Why securing your whole company matters: The case for full network security adoption

When companies begin investing in network security, their first instinct is often to protect the most obvious targets—teams handling sensitive data, remote employees, or those working across multiple devices. This partial adoption may seem like a sensible starting point. After all, why onboard everyone right away if only part of the company appears exposed?

But here’s the hard truth: partial protection still leaves your organization vulnerable. It’s like locking the front door but leaving the back wide open: cybercriminals are quick to spot the gaps.

So why do organizations hesitate to adopt network security solutions company-wide? And more importantly, what are the very real consequences of stopping halfway?

Let’s explore why going all-in with solutions like NordLayer isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity.

Why companies settle for partial adoption

Many businesses adopt security tools in stages, usually because of:

• Budget limitations: It’s easy to assume only specific departments need protection.
• Perceived risk: Teams not handling financial or sensitive client data may seem like lower priorities.
• Limited IT bandwidth: Onboarding everyone simultaneously can feel overwhelming for small or stretched IT teams
• Lack of urgency: Until something goes wrong, partial coverage often feels “good enough.”

These reasons are understandable, but they’re also short-sighted. As businesses grow more interconnected and distributed, any unprotected team becomes an attack vector. It’s like building half a firewall and hoping no one walks around it.

The risks of a partially protected workforce

When only some employees use network security tools, your defenses are inconsistent and incomplete. Here’s what that means in practice:

• Unsecured endpoints. Employees without secure access may connect through public Wi-Fi or personal devices, exposing sensitive company data.
• Shadow IT. Without centralized visibility, users may install unapproved apps or access risky websites undetected.
• Compliance gaps. Failing to enforce policies organization-wide raises the risk of regulatory violations.
• Internal spread. One unprotected user can cause a breach that may quickly spread even to secured teams.

The bottom line? Partial protection isn’t protection at all. Every unprotected user is a potential entry point.

Real-world results: How full adoption drives success

Some of NordLayer’s clients have already experienced the difference that comes with full adoption. Here’s how companies like Distilled and PatientMpower made the leap—and why they’re glad they did.

Distilled: From partial coverage to total confidence

Distilled is a software development company with a hybrid and remote team structure. Initially, only some teams used NordLayer, leaving gaps in network oversight. But as they expanded, gaps in coverage created more risks and IT headaches.

After implementing NordLayer across all departments, they gained:

• Centralized control over all access points
• Streamlined user provisioning and consistent policy enforcement
• Peace of mind knowing all employees operated under the same security policy

Now, Distilled’s IT team has complete visibility, and the entire company operates under one secure framework.

PatientMpower: Safeguarding healthcare data at scale

PatientMpower, a health tech firm handling sensitive patient data, started small with NordLayer and then quickly expanded. Security audits revealed the limitations of partial coverage, so they onboarded the entire team. The result?

• Robust endpoint security for remote and on-site teams
• Unified user management and access control
• Audit-ready documentation thanks to built-in compliance features

Full adoption helped PatientMpower protect patient trust and meet industry requirements with confidence.

The benefits of full adoption

Going all-in with your network security tools eliminates vulnerabilities and gives IT teams full control. With full NordLayer adoption, you gain:

Segmentation: Consistent access control across all employees

A segmented network ensures that everyone, from interns to executives, operates within a secure framework, with access restricted to only what they need. Why full adoption matters:

• Cloud Firewall ensures granular access segmentation for teams and individuals.
• DNS Filtering protects everyone from malicious websites and distractions.
• Deep Packet Inspection blocks unauthorized apps and services across the entire workforce, minimizing vulnerabilities.

Prevention: Eliminating weak links in your security setup

Cybercriminals look for gaps—and when only part of your company is protected, those gaps are easier to find. Why full adoption matters:

• Always-On VPN ensures everyone is securely connected, no matter where they are.
• Device Posture Security ensures every device meets your company’s standards before connecting.
• Download Protection scans and removes malware, adding another layer of device security.

Visibility: Better oversight & risk management

Without full adoption, IT teams operate in the dark—unable to secure what they can’t see. Why full adoption matters:

• Centralized dashboards & activity monitoring enable IT admins to track and manage every user, eliminating blind spots and tightening security policies.

Compliance: Ensuring security standards apply to everyone

Compliance isn’t optional—and it isn’t scalable when only part of the company is covered. Why full adoption matters:

• SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certifications mean the entire organization meets top security standards, reducing regulatory risk.

Seamlessness: Simplifying IT management & employee experience

Managing two parallel systems—one for protected users and one for unprotected—is a headache for IT. Full adoption creates one secure, unified experience. Why it matters:

• Easy management for IT admins with seamless provisioning means fewer tickets, better performance, and less complexity.

Final thoughts: Secure everyone, not just a few

Security can’t be selective. Today’s threats target people, not just departments. That means every role, every device, every time needs protection.

By fully adopting NordLayer, you close security gaps, improve visibility, and build a seamless protection layer across your entire workforce. Whether you're scaling fast or locking down compliance, full adoption gives you the confidence to move forward without compromise.

Ready to make full protection your standard? Contact NordLayer Account Manager or reach out to [email protected] and secure your entire team today.