphed enough to be used to connect to a VPN without VPN Tracker?