Business VPN for Small Teams: NordLayer vs 5 Rivals

Your team works from home, coffee shops, coworking spaces, and airport lounges. Your company's tools, files, and admin panels are scattered across a dozen cloud services. And the person in charge of "IT security" is probably also in charge of marketing, finance, or the product.

A business VPN for small teams — or its newer cousin, zero trust network access — helps you put a simple, consistent layer of protection in front of all that, without hiring a full-time security engineer.

In this guide, I'll explain how I'd choose a secure-access tool for a team of 5 to 50 people, then compare NordLayer with five alternatives: Twingate, Tailscale, Cloudflare Zero Trust, Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81), and Proton VPN for Business. This comparison draws on each vendor's public documentation, product pages, help centers, and recurring themes in user reviews. Plans and prices change often, so I'll focus on how each tool works and how it's priced.

A quick note: this article is a general overview, not a security audit. For regulated industries or sensitive data, it's worth getting advice specific to your situation.

The real pain: "secure enough" until the day it isn't

Small teams usually handle remote access in one of a few ways:

• Nothing at all. Everyone logs into cloud apps from wherever they are, on whatever network they're using.
• Shared passwords and IP allowlists done by hand. Someone's home IP gets added to a server firewall, then they move, and nobody removes the old one.
• A consumer VPN on a few laptops. It encrypts traffic, but there's no central control — you can't see who's connected, enforce it, or remove access when someone leaves.

The risks are real even for small companies: logins over unsafe public Wi-Fi, former contractors who still have access, admin panels exposed to the whole internet, and no clear record of who accessed what.

You don't need an enterprise security program to improve this. You need a tool that's easy to roll out, easy to manage, and easy for your team to live with every day.

How to judge a business VPN or zero trust tool: 4 criteria that matter

1. Ease of rollout and daily use

If the app is confusing or slows people down, they'll turn it off. Look for simple apps on every operating system your team uses, single sign-on with your existing identity provider (like Google Workspace or Microsoft), and an admin panel a non-specialist can understand.

2. Access control

Can you decide who reaches which resources? Classic VPNs put users "inside the network." Zero trust tools grant access to specific apps or servers based on identity and device. Many modern products blend both. Also check device posture checks — for example, only allowing access from devices with disk encryption or up-to-date software.

3. Fixed IPs and network features

Many teams need a dedicated, static IP address so they can allowlist it on servers, databases, or SaaS admin panels. Others need site-to-site connections to an office or cloud network. Check what's included and what costs extra.

4. Pricing at your team size

Most tools charge per user per month, sometimes with minimum seat counts, and charge separately for gateways or dedicated servers. Calculate your cost at today's headcount and at double that.

Comparison table: NordLayer and 5 alternatives

NordLayer, in plain English

NordLayer is the business-focused product from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. Its goal is to make secure network access approachable for organizations without a big IT team. Admins manage users and settings from a web control panel, and team members connect using simple apps for major desktop and mobile platforms, with browser extension options as well.

Key points from the documentation and user feedback:

• Quick setup. Invite users, connect your identity provider, and your team can be connected the same day.
• Dedicated servers with fixed IPs. You can get a server with a static IP and allowlist it in your other tools, so only people on your company network can reach sensitive admin panels or databases.
• Zero trust features. Network segmentation, device posture checks, and access controls let you limit who reaches which resources, depending on your plan.
• Threat protection options, like blocking known malicious sites, depending on the tier.
• Centralized visibility into who's connected and when.

The minor negative point: NordLayer's pricing has a couple of extra pieces to watch. Plans typically come with a minimum number of users, and the dedicated server with a fixed IP — which many teams consider the most useful feature — is usually an add-on rather than included in the base price. For a very small team of two or three people, that combination can make it relatively expensive compared with tools that have free tiers.

Twingate

Twingate positions itself as a modern VPN replacement. Instead of putting users "on the network," it grants access to specific resources through lightweight connectors you deploy near your servers. Users get a simple client, and admins get fine-grained control. It's a strong pick for teams that want zero trust without heavy infrastructure. You'll need to run connectors, so there's a bit more setup than a pure "install and connect" VPN.

Tailscale

Tailscale creates a secure mesh network between your devices using WireGuard. Developers love it for connecting laptops, servers, and cloud machines with almost no configuration. Access control lists give you strong control once you learn them. For non-technical teams, though, concepts like ACLs and exit nodes can feel unfamiliar, and you may need to run your own exit node for a fixed IP.

Cloudflare Zero Trust

Cloudflare Zero Trust is a broad platform: zero trust access, secure web gateway, DNS filtering, and more, all running on Cloudflare's global network. Its free tier for small teams is very attractive. The tradeoff is complexity — there are many settings and concepts, and it's easiest for teams with someone technical who enjoys configuring things.

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81)

Perimeter 81 became popular as an easy SASE platform for growing businesses and is now part of Check Point. It offers private gateways, zero trust access, and network security features with a polished admin experience. It's a good fit for companies that expect to grow into stricter security requirements, though pricing and sales processes lean more toward mid-sized organizations.

Proton VPN for Business

Proton VPN for Business comes from the privacy-focused Swiss company behind Proton Mail. It offers centrally managed accounts, dedicated servers and IPs, and simple apps. If your priority is a straightforward, privacy-first business VPN — especially if you already use other Proton services — it's a strong option. Its zero trust and access-control features are generally lighter than dedicated ZTNA tools.

Who should pick which: 3 types of readers

1. "We're a non-technical remote team and need something simple, fast."

Pick: NordLayer.

If nobody on your team is a network engineer, NordLayer's easy apps, quick setup, and dedicated IP option cover the most common needs: protecting connections on public Wi-Fi and locking down admin panels to a company IP. Check the minimum seat count and the cost of the dedicated server before you commit.

2. "We have developers and lots of servers to connect."

Pick: Tailscale or Twingate.

If you're connecting infrastructure — servers, databases, staging environments — Tailscale's mesh approach is fast and flexible. Twingate is a great choice if you want app-level access controls with a clean admin experience.

3. "We want a broad security platform and have someone technical."

Pick: Cloudflare Zero Trust.

If you want access control, web filtering, and DNS security under one roof — and you have someone who enjoys configuration — Cloudflare's platform is powerful, and its free tier lets you experiment. For a polished, growth-oriented platform with vendor support, Check Point Harmony SASE is also worth evaluating. And if privacy is your top priority, look at Proton VPN for Business.

5 security basics to pair with any VPN

A secure-access tool is one layer. These habits make it much more effective.

1. Turn on multi-factor authentication everywhere. Especially for email, your identity provider, and admin panels. It blocks a large share of account takeovers.

2. Use a password manager. Shared passwords in chat messages or spreadsheets are one of the most common weak points in small teams.

3. Offboard properly. When someone leaves, remove their access to the VPN, identity provider, and every tool on the same day. Central tools make this a single step instead of a scavenger hunt.

4. Keep devices updated. Automatic updates for operating systems and browsers close many security holes. Some tools can block access from outdated devices.

5. Allowlist your fixed IP on sensitive tools. If you have a dedicated IP, use it for admin panels, databases, and payment dashboards — so access from anywhere else is simply refused.

A simple rollout plan for a small team

1. Week 1 — Pilot: Set up the admin panel, connect your identity provider, and roll out to two or three people, including your least technical teammate.
2. Week 2 — Lock one thing down: Choose one sensitive resource (for example, your hosting admin panel) and restrict it to your new dedicated IP or access policy.
3. Week 3 — Full team: Invite everyone, share a one-page guide, and explain why you're doing this.
4. Ongoing: Review access monthly and update policies as your team and tools change.

If your least technical teammate can use it happily for a week, the rest of the team will be fine.

Questions to ask any vendor before you buy

Before you commit to any secure-access tool, a short list of questions will save you surprises later.

"What's the minimum number of users, and how is billing handled as we grow?" Some plans require a minimum seat count. Find out whether you can add and remove users monthly or only at renewal.

"Is a dedicated IP or gateway included, or is it extra?" For many teams this is the most useful feature, and it's often priced separately.

"Which identity providers do you support for single sign-on?" Connecting your existing Google Workspace or Microsoft account makes onboarding and offboarding far easier.

"Which devices and operating systems are supported?" Check every platform your team uses, including mobile devices and any Linux machines.

"What logs and reports do admins get?" You'll want to see who connected, when, and from where — especially if a customer or auditor asks.

"What happens if your service has an outage?" Ask how access to your own resources is affected, and whether there's a fallback.

"Is there a trial, pilot period, or money-back window?" A low-risk way to test with your real team is worth more than any demo.

Write the answers down for each vendor you're considering. Comparing them side by side often makes the right choice obvious.

VPN vs zero trust, explained without the jargon

You'll see both terms everywhere, so here's a simple way to think about them.

A traditional business VPN is like giving someone a key to the office building. Once they're in, they can walk into most rooms. It encrypts their connection and gives them a consistent company IP address, which is very useful — but it doesn't, by itself, decide which rooms each person should enter.

Zero trust network access (ZTNA) is more like a building where every door checks your badge. Each time someone tries to reach an app or server, the system checks who they are, whether their device meets your rules, and whether they're allowed to access that specific thing. Nobody is trusted just because they're "inside."

In practice, many products blend the two. NordLayer, for example, offers a familiar VPN experience with zero trust-style features layered on top, such as segmentation and device checks. Twingate and Cloudflare lean more toward pure zero trust. Tailscale builds a private network between your devices and lets you control access with rules.

For a small team, the practical question is simple: do you mainly need encrypted connections and a fixed company IP (VPN-style), or fine-grained control over who reaches which internal resources (zero trust-style)? Many teams start with the first and add the second as they grow.

Frequently asked questions

Is a consumer VPN good enough for a small business? A consumer VPN encrypts traffic, but it usually lacks central management: you can't easily add or remove people, enforce usage, give everyone the same dedicated IP, or see who's connected. Business products are designed for exactly those needs.

Will a business VPN slow down our internet? Any VPN adds some overhead, but with a nearby server and a modern protocol, most people don't notice it in everyday work. Testing with your own team during a pilot is the best way to know for sure.

Do we need a dedicated IP? If you want to restrict access to admin panels, databases, or other tools to "company only," a dedicated IP makes that simple. If you only need encrypted connections on public Wi-Fi, a shared IP may be enough.

Does this replace antivirus or a password manager? No. Secure access is one layer. You still need multi-factor authentication, a password manager, device updates, and good offboarding habits.

How long does rollout take? For a small team using a simple tool like NordLayer, the technical setup can take an afternoon. The bigger work is communicating the change and making sure everyone has the app installed and signed in.

Ready to secure your team's access?

If you want a business VPN that your whole team can use from day one — with the option of a dedicated IP to lock down your most important tools — NordLayer is an easy place to start. Check the current trial or money-back terms, then run a one-week pilot with a few teammates before rolling it out to everyone.

👉 Explore NordLayer plans and start a pilot — set up a small group this week, lock down one sensitive tool, and see how smoothly it fits into your team's day.