NordLayer
{{Short description|Network access security service}}
{{Infobox software
| name = NordLayer
| title =
| logo = NordLayer Logo.svg
| developer = Nord Security
| screenshot =
| caption =
| other_names =
| author = Founders: Tomas Okmanas, Eimantas Sabaliauskas
| genre = Virtual private network
| released = {{Start date and age|2019}}
| discontinued =
| latest release version = Android 3.6.0 (January 23, 2023)
iOS 3.7.0 (January 16, 2023)
macOS 2.6.2 (January 16, 2023)
Windows 2.6.3 (January 10, 2023)
Linux 2.6.1 (January 4, 2023)
| license = Proprietary software
| platform = {{flatlist|
}}
| operating system = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|https://nordlayer.com/}}
}}
NordLayer, formerly known as NordVPN Teams, is a network access security service with applications for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS and Browser extension.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/29/business/dealbook/quality-work-breaks.html|title=How to Take a Break|first=Rob|last=Walker|date=May 29, 2021|newspaper=New York Times}}{{Cite web |title=Meet Nord Security: The company behind NordVPN wants to be your one-stop privacy suite |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/meet-nordsec-the-company-behind-nordvpn-wants-to-be-your-one-stop-privacy-suite/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=ZDNET |language=en}} The software is marketed as a privacy and security tool that enables the implementation of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) in hybrid and multi-cloud cloud environments.{{Cite news |date=2 February 2021 |title=Remote Working's Longer Hours Are New Normal for Many |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-02/remote-working-s-longer-hours-are-new-normal-for-many-chart}}
It is developed by Nord Security (Nordsec Ltd), a company that creates cybersecurity software, and was initially supported by the Lithuanian startup accelerator and business incubator Tesonet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/nordvpn-teams-quietly-relocated-to-the-us|title=NordVPN Teams quietly relocated to the US|first=Anthony|last= Spadafora|date=October 9, 2020|website=TechRadar}}{{Cite web |last=Guy |first=Jack |date=5 February 2021 |title=People are working longer hours at home than they did in the office |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/05/business/working-from-home-hours-pandemic-scli-intl-gbr/index.html |website=CNN}}
History
NordLayer was founded in 2019 as NordVPN Teams as a subsidiary of NordSecurity, a technology company that develops and provides virtual private network (VPN) services, such as NordVPN and SurfShark.{{Cite web |last=Gewirtz |first=David |title=Meet Nord Security: The company behind NordVPN wants to be your one-stop privacy suite |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/meet-nordsec-the-company-behind-nordvpn-wants-to-be-your-one-stop-privacy-suite/ |website=ZDNet}}
In October 2020, NordVPN Team relocated to the United States as part of a larger effort to expand its operations and better serve its enterprise clients. Nevertheless, Nordlayer committed to maintaining its Panamanian corporate structure, allowing it to remain outside the jurisdiction of the Fourteen Eyes intelligence sharing pact, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other countries.{{Cite web |title=No data retention laws in Panama |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nordvpn |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}
In September 2021, the NordVPN Teams was rebranded to NordLayer. The transition marked the introduction of advanced network access control capabilities, positioning NordLayer as part of the broader secure access service edge (SASE) framework.{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/nordvpn-reveals-rebrand-for-its-b2b-offering|title=NordVPN reveals rebrand for its B2B offering|first=Anthony |last=Spadafora|date=September 14, 2021|website=TechRadar}}{{Cite web |last=Eston |first=Tom |date=2022-12-05 |title=SASE: Is it Just Another Cybersecurity Buzzword? |url=https://securityboulevard.com/2022/12/sase-is-it-just-another-cybersecurity-buzzword/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Security Boulevard |language=en-US}}
Products
NordLayer is based on a cloud-based cybersecurity product that enables organizations to implement secure service edge (SSE) best practices, combining advanced internet access security, network access control, and network connectors into one cohesive solution.{{Cite web |title=Secure your business network with advanced features {{!}} NordLayer |url=https://nordlayer.com/features/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=nordlayer.com |language=en}}
The NordLayer platform enables IT administrators to add, remove, or transfer user accounts, dedicated servers, or custom gateways — with static or dedicated IP addresses — for specific teams to remotely access a company's LAN. In addition, network administrators have the ability to monitor user activity and obtain information about the connection. This includes checking whether the devices being used comply with predefined security rules.
Nordlayer offers a Single Sign-On (SSO) login option to its users. SSO logins are currently supported through various providers, including Google SSO, Entra ID (Azure AD), Okta, JumpCloud and OneLogin.{{Cite web |last=NordVPN |first=Par Proposé par |title=NordVPN propose un service grand public et un service pour les entreprises |url=https://www.zdnet.fr/actualites-partenaires/nordvpn-propose-un-service-grand-public-et-un-service-pour-les-entreprises-39915341.htm |website=ZDNet|date=23 December 2020 }} NordLayer supports various second-factor confirmation (multi-factor authentication) methods, including SMS authentication, Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) authentication, and biometric authentication.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Mike |date=January 28, 2022 |title=NordLayer review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nordlayer |website=TechRadar}}
NordLayer enables to implementZero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) measures, that are based on the principle "Never trust – always verify". {{Cite web
| last=Webb
| first=Aaron
| date=2023-01-27
| title=It's Time to Put Your Users at The Centre of Your Security Universe
| url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blogs/users-centre-of-security-universe/
| access-date=2023-02-04
| website=Infosecurity Magazine
| quote='Never trust – always verify' ... exemplifies the security model at the crux of Zero Trust.
| ref=Webb01
}} NordLayer provides continuous authentication and identity verification to grant access to network resources based on multiple network access control rules.{{Cite web|url=https://au.pcmag.com/security/92171/nordlayer-in-australia-everything-you-need-to-know|title=NordLayer In Australia: Everything You Need To Know|date=February 1, 2022|website=PCMag}} NordLayer employs the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys and the ChaCha20 stream cipher.{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=2022-04-06 |title=Nord Security raises its first-ever funding, $100M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/06/nord-security-the-startup-behind-nordvpn-raises-its-first-ever-funding-100m-at-a-1-6b-valuation/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
NordLayer prevents cyber threats like DDoS, Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks, phishing, data leaks, and others with features such as two-factor authentication (2FA), Always-On VPN, kill switch, IP allowlisting, Cloud Firewall, Device Posture Security, and others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/nordvpn-how-to-protect-your-organization-from-ddos-attacks/|title=NordVPN Teams: How to protect your organization from DDoS attacks|first=Lance|last=Whitney|date=August 19, 2020|website=TechRepublic}}
NordLayer's Network Visibility features allow for the monitoring of network traffic and performance, and devices connected to the network ensuring a thorough understanding of network dynamics.
NordLayer's Device Posture Security provides a protective measure that ensures access is granted only to devices that meet per-defined security rules, thereby safeguarding networks from potential threats.
NordLayer's Secure Web Gateway (SWG) provides features for web security such as web filtering, content filtering, application control, IP masking, and traffic encryption.{{Cite web |last=Wallen |first=Jack |date=2022-05-26 |title=How NordLayer makes it easy for businesses to add VPN technology to remote workers |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/nordlayer-remote-access-vpn/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=TechRepublic |language=en-US}}
Nordlayer currently has 30+ global dedicated server locations.
Cybersecurity researches
= Working from home research =
In 2020, NordVPN Research Teams conducted a study revealing that, on average, employees were spending more time at their desks compared to the pre-pandemic era.{{Cite news |date=2020-03-23 |title=Working From Home Means Working Longer Hours for Many |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/working-from-home-means-working-longer-hours-for-many-chart |access-date=2023-12-11 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} Utilizing data from its servers, NordVPN Teams examined the usage patterns of private business networks to gain insights into the remote work practices of employees.{{Cite news |last=Osborne |first=Hilary |date=2021-02-04 |title=Home workers putting in more hours since Covid, research shows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/04/home-workers-putting-in-more-hours-since-covid-research |access-date=2023-12-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The findings indicated that individuals working from home experienced extended work hours and a heightened workload, suggesting a notable shift in work dynamics since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Why 59 minutes is the most important period in tech |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-59-minutes-is-the-most-important-period-in-tech/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}
= Global Remote Work Index =
In 2022, NordLayer launched The Global Remote Work Index, an international index that provides data and insights to identify the best countries for remote work.{{Cite web |title=This Is the Best Country for Remote Work, According to a New Study |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/best-country-remote-according-study-182359009.html |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=www.yahoo.com |date=14 July 2022 |language=en-US}} It is based on the evaluation of more than 60 variables in 66 countries, including the availability of broadband internet, the cost of living, digital and physical infrastructure and the cost of labor.{{Cite web |last=Gurinaviciute |first=Juta |title=Council Post: Why Employee Productivity Depends On Where They Work |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/09/13/why-employee-productivity-depends-on-where-they-work/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The 2023 update, in continuation of the previous year's edition, was assembled by assessing 108 destinations through the examination of four key criteria: online security, economic factors, digital and physical infrastructure, and social safety.{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Best Countries For Working Remotely Safely And Efficiently |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/lifes/top-10-best-countries-for-working-remotely-safely-and-efficiently/89115/1 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Forbes India |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=Korea ranks highest among Asian countries as top remote work destination: NordLayer |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2023/12/175_361373.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=koreatimes |language=en}}
= Black Friday research =
In 2023, NordLayer disseminated information on safeguarding personal details against potential hacking threats. The cybersecurity firm reported a 2.3% year-on-year increase in Black Friday spending in 2022, while a separate study conducted by Barclays revealed a corresponding surge of up to 22% in losses associated with these sales.{{Cite web |author1=Craig Hale |date=2023-11-20 |title=It's Black Friday for hackers too - so watch out for these scams |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/its-black-friday-for-hackers-too-so-watch-out-for-these-scams |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-11 |title=Barclays issues Black Friday scam warning to shoppers and gives 4 key steps to follow |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/barclays-issues-black-friday-scam-050000152.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}
= B2B LinkedIn scam research =
In 2023, NordLayer conducted a new research study by surveying 500 respondents across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The respondents, comprising adults aged 18 and above from non-governmental organizations, were specifically queried about the types of scams they encountered on the LinkedIn social media platform and the subsequent impact on their businesses. The surveyed subindustries encompassed business management and support services, e-commerce, education, finance and insurance, health care, information and communication, IT, professional and technical services, as well as consulting.{{Cite web |last=Bratley |first=Meg |date=2023-05-13 |title=Research: 44% of British businesses experienced LinkedIn scams this year - IFA Magazine |url=https://ifamagazine.com/research-44-of-british-businesses-experienced-linkedin-scams-this-year/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=ifamagazine.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=2023-09-10 |title=Stopping the scammers who target online jobseekers |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66592219 |access-date=2023-12-08}}
= Hollywood hacking scenes: facts vs. fiction =
In 2024, NordLayer published a study titled "Hollywood Hacking: Facts vs. Fiction", analyzing how accurately hacking scenes in popular films reflect real-world cybersecurity practices. By comparing iconic hacking moments from films like Tron and The Emoji Movie to actual techniques, the study explained significant discrepancies, particularly around exaggerated timeframes, oversimplified interfaces, and unrealistic tools. The goal was to raise awareness of the misconceptions spread by media portrayals of hacking and educate the public on the true nature of cybersecurity threats.{{Cite press release |last=NordLayer |date=2024-08-16 |title=How Hollywood hacking scenes turn cybersecurity into entertainment |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/08/16/2931486/0/en/How-Hollywood-hacking-scenes-turn-cybersecurity-into-entertainment.html |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}
= Biggest GDPR fines study =
In October 2024, NordLayer conducted a comprehensive study analyzing the largest General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) fines imposed since the law's implementation in 2018. This in-depth examination covered 10 significant cases, exploring the types of violations and the substantial fines levied on organizations, with a particular focus on sectors like technology, e-commerce, and finance. The report identifies common patterns of non-compliance, providing valuable insights into how businesses can better align with GDPR standards.{{Cite web |title=Biggest GDPR Fines Explained: Protect Personal Data |url=https://nordlayer.com/blog/biggest-gdpr-fines-comprehensive-guide/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=nordlayer.com |language=en}}
Reception
In a review published by TechRadar in August 2022, the reviewer wrote positively about NordLayer's interface, kill switch, private gateways, biometrics, and concluded that "NordLayer is an easy-to-use service, with simple but well-engineered quality apps, which makes it easy to secure employee access to your networks and the internet."{{Cite web |last=updated |first=Mike Williams last |date=2022-01-28 |title=NordLayer review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nordlayer |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}
In January 2023, a favorable review by Forbes noted that NordLayer's security solutions are great for businesses "looking to monitor the security level of their company and encrypt all of their team members' accounts through a single portal".{{Cite web |title=NordVPN Review 2023: Features, Pricing & More – Forbes Advisor |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/nordvpn-review/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=www.forbes.com|date=17 March 2022 }}
In September 2024, Emerging Tech Brew referenced NordLayer's insights into the rising number of cyberattacks on educational institutions, recognizing it as a valuable resource for organizations aiming to address these threats proactively.{{Cite web |last=Griffis |first=ByKelcee |title=Cyberattackers are going back to school, too |url=https://www.emergingtechbrew.com/stories/2024/09/03/cyberattackers-back-to-school-nordlayer-report |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=Tech Brew |language=en-us}}