NordLayer: Business Network Security, Without the Complexity
Remote and hybrid working has become the default for most London businesses, and with it, the question of how employees connect to company resources securely has become genuinely important. A standard broadband connection at home is not a secure channel. NordLayer gives businesses an encrypted, policy-controlled network access layer that sits between your team’s devices and your company resources, wherever those devices are.
Dr Logic deploys and manages NordLayer for clients as part of our cyber security service, handling configuration, identity provider integration, and ongoing policy management so the platform delivers what it’s supposed to rather than sitting as an under-configured tool IT bought once and forgot about. It integrates neatly with the rest of the Dr Logic stack, JumpCloud for identity, Apple Business and Jamf for device management, and it layers into a Cyber Essentials-aligned security posture without adding significant overhead for your team.
NordLayer is not a complete security platform on its own. It handles network access security, encrypting connections, controlling which resources users can reach, and providing visibility over how the network is being used. It works best as one component in a wider security setup alongside endpoint protection, identity management, and device management. For businesses in the IT Success® Plans, Dr Logic configures NordLayer as part of that wider picture, not as a standalone product.
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What Dr Logic Delivers with NordLayer
- Initial deployment and Control Panel configuration – Dr Logic handles NordLayer account setup, gateway configuration, and Control Panel policy setup. This includes defining which user groups can access which resources, configuring split tunnelling where appropriate, and setting up dedicated gateways for site-specific access.
- Identity provider integration – NordLayer connects to Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, and JumpCloud via SAML SSO and SCIM provisioning. Dr Logic configures this integration so that NordLayer accounts are provisioned and deactivated automatically in line with your directory, no separate NordLayer user management required.
- Device deployment across Mac and mobile – NordLayer’s app is available on macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. Dr Logic deploys the app across your Mac fleet via Jamf and advises on mobile deployment for iOS devices, ensuring consistent configuration rather than relying on individuals to install and configure it themselves.
- Network segmentation and access policies – NordLayer’s Core and Premium tiers support network segmentation, the ability to restrict which resources different user groups can reach. Dr Logic configures these policies to reflect the principle of least privilege: employees access what they need for their role, and nothing more.
- Cyber Essentials alignment – Encrypted connections via NordLayer contribute to the secure configuration and access control requirements of Cyber Essentials. Combined with MFA enforcement through your identity provider, network access control through NordLayer adds a meaningful layer to the Cyber Essentials controls around how employees connect to business resources remotely.
- Ongoing policy management and monitoring – As your team grows, changes, or moves between offices, NordLayer policies need to stay current. Dr Logic manages gateway configurations, user group updates, and access policy reviews as part of ongoing service so the platform reflects how your business actually operates.
NordLayer or a Traditional VPN
NordLayer sits in the middle ground between a traditional on-premises VPN and a full zero-trust network access platform. It’s significantly easier to deploy and manage than a traditional VPN server setup, works without on-premises hardware, and scales cleanly with a growing team. For the majority of businesses in the 70–150 user range, it provides the right level of network security without the overhead of a more complex enterprise SASE platform.
If your business is larger, has more complex network segmentation requirements, or operates multiple physical office locations with site-to-site connectivity needs, a more enterprise-grade platform may be a better fit. Similarly, if your team works entirely within cloud applications and has no need to access on-premises resources remotely, a simpler setup may be sufficient.
For most Dr Logic clients in London – creative agencies and professional services firms with distributed teams, a mix of cloud and on-premises resources, and a need to demonstrate security hygiene to clients or Cyber Essentials assessors, NordLayer is a practical, well-priced choice.
Get in touch, and we’ll tell you whether it’s right for your setup.
What is NordLayer, and what does it do?
NordLayer is a business network security platform built by Nord Security – the same company behind NordVPN. It provides encrypted VPN connectivity for remote and hybrid teams, zero-trust network access (ZTNA) controls, network segmentation, a cloud firewall, and device posture monitoring, all managed through a web-based Control Panel. In plain terms, it controls how your employees connect to company resources from outside the office, and ensures those connections are encrypted and policy-compliant.
Does Dr Logic manage NordLayer for our business?
Yes. Dr Logic handles initial deployment, Control Panel configuration, identity provider integration, and ongoing policy management as part of your managed service. NordLayer administration is included in relevant IT Success® Plans – we configure it correctly at the start and maintain it as your team changes.
How does NordLayer integrate with JumpCloud, Microsoft 365, or Google Workspace?
NordLayer supports SAML-based SSO and SCIM provisioning with Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, JumpCloud, Okta, and other major identity providers. Dr Logic configures this integration so that NordLayer accounts are created and deactivated automatically through your existing identity provider, and employees sign in with their usual work credentials. See also our pages on JumpCloud and Microsoft 365.
What are the differences between NordLayer's plan tiers?
NordLayer offers Lite, Core, Premium, and Enterprise tiers. Lite (from around $8/user/month billed annually) covers the essentials: encrypted VPN, MFA, and shared gateways. Core adds SSO integration, network segmentation, and dedicated gateways. Premium adds cloud firewall features and device posture monitoring. Enterprise is custom-priced for larger deployments. For most Dr Logic clients, Core is the appropriate starting point – it includes the SSO integration and segmentation controls that matter for a properly managed setup.
Does NordLayer help with Cyber Essentials?
It contributes to Cyber Essentials, particularly the access control and secure configuration requirements. Encrypted connections ensure remote access is protected, and MFA enforcement through the identity provider integration addresses the authentication control. NordLayer alone doesn’t satisfy all five Cyber Essentials controls; it’s one layer in a wider setup. Dr Logic configures NordLayer as part of a complete Cyber Essentials-aligned security posture rather than treating it as a standalone compliance tool.
We already have a VPN. Why would we switch to NordLayer?
The honest answer is: it depends on what you have. If you’re running a properly configured, actively managed on-premises VPN that works well, there may be no compelling reason to switch. NordLayer’s advantage is in deployment simplicity, cloud-native architecture, and identity provider integration; it doesn’t require on-premises hardware, scales without configuration changes, and integrates cleanly with modern identity management. If your current VPN is ageing hardware, poorly documented, or difficult to manage as your team grows, NordLayer is worth a serious look.
Is NordLayer safe? It's just a VPN company, isn't it?
NordLayer is built by Nord Security, which also operates NordVPN – one of the most widely used consumer VPN services. The business product uses the same encryption infrastructure (AES-256 and ChaCha20) but adds business-specific controls around administration, access policy, and identity integration. It’s not just a consumer VPN marketed to businesses. That said, it’s not a full security platform either; endpoint protection, identity management, and device management are separate layers. Dr Logic deploys NordLayer as part of a complete security stack, not as a standalone solution.
Take the Next Step Towards Stronger Network Security
Network access security is one of the most commonly overlooked layers in a business IT setup. If your team works remotely without a managed, encrypted connection to company resources, get in touch, and we’ll assess what’s currently in place.
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