Always On VPN for Your Business | NordLayer (2024)

Allowing remote & on-site employees to manually toggle a VPN connection can create critical security risks. With Always On VPN, if a secured connection to the gateway is lost, your hybrid-working users will simply be disconnected from the internet until the issue is solved. Always On VPN, always secure.

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OVERVIEW

What is Always On VPN?

First introduced by Microsoft for Windows 10, Always On VPN ensures that an active VPN profile remains automatically connected to the network and stays connected despite possible VPN connection triggers.

NordLayer’s Always On VPN operates in an even broader spectrum, giving your IT team complete control. All features and policies like DNS filtering, DPI, Custom DNS, and others will be obligatory for the end users if they want to connect to the internet. Always On VPN also ensures that if the secured internet connection is lost, the user will be automatically disconnected from the network until the VPN connectivity is restored.

It means that every employee (without exception) who uses the internet will do so only with a VPN connection, regardless of where around the world they currently are. No VPN — no internet.

Use the Always On VPN feature with the Lite plan

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OPERATION

How does Always On VPN work?

Your employees can enable and disable Always On VPN feature on the NordLayer application settings as long as the admin doesn’t activate it. Thus, if the IT administrator wants to ensure everyone in the organization has Always On VPN enforced, end users won’t be able to disable it once configured centrally via Control Panel.

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BENEFITS

Explore the benefits of using NordLayer's Always On VPN

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One-click implementation

Activating the feature is quick and managing it is a breeze. With just a few clicks in the control panel, every endpoint gets the component, and users may not even notice. If needed, your organization administrator can also disable the feature in no time. Additionally, you will soon be able to tailor this component for specific groups, like remote workers who frequently travel and often use public Wi-Fi.

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Secure corporate network

The hybrid work era introduces new challenges, particularly for IT departments. Safeguarding the company's corporate network while teams operate from various locations all over the world can be really tough. However, Always On VPN will help you orchestrate both office and remote employees, ensuring secure internet access for each user.

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No more unencrypted internet connection

A single unprotected user can become a potential weak link in the company’s network security chain. With the help of Always On VPN feature, you will maintain one common secure user tunnel to your network resources to prevent potential data leaks and other cyber risks.

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Minimize cyber risks when using public Wi-Fi

Since connecting to public Wi-Fi at hotels, cafes, or other public spaces is nearly unavoidable these days, it poses a lot of security risks for remote access. Session hijackers prey on unsecured connections, and since we're human after all, we may forget to enable our VPN before connecting. Honest mistake. However, Always On VPN helps mitigate man-in-the-middle attacks by making VPN mandatory to connect to the internet.

USE-CASES

How can you use Always On VPN?

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Remote & hybrid employee accessibility

Always On VPN provides secure remote access to your employees, whether they're working from the office, home or anywhere in the world. It ensures safe access to company resources and confidential information while increasing your data protection level, even when using public Wi-Fi.

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Hassle-free mandatory use

With Always On VPN, your employees can securely access the internet without worrying whether the VPN is on or off, as it will always be enforced, allowing them to focus on their tasks uninterrupted. Your IT admins retain full control over the tool, ensuring secure access and a smooth experience for all.

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Achieving compliance

Always On VPN can help you meet different compliance requirements, particularly for businesses handling sensitive data in heavily regulated sectors like healthcare or finance. Here, rigorous cybersecurity and data management regulations are essential.

GETTING STARTED

How to set up Always On VPN?

With NordLayer, setting up Always On VPN is user-friendly and super simple.

  1. Sign in & navigate to the Control Panel's settings

  2. Switch the toggle ON to activate Always On VPN

  3. Select the relevant teams

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Frequently asked questions

NordLayer’s Always On VPN feature is available for Windows, macOS (side-load only), and Linux (coming soon) operating systems. The accessibility for Android or iOS mobile applications is yet to come.

Always On VPN for Your Business | NordLayer (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to keep VPN on all the time? ›

Yes, you should leave your VPN on all the time. VPNs offer the best online security, so keeping it on will protect you against data leaks and cyberattacks, especially while you're using public Wi-Fi. It can also safeguard against intrusive snoopers such as ISPs or advertisers. Always use a VPN when you go online.

Should a business use a VPN? ›

The encryption a VPN provides prevents hackers from stealing valuable data, such as customer information, employee records, or financial data. “A VPN is essential for your small business if you want to protect your and your clients' data and avoid security threats that could cripple your business,” wrote NordVPN.

Does always on VPN require enterprise? ›

Supported Clients

Always On VPN is supported on Windows 10 and Windows 11 Professional and Enterprise edition clients.

When might an organization implement an always-on VPN system? ›

Always On VPN can be configured as a remote-access or business VPN, enabling remote employees to securely access their company's intranet from anywhere in the world, whether it's from home or using their personal computers or mobile phones.

Is there a downside to always using a VPN? ›

While VPNs have a lot of perks, there are potential downsides, too. A VPN can reduce internet speed and increase latency, which slows down online activities. Using a VPN can get your accounts blocked by social media sites for suspicious activity.

How do I keep my VPN on 24/7? ›

Using a VPN app

On your phone, tablet, or computer, you can easily turn on your VPN app and leave it running at all times. Most apps have the option to turn VPN on automatically when you turn on your device, and some even have the ability to disconnect you from the internet if your VPN disconnects.

When I shouldn't use VPN? ›

If you don't want your internet connection to be unpredictable at times, it's best not to download a VPN. Many reputable services can offer fast servers, but encrypting all your online activity can sometimes slow down connection speeds.

Can a company see you are using a VPN? ›

In brief – yes. Suppose you're connecting remotely to a corporate VPN. In that case, your employer will be able to see your device's real IP address as the VPN connection is established between it and your organization's servers.

How does VPN work for small business? ›

When the user wishes to access the business's network, they activate their VPN client, which establishes an encrypted 'tunnel' to the NAS. This encrypted tunnel allows the user to access the internal network without their traffic being exposed — a significant security advantage for remote workers.

Who owns Always on VPN? ›

First introduced by Microsoft for Windows 10, Always On VPN ensures that an active VPN profile remains automatically connected to the network and stays connected despite possible VPN connection triggers. NordLayer's Always On VPN operates in an even broader spectrum, giving your IT team complete control.

Why use always on VPN? ›

Always On VPN gives you the ability to create a dedicated VPN profile for device or machine. Unlike User Tunnel, which only connects after a user logs on to the device or machine, Device Tunnel allows the VPN to establish connectivity before user sign-in.

How much does always on VPN cost? ›

The solution comes at no cost and is built into all supported flavours of Windows 10. Which means there are no additional VPN clients that need to be deployed, reducing PC management complexity. Additionally, Always-On VPN supports Azure AD Conditional Access and MFA for an extra layer of security.

Is always on VPN better than DirectAccess? ›

Microsoft positions Always On VPN as a better alternative to DirectAccess and recommends the use of Always On VPN whenever possible. However, Always On VPN requires clients to run Windows 10 or higher, which might not be an option in environments that need to support older Windows OSes or non-Windows clients.

Why would a business use a VPN service? ›

A VPN makes an internet connection more secure and offers both privacy and anonymity online. Organizations, governments and businesses of all sizes use VPNs to secure remote connections to the internet for protection against data interception.

What are the three required technologies needed before deploying always on VPN? ›

To deploy Always On VPN, you will need to install and configure the following components:
  • A domain controller.
  • Active Directory Group Policy.
  • Network Policy Server (NPS)
  • A VPN server.
Dec 10, 2023

Is it safe to stay connected to a VPN? ›

A VPN connection is made through highly secure protocols at a level of encryption that has never been cracked. This, coupled with the anonymity of IP masking and location spoofing, renders your online presence nearly untraceable. If you or your organization handle sensitive information, then a VPN is a must.

Is VPN good for daily use? ›

You should use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) whenever you're online. By doing so, you make sure that your data and privacy are protected. Without a VPN, your every action online may be monitored and taken advantage of. A VPN encrypts all of your data, effectively hiding any information about you from prying eyes.

Should I run a VPN on my phone all the time? ›

You can leave your mobile VPN enabled all the time. It will use data while running, even if you're not using another app -- so you may want to only turn it on situationally. Additionally, VPNs can interfere with some apps or websites.

Is always-on VPN safe? ›

Concerns that always-on AOVPN clients represent an increased security risk are unfounded. Like a device configured for client-based VPN, an attacker would need valid user credentials to gain access to the network, but AOVPN includes additional safeguards.

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