NordLayer vs. NordVPN: how are they different?

Increasing digitalization is a global phenomenon that touches all spheres of modern life. However, this is also a catalyst for cyber criminals threatening businesses and individuals. It incentivizes them to look for vulnerabilities in your devices and networks, making network security a priority for businesses.

However, many cybersecurity tools can also be very confusing. It's not always clear what does what, especially when the same company offers a broad range of cybersecurity products. Case in point, Nord Security is the parent company of both NordLayer and NordVPN. While they may seem very similar from the outset, they offer very different functionalities: NordLayer is designed for businesses, while NordVPN is best suited for individual users. Here's an overview of how the two services are different and alike in this NordLayer vs. NordVPN comparison.

What is NordLayer?

Before there was NordLayer, there was a NordVPN spin-off—NordVPN Teams. It was a business Virtual Private Network (VPN) service catered to organizations rather than individuals. Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the service had a dashboard for network administrators, allowed transferable licenses, and had centralized billing. This distinguished the service from other consumer-based VPNs.

Over time, NordVPN Teams greatly expanded its feature suite to the point that calling it solely a business VPN was misleading. This called for a rebranding to reflect the changing mission and vision. In 2021, NordVPN Teams completely changed its branding, introducing a new name—NordLayer.

The focus area changed significantly, as well. NordLayer moved towards the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework with an emphasis on Secure Service Edge (SSE) capabilities.

As a blueprint for a future-focused cybersecurity suite, SSE combines various technologies. NordLayer relies on network security solutions like Cloud Firewall (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) in a single, cloud-native service. The goal is to provide advanced network security in the most accessible and organization-friendly way possible, with a strong focus on access control and network segmentation.

What is NordLayer used for?

NordLayer is primarily used by businesses aiming to improve their agility and capacity when responding to various cybersecurity risks. So, its most popular use cases include:

• Enable secure remote access for hybrid work. After the pandemic, the employee's needs shifted, pushing network administrators to look for ways to ensure protected remote access to internal company resources. NordLayer can be a facilitator in establishing a secure tunnel into your company's data.
• Secure employee internet access. When using company resources, employees can unknowingly click on suspicious links, endangering the organization. NordLayer improves browsing security by applying filters that block malicious domains and risky downloads.
• Enabling bring your own device policies. For companies that allow users to connect their devices, it can be hard to establish a baseline that would be easy to set up for the users. However, with device posture checks and centralized network control, organizations can safely support bring your own device (BYOD) environments.
• Helps to pursue regulatory compliance. Some industries are heavily regulated, especially when it comes to sensitive user data. NordLayer supports compliance efforts aligned with standards like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2.
• Productivity improvements. NordLayer improves operational efficiency through centralized controls, user provisioning, and policy enforcement that reduce manual workload for IT teams.

What is NordVPN?

In contrast, NordVPN is fully targeted at the consumer market. The service operates large-scale, globally distributed servers in 60+ countries, allowing users to connect and change their virtual location with a single click.

Some users are looking to increase their cybersecurity by using an encrypted connection for secure browsing. Meanwhile, others use it simply for streaming or bypassing censorship, or improving online privacy.

What is NordVPN used for?

NordVPN is designed primarily for consumer needs, making it a popular choice for home users. Here are some of its most popular use cases:

• Secure internet access. VPN encrypts your connection, making it unreadable to your Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or hackers. You're also not leaving breadcrumbs around that could be used to identify you.
• Public Wi-Fi security. Connecting to public Wi-Fi is always a gamble. You can never be 100% certain about what's also on the network. It's a perfect opportunity for hackers to intercept your connection by secretly stealing your data. VPN connection encryption helps to prevent such attempts.
• Taking advantage of better deals. Some regions are blessed with frequent discounts and sales, others—not so much. A VPN helps you to virtually change your location so that you can also find better deals that are region-locked.
• Contributes to your anonymity. VPN services are designed to minimize data collection and help keep your online activity private.
• Circumvent censorship. If you're living in a country where the government has a tight grip on free speech, a VPN helps to rip a few holes in the net. As VPN traffic is encrypted, it's much harder to control, allowing you to have an open window into the free press.

Is NordLayer the same as NordVPN?

While both developed by Nord Security, NordLayer and NordVPN serve different purposes.

NordLayer—a business-focused network security solution designed for organizations. It enables secure remote access, enforces access management, and applies network segmentation to reduce risk.

NordVPN—a consumer VPN designed for personal online privacy, secure browsing, and changing your virtual location.

As you can see, both services deal with cybersecurity, but the focus differs. NordLayer focuses on business network cybersecurity, while NordVPN improves a user's internet experience and makes it safer.

Main differences between NordLayer and NordVPN

Let's look at their features to put both services' differences in perspective.

* Prices may vary depending on plan, region, and billing period.

This should help you distinguish them more clearly, as there are some overlaps between the services. This can be explained by the fact that NordLayer was initially a spin-off of NordVPN. Yet, both providers offer overlapping features, such as DNS filtering and dedicated IP options. However, customization in NordVPN is limited compared to NordLayer.

Summary

As data breaches are becoming more frequent, interest in cybersecurity tools continues to grow among both businesses and individuals. For newcomers, navigating these options can feel overwhelming—especially when comparing business-focused solutions like NordLayer and consumer tools like NordVPN.

While NordLayer aims to protect its clients' teams and business data, NordVPN focuses more on anonymity and internet flexibility. Although NordLayer includes some VPN-based features, it goes beyond a traditional business VPN. In contrast, NordVPN offers features tailored to personal use, such as enhancing anonymity and enabling more open internet access.

This NordLayer vs. NordVPN comparison highlights that, despite sharing the same parent company, the two products address very different needs. Choosing between them ultimately depends on whether you’re looking for a business-focused solution or a tool to support personal privacy online.