NordLayer Review: A Comprehensive Network Security Solution for the Modern Workforce


Hello friend! Network security should be top priority for your business today. As a fellow tech expert, I know you‘re looking for solutions that can actually match the growing sophistication of cyber threats targeting companies worldwide.

That‘s why I wanted to tell you about NordLayer – it‘s the most comprehensive and cutting-edge network security platform I‘ve come across. Developed by Nord Security, NordLayer consolidates powerful technologies like zero trust network access, cloud firewall, anti-malware scanning, and more into one enterprise-grade solution.

In this detailed review, I‘ll give you my insider perspective on NordLayer‘s capabilities, features, pricing, ease of use, and overall value proposition. My goal is to provide the insights you need to determine if NordLayer is the right fit to lock down security for your modern workforce. Let‘s dive in!

What Makes NordLayer Different

Before we look at specific features, it‘s important to understand what sets NordLayer apart in the network security space. There are three key differentiators:

It‘s a consolidated cybersecurity platform – Many vendors only offer point solutions that address one aspect of network security. This leaves dangerous gaps in protection. NordLayer brings together key technologies like ZTNA, FWaaS, SWG, CASB and more onto one cohesive platform. This unified approach is far more secure.

Optimized for the cloud era – Legacy network security tools weren‘t built for the cloud. NordLayer uses a cloud-native architecture to simplify deployment across cloud, SaaS, and on-prem resources. The days of complex VPNs and hardware appliances are over!

Driven by zero trust principles – NordLayer isn‘t just about erecting a hard perimeter. It constantly validates users and devices to restrict access to only those deemed trustworthy – core principles of zero trust. This active security model is essential today.

These factors make NordLayer stand out versus alternatives – it delivers comprehensive, cloud-ready network security tightly aligned with a zero trust framework.

Diving Into NordLayer‘s Capabilities

Now let‘s explore some of NordLayer‘s key capabilities available under the hood. I‘ll be sharing my own technical perspectives on each.

Secure Remote Access

Enabling secure remote connectivity is one of the most pressing network security needs today. The traditional VPN approach has lots of limitations – it grants excessive network access and lacks granular controls.

NordLayer implements software-defined perimeters (SDP) which only allow remote access to specific apps based on identity and context. For example, you can restrict access to HR systems to only corporate devices located within the US. This minimizes lateral movement.

I particularly like how NordLayer can enforce multifactor authentication (MFA) for remote users. MFA adds a critical extra layer of protection by requiring users to present an additional credential like a biometric scan or hardware token when accessing internal systems.

NordLayer also makes it easy to monitor remote access activity via detailed session logs. As a hands-on tech professional, I really appreciate these troubleshooting and auditing capabilities.

Cloud Firewall

Transitioning security controls like firewalls to the cloud is key for enabling workforce mobility. NordLayer‘s cloud firewall delivers essential network protections like:

• Microsegmentation and least privilege access – This allows implementing granular, application-level access policies. For instance, contractors may only access the HR portal without visibility into other apps. Microsegmentation minimizes lateral movement which is how attackers propagate through networks.

• Intrusion prevention – NordLayer can block different types of exploits like SQL injections, cross-site scripting, and more at the network perimeter. This capability is often overlooked but can prevent application-layer attacks.

• DNS/IP filtering – Blacklisting known malicious IPs and domains via continuously updated threat feeds is an easy lift that pays dividends. NordLayer lets you filter web traffic by category as well for enforcing acceptable use policies.

For organizations still running legacy firewalls, NordLayer provides an excellent path to adopt cloud-delivered firewall capabilities without a disruptive rip-and-replace.

Secure Web Gateway

Secure web gateways (SWGs) are a must for sealing network edges against web-based threats. NordLayer‘s SWG offering prevents a wide range of phishing, malware, and command-and-control attacks.

It sandwiches user traffic between NordLayer‘s secure gateways to inspect URLs, block malicious sites via threat intelligence, filter inappropriate content, and apply policies based on user identity. These are all table stakes SWG protections.

What I like most about NordLayer‘s SWG is the integrated threat intelligence. It leverages real-time feeds with constantly updated IOCs (indicators of compromise) to identify and block the latest phishing sites, botnet domains, and malware sources. This real-time correlation is extremely valuable given how quickly adversaries shift attack infrastructure.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

If your organization isn‘t adopting zero trust yet, it should be! ZTNA prevents insecure VPN access by verifying user identities and device security posture before granting access to applications. It‘s a fundamentally more secure model for remote connectivity.

NordLayer enforces least privilege access out-of-the-box based on attributes like user, group, device type, IP address, geolocation, and MFA. For example, you can restrict accounting app access to corporate laptops used by the finance team when on the company network.

But ZTNA doesn‘t stop there – NordLayer continually inspects devices and monitors session activity to identify anomalies and block suspicious logins. This active approach accounts for credential theft and insider threats much better than legacy remote access models.

Cloud Application Security

Collaborating via cloud apps like Office 365 and Salesforce is the norm but securing these SaaS platforms brings new challenges. NordLayer integrates with leading CASBs (Cloud Access Security Brokers) to extend robust controls like:

• Multi-factor authentication for high-risk cloud login attempts
• Automated user account suspension when suspicious behavior is detected
• Data loss prevention policies to avoid leakage of sensitive cloud data
• Visibility into cloud usage patterns to identify shadow IT and misconfigurations

These capabilities are indispensable for centralizing and strengthening cloud app security. NordLayer‘s CASB integrations streamline enforcing unified access policies across both legacy and cloud environments.

Device Posture Checking

The explosion of BYOD and unmanaged devices represents a glaring network security risk. NordLayer‘s device posture checking ensures any endpoint accessing corporate resources meets security standards.

Before granting access, it checks critical attributes like:

• Patch levels on operating systems
• Status of endpoint security tools like antivirus
• Detection of jailbroken or rooted devices
• Compliance with configuration baselines
• Presence of unauthorized/vulnerable applications

Endpoints that fail posture checks are isolated until remediated. This prevents compromised employee devices from entering the network – a very real threat.

Posture checking works smoothly alongside NordLayer‘s contextual access policies for zero trust enforcement. Only secure and properly authenticated devices can connect.

Diving Into NordLayer‘s Zero Trust Architecture

I want to take a deeper look at how NordLayer enforces zero trust access principles across endpoints, networks, and cloud apps. This architecture is what sets NordLayer apart from traditional remote access tools.

There are four key zero trust pillars provided:

Verifying User Identities – NordLayer integrates with leading IAM platforms like Okta, Azure AD, and Google Workspace for contextual and adaptive authentication. Options like MFA, device-based user authentication, and step-up authentication maximize identity assurance levels before granting access.

Authorizing Devices – Devices are checked against configured security policies to verify they can be trusted – inactive devices, unpatched devices, and BYOD devices can automatically be blocked.

Securing Application Access – Microsegmentation and least privilege access principles are applied based on user, device, and contextual factors. This minimizes lateral movement across apps.

Inspecting Traffic – All connections are routed through NordLayer gateways to implement encryption, traffic inspection, threat detection, and compliance controls before reaching applications.

This framework limits trust while actively validating identities and connections attempts across the IT ecosystem. Cybercriminals have exploited inherent weaknesses in legacy network designs for too long – zero trust principles like NordLayer‘s finally flip the script.

Sizing Up NordLayer‘s Security Capabilities

Beyond the features covered already, I want to highlight some other compelling security capabilities provided by NordLayer:

• AES 256-bit encryption – NordLayer uses industry-leading encryption algorithms to secure data in transit and at rest. This prevents external snooping or man-in-the-middle attacks.

• Obfuscating user IPs – NordLayer masks the source IP of all outbound traffic by routing it through NordLayer gateways. This hides user locations and identities from potential attackers.

• DDoS prevention – NordLayer can absorb and block volumetric DDoS attacks directed at internal applications to ensure availability. This protection is essential given the scale of modern DDoS.

• Frictionless scaling – The platform leverages auto-scaling and other cloud-native technologies to gracefully handle usage spikes. You won‘t need to manually provision more capacity.

• Compliance automation – The solution can streamline compliance with standards like SOC2, ISO27001, GDPR, and PCI via microsegmentation, encryption, and other baked-in controls.

These strengths demonstrate how NordLayer can serve as an organization‘s primary network security foundation addressing a wide range of attacker techniques and enterprise requirements.

Comparing NordLayer‘s Pricing and Plans

NordLayer offers several pricing tiers based on unique business needs:

Plan	Price Per User/Month	Main Features
Free	$0	For small trials (up to 5 users).
Lite	$10	Secure web gateway, firewall, VPN access.
Core	$14	Adds ZTNA, posture checking, full-tunnel VPN.
Premium	$18	Everything in Core plus advanced features like AD integration, access insights reporting.
Custom	Custom quote	For large and complex deployments.

Here are some key things that stand out about NordLayer‘s pricing model:

• Volume discounts – 10% discount on annual contracts, plus additional savings at higher user tiers. This benefits larger deployments.
• Nonprofit pricing – NordLayer offers discounted plans for charities and educational institutions. Great to see community support.
• Pay-as-you-go model – Plans are billed per user monthly, so you can scale up or down flexibly. No multi-year contracts required.
• Free trial – The free tier allows testing NordLayer firsthand before purchasing. This gives you the chance to try before you buy.

Compared to competitors, NordLayer‘s pricing is very reasonable given the comprehensive functionality included. A full-featured ZTNA/SASE product at $14 per user per month is cost-effective.

Of course, pricing shouldn‘t be the only factor. But NordLayer‘s plans strike a nice balance between capability and affordability.

Why NordLayer is a Joy to Use

Ease of use is make or break when evaluating enterprise security tools. Complexity is the enemy of effective security.

NordLayer offers one of the cleanest and most intuitive admin interfaces I‘ve used for network security controls. The browser-based dashboard follows modern UX principles like flat design and responsive layouts.

The thoughtful workflow allows you to easily:

• Onboard users via identity provider integrations
• Configure secure access gateways
• Build granular access policies with easy drag-and-drop
• Review alerts, events, and user activity logs
• Run reports on demand or on a schedule
• Manage NordLayer agent deployments

Little touches like tooltips, pre-built policy templates, and visual feedback simplify setting up zero trust workflows.

For end users, NordLayer offers seamless authentication with SSO and adaptive MFA. The agent automatically handles tunnel establishment and security scanning without disruption.

Overall, NordLayer delivers powerful network security without the usability friction I‘ve experienced with alternatives. Its elegant design empowers lean teams to painlessly enhance defenses.

Why Organizations Are Choosing NordLayer

After reviewing NordLayer‘s capabilities and architecture closely, it‘s easy to see why adoption has boomed recently.

According to Nord Security‘s latest market report, NordLayer revenue grew over 300% in 2021. High-profile customers include Coinbase, Fujitsu, and SoftBank.

Here are five key reasons driving NordLayer‘s success:

Its unified SASE platform consolidates critical capabilities – Instead of managing disjointed tools, enterprises get ZTNA, SWG, FWaaS, CASB and more in one offering. This integrated approach provides superior security.

Cloud-native delivery removes deployment barriers – No need for complex setup of hardware appliances. NordLayer‘s global cloud infrastructure means fast deployment with no capacity planning.

Zero trust principles align with modern security best practices – Verifying users AND devices before granting least privilege access is fundamentally more secure than legacy network models.

Intuitive browser-based management aids adoption – The clean interface helps IT teams of all skill levels implement advanced controls quickly and painlessly.

Affordable pricing increases accessibility – NordLayer‘s reasonable pricing opens up advanced network security for organizations with budget constraints.

These factors make NordLayer compelling for enterprises modernizing their workforce protection. Its comprehensive platform accelerates zero trust adoption while removing IT friction.

NordLayer: The Clear Choice for Robust Network Security

After taking a deep dive into NordLayer‘s capabilities, it‘s evident this is an enterprise-grade network security solution built for the cloud era and remote workforces.

Key takeaways:

• Consolidated platform – Unified architecture with ZTNA, cloud FW, SWG, CASB and more.

• Optimized for the cloud – Deploys rapidly across cloud, SaaS, and on-prem.

• Zero trust architecture – Verifies users AND devices while restricting access to only authorized resources.

• Intuitive browser-based management – Allows easy administration and scaling.

• Encouraging adoption – Competitive pricing and nonprofit support expand access for all organizations.

If you‘re looking for a comprehensive network security solution to enable workforce mobility, I highly recommend giving NordLayer a closer look. It‘s the most full-featured and enterprise-ready option available.

Start with a free trial of NordLayer to experience the platform firsthand. And feel free to reach out if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat more about maximizing your network security posture.