NordLayer Configuration Guide

Introduction to NordLayer Configuration

Proper configuration is essential for maximizing NordLayer's security benefits and ensuring optimal performance across your organization. This guide walks through the complete configuration process, from initial setup through advanced deployment scenarios, helping you establish a secure and efficient NordLayer VPN infrastructure tailored to your business needs.

To begin configuring NordLayer for your organization, you'll need to obtain the NordLayer VPN client from the official download page. Once you have the client installed, you can proceed with the configuration steps outlined in this guide to create a secure, optimized VPN deployment tailored to your business.

Initial Deployment Planning

Before beginning configuration, it's important to plan your NordLayer deployment carefully. Proper planning prevents configuration issues and ensures that your deployment meets both security requirements and user experience goals. Consider the following factors during planning phase.

Planning considerations include:

• Organizational Structure: Map your departments, teams, and access requirements to NordLayer's team structure.
• Geographic Distribution: Consider where your employees are located to optimize server selection and gateway placement.
• Application Requirements: Identify which business applications require VPN access and any specific network requirements.
• Security Policies: Define authentication requirements, access controls, and security policies that must be enforced.
• Performance Needs: Understand bandwidth requirements and latency sensitivity for different applications and user groups.

This planning phase helps you configure NordLayer correctly from the beginning, avoiding the need for reconfiguration later. Document your requirements and decisions throughout the planning process, as this documentation becomes valuable for future changes and troubleshooting.

Account and Organization Setup

The first step in configuring NordLayer is setting up your organization account and configuring the basic organizational structure. This foundation enables all subsequent configuration and determines how users access and interact with the VPN service.

Organization setup involves:

• Account Registration: Create your NordLayer business account with appropriate contact and billing information.
• Organization Details: Configure organization name, logo, and other identifying information that appears to users.
• Team Structure: Create teams that mirror your organizational structure, assigning appropriate access levels and policies.
• Gateways: Set up secure gateways for different departments or security levels as required.
• IP Allocation: Configure dedicated and static IP assignments for teams or specific users.

The team structure is particularly important, as it determines how access controls and security policies are applied across your organization. Create teams based on departments, geographic regions, or security levels rather than individual users. This approach makes management scalable as your organization grows and ensures consistent security policy application.

User Invitation and Onboarding

Once your organizational structure is configured, you can begin inviting users to join your NordLayer deployment. The user invitation process is designed to be simple for administrators while providing a smooth onboarding experience for employees.

User onboarding includes:

• Individual Invitations: Send personalized invitations to users with specific team assignments and access levels.
• Bulk Import: Import multiple users simultaneously using CSV files for faster deployment.
• Single Sign-On Setup: Configure SSO integration for users to authenticate with existing credentials.
• Welcome Email Configuration: Customize the welcome emails that new users receive with your branding and instructions.
• Mandatory MFA: Require multi-factor authentication during initial setup for enhanced security.

For new NordLayer deployments, consider starting with a pilot group of users to validate configuration before rolling out to entire organization. This pilot approach helps identify configuration issues or user experience problems that need adjustment before broader deployment. Gather feedback from pilot users and refine configuration accordingly.

VPN Protocol Configuration

NordLayer supports multiple VPN protocols, each offering different balances of security and performance. Configuring the appropriate protocol for your organization's needs is crucial for providing optimal user experience without compromising security.

Protocol options and their characteristics:

• WireGuard: Next-generation protocol offering excellent performance with strong security. Ideal for most business use cases, especially bandwidth-intensive applications.
• OpenVPN: Mature, extensively tested protocol with strong security features. Best compatibility across different network environments.
• IKEv2/IPsec: Excellent mobile protocol with fast reconnection. Ideal for users on unstable or mobile connections.
• NordLynx: NordLayer's proprietary protocol combining performance and security optimizations.

Most organizations configure NordLayer to use WireGuard as the default protocol due to its performance benefits while maintaining strong security. However, maintain the ability to switch protocols if users encounter network environments where specific protocols are blocked or perform poorly. NordLayer allows protocol configuration at both organization and user level, enabling you to set defaults while accommodating special cases.

Split Tunneling Configuration

Split tunneling allows you to configure which traffic routes through NordLayer's encrypted tunnels and which traffic uses direct internet connections. Proper split tunneling configuration balances security with performance and enables users to access local resources while maintaining VPN protection for business traffic.

Split tunneling considerations include:

• Full Tunnel Mode: All traffic routes through NordLayer, providing maximum security but may impact performance.
• Split Tunnel Mode: Business applications route through NordLayer while personal traffic uses direct connections.
• Application-Based Rules: Configure specific applications to always use the VPN or always bypass it.
• Domain-Based Rules: Direct traffic to specific domains through or around the VPN.
• Local Network Access: Configure whether users can access local network resources while connected to VPN.

For most business deployments, use split tunneling configured to route all business application traffic through NordLayer while allowing direct connections for general internet browsing and streaming services. This approach provides security for business activities while maintaining performance and allowing access to local network resources like printers and file shares.

DNS Configuration

Proper DNS configuration is essential for both security and user experience. NordLayer provides secure DNS infrastructure that protects your organization from DNS-based attacks while ensuring reliable name resolution.

DNS configuration options include:

• Secure DNS: Use NordLayer's secure DNS servers for all queries, protecting against DNS tampering.
• DNS over HTTPS: Encrypt DNS queries for additional protection against monitoring.
• Custom DNS Servers: Configure organization-specific DNS servers if required for internal name resolution.
• DNS Leak Protection: Enable protection to prevent DNS queries from bypassing the VPN.
• DNS Filtering: Block access to known malicious domains or categories of sites.

Ensure that DNS leak protection is enabled across your organization to prevent any DNS queries from exposing users' browsing activities. Combine this with NordLayer's malicious domain blocking for additional security, preventing users from accidentally accessing compromised or dangerous websites.

Advanced Security Configuration

NordLayer offers advanced security features that provide additional protection beyond basic VPN tunneling. Configuring these features enhances your organization's security posture and provides defense-in-depth protection.

Advanced security features include:

• Kill Switch: Block internet access completely if VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
• Threat Protection: Enable automatic blocking of malware, phishing, and other threats.
• Ad and Tracker Blocking: Block advertising trackers and data collection services.
• IP Leak Protection: Continuously monitor for IP address leaks and block them immediately.
• WebRTC Protection: Prevent WebRTC from leaking real IP addresses.

Enable the kill switch for all users to prevent accidental data exposure during connection interruptions. Combine this with threat protection features to provide comprehensive security without requiring users to make security decisions. These protections work transparently, maintaining security without impacting user experience or requiring configuration changes on individual devices.

Multi-Factor Authentication Setup

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) dramatically reduces the risk of unauthorized access by requiring additional verification beyond passwords. Configuring MFA properly ensures strong security while minimizing user friction.

MFA configuration options include:

• Authenticator Apps: Require TOTP-based authenticators like Google Authenticator or Authy.
• Hardware Tokens: Mandate hardware security keys for highest security levels.
• SMS Verification: Enable SMS-based verification for users without authenticator apps.
• Email Codes: Send verification codes to registered email addresses.
• Remember Devices: Allow users to skip MFA on trusted devices for configurable periods.

For most business deployments, enable MFA organization-wide and require authenticator apps as the primary method. Allow SMS and email verification as backup methods for users without authenticator capability. Configure remember device settings for appropriate periods based on your security requirements and user experience goals.

Automation and API Configuration

Larger organizations benefit from automating NordLayer management and integrating VPN services with existing IT infrastructure. NordLayer's API capabilities enable automation and integration that reduces administrative overhead and improves consistency.

Automation opportunities include:

• User Provisioning: Automatically provision NordLayer access during employee onboarding through HR systems.
• Access Revocation: Integrate with identity management systems to automatically revoke access when employees leave.
• Reporting and Alerting: Automate security reports and configure alerts for suspicious activity.
• Configuration Management: Use infrastructure-as-code tools to manage NordLayer configuration consistently.
• Monitoring Integration: Connect NordLayer monitoring to existing security operations center tools.

For organizations with development resources, create custom automation scripts or integrate NordLayer with existing identity management and security tools. This automation reduces administrative burden and ensures that NordLayer configuration stays synchronized with organizational changes as employees join, leave, or change roles within the company.

Monitoring and Troubleshooting Configuration

Effective NordLayer deployment requires ongoing monitoring and the ability to troubleshoot issues as they arise. Configure monitoring and logging to maintain visibility into your VPN infrastructure and enable rapid response to problems.

Monitoring configuration includes:

• Connection Monitoring: Track connection success rates, disconnections, and connection quality metrics.
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor bandwidth utilization, latency, and performance across servers.
• Security Event Logging: Enable comprehensive logging of authentication attempts, access events, and security incidents.
• Usage Analytics: Track which applications and services are accessed through the VPN.
• Alert Configuration: Configure alerts for connection failures, unusual behavior, or security events.

Establish baselines for normal connection patterns and performance during initial deployment. Use these baselines to identify anomalies that may indicate configuration issues, security problems, or capacity planning needs. Regular review of monitoring data helps optimize configuration and identify opportunities for improvement.

Conclusion

NordLayer offers extensive configuration options that enable organizations to tailor VPN deployment to their specific requirements. From initial account setup through advanced automation and monitoring, proper configuration ensures that your NordLayer deployment provides optimal security, performance, and user experience.

Start with fundamental configuration following best practices outlined in this guide, then iterate based on monitoring data and user feedback. NordLayer's flexibility allows you to adjust configuration as your organization evolves, ensuring that your VPN infrastructure continues to meet changing business needs and security requirements.

To begin configuring NordLayer for your organization, you'll need to download the NordLayer VPN client from the official download page. Once you have the client installed, you can proceed with the configuration steps outlined in this guide to create a secure, optimized VPN deployment tailored to your business.