NordLayer vs Perimeter 81 (2026)

A comprehensive comparison of two leading business VPN solutions at the same $8/user/month entry price point

When evaluating business VPN and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions, organizations frequently encounter NordLayer and Perimeter 81 (now Check Point SASE) as leading options. Both platforms start at $8 per user monthly, offer comprehensive security features, and maintain strong user satisfaction ratings. However, they differ substantially in deployment philosophy, pricing structure, feature distribution, and total cost of ownership.

This detailed comparison examines both platforms across key evaluation criteria including pricing structures, feature sets, user experience, compliance certifications, deployment complexity, and ongoing operational costs. Understanding these differences helps organizations select the platform that aligns with their specific security requirements, technical capabilities, and budget constraints.

Executive Summary: Key Differences at a Glance

Quick Recommendation:

• Choose NordLayer if you need: Rapid deployment, transparent pricing, consistent support across all tiers, lower total cost of ownership
• Choose Perimeter 81 if you need: Check Point ecosystem integration, advanced policy management, HITRUST compliance support, enterprise-grade features

Understanding the Platforms: Background and Positioning

Perimeter 81: From Startup to Check Point SASE

Perimeter 81 began as an independent startup founded in 2018, growing to serve over 3,000 customers worldwide before being acquired by Check Point Software Technologies in 2023 for approximately $490 million. The acquisition positioned Perimeter 81 as a core component of Check Point's Security Service Edge (SSE) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) strategy, integrating the platform into Check Point's comprehensive Infinity architecture.

Following the acquisition, Perimeter 81 now operates as Check Point SASE, though many organizations still refer to it by its original name. This integration provides access to Check Point's 30+ years of cybersecurity expertise, threat intelligence, and enterprise-grade security capabilities. For organizations already invested in Check Point security infrastructure, this integration offers seamless compatibility and unified management across network, cloud, and remote access security.

Market Position: Mid-market to enterprise organizations requiring sophisticated policy management, Check Point ecosystem integration, and advanced compliance reporting.

NordLayer: Business Security from the NordVPN Family

NordLayer represents the business-focused offering from Nord Security, the same organization behind NordVPN's 14 million+ consumer user base. Rather than pursuing acquisition strategies, NordLayer has maintained independent development while leveraging Nord Security's substantial infrastructure investments and security expertise accumulated through decades of VPN technology development.

This heritage provides NordLayer with instant brand credibility—organizations recognize the NordVPN name and trust the security expertise behind it. NordLayer's development strategy emphasizes rapid deployment, operational simplicity, and transparent pricing, positioning the platform as an accessible entry point for organizations implementing zero-trust security without enterprise-grade complexity or costs.

Market Position: Small to medium-sized businesses, startups, remote-first organizations, and companies transitioning from legacy VPN infrastructure to cloud-native security.

Pricing Deep Dive: Understanding True Total Cost of Ownership

NordLayer Transparent Pricing Model

NordLayer employs a straightforward per-user pricing structure with no hidden infrastructure fees:

Lite Plan - $8/user/month (annual billing, 20% discount)

• Shared gateway access (30+ locations)
• 6 devices per user
• Multi-factor authentication
• Always-on VPN
• Single sign-on (SSO)
• Activity monitoring
• Around-the-clock support ✅

Core Plan - $11/user/month (annual billing, 21% discount)

• Everything in Lite, plus:
• Dedicated servers with static IPs
• Virtual private gateways
• IP allowlisting
• DNS filtering
• Device posture monitoring
• Around-the-clock support ✅

Premium Plan - $14/user/month (annual billing, 22% discount)

• Everything in Core, plus:
• Granular network segmentation
• Cloud LAN functionality
• Site-to-site VPN
• Browser extension
• Automated user provisioning (SCIM)
• Priority support with dedicated account manager

Key Advantage: All features included in tier price—no separate gateway fees, no hidden costs, no surprises.

Perimeter 81 Tiered Pricing with Gateway Fees

Perimeter 81's pricing appears similar at first glance but includes mandatory gateway infrastructure fees:

Essentials - $8/user/month (annual billing)

• Basic ZTNA capabilities
• Unlimited bandwidth
• User/role management
• Split tunneling
• Two-factor authentication
• 14-day audit retention
• Plus: $50/month per gateway (required)

Premium - $12/user/month (annual billing)

• Everything in Essentials, plus:
• 10 secure applications
• 10 network traffic policies
• 3 device posture profiles
• Always-on VPN
• DNS filtering
• 30-day audit retention
• Plus: $50/month per gateway (required)

Premium Plus - $16/user/month (annual billing)

• Everything in Premium, plus:
• 100 secure applications
• 100 network traffic policies
• 20 device posture profiles
• SIEM integration
• API access
• Phone support
• 60-day audit retention
• Plus: $50/month per gateway (required)

Enterprise - Custom pricing (50+ users)

• Unlimited applications and policies
• Dedicated account specialist
• 24/7 priority support
• Custom SLA

Pricing Model Difference: Perimeter 81 separates infrastructure costs ($50/month per gateway) from user licensing, while NordLayer includes all infrastructure in per-user pricing. This impacts total cost calculations, particularly for smaller teams and multi-region deployments.

Real-World Cost Comparison

Scenario 1: 10-Person Team

NordLayer Core:

• 10 users × $11/month = $110/month
• Annual Total: $1,320
• Includes: Dedicated IPs, DNS filtering, device posture, around-the-clock support

Perimeter 81 Premium:

• 10 users × $12/month = $120/month
• 1 gateway × $50/month = $50/month
• Annual Total: $2,040
• Includes: 10 applications, 10 policies, DNS filtering, chat support only

Annual Cost Difference: $720/year (NordLayer 35% lower)

Scenario 2: 25-Person Team

NordLayer Core:

• 25 users × $11/month = $275/month
• Annual Total: $3,300
• Includes: Full features, around-the-clock support

Perimeter 81 Premium:

• 25 users × $12/month = $300/month
• 1 gateway × $50/month = $50/month
• Annual Total: $4,200
• Includes: Limited to 10 applications and policies, chat support only

Annual Cost Difference: $900/year (NordLayer 21% lower)

Scenario 3: 50-Person Team (Multi-Gateway)

NordLayer Premium:

• 50 users × $14/month = $700/month
• Annual Total: $8,400
• Includes: Unlimited features, priority support, dedicated account manager

Perimeter 81 Premium Plus:

• 50 users × $16/month = $800/month
• 2 gateways × $50/month = $100/month (for redundancy/geographic distribution)
• Annual Total: $10,800
• Includes: 100 applications, 100 policies, phone support

Annual Cost Difference: $2,400/year (NordLayer 22% lower)

When Perimeter 81's Higher Cost Delivers Value

While Perimeter 81's pricing is higher in direct comparison, several scenarios justify the premium:

Check Point Ecosystem Integration:

• Organizations with existing Check Point security infrastructure gain unified management across firewall, endpoint protection, and network access
• Eliminates integration costs and complexity of managing multiple vendor platforms
• Leverages existing Check Point expertise and training investments

Advanced Policy Management:

• Organizations requiring 100+ granular policies benefit from sophisticated hierarchical rule structures
• Reduces security team workload through centralized policy management
• Supports complex organizational structures with detailed access requirements

SIEM Integration:

• Built-in export to Splunk, ArcSight, and IBM QRadar eliminates need for separate monitoring tools
• Reduces total security stack costs by consolidating visibility
• Enables advanced threat correlation across security infrastructure

HITRUST-Ready Platform:

• Healthcare organizations pursuing HITRUST certification save on compliance consulting costs
• Platform features specifically designed to support certification requirements
• Reduces time and expense of achieving healthcare industry compliance

Enterprise-Grade Features:

• API access enables automation and integration with existing IT management systems
• Advanced device posture profiles support complex security requirements
• Dedicated account specialists provide strategic guidance reducing internal resource needs

For organizations with these specific requirements, Perimeter 81's higher upfront cost may deliver lower total cost of ownership through reduced integration complexity, eliminated additional tool purchases, and decreased security team workload.

Hidden Cost Analysis

Beyond direct subscription costs, several factors impact total cost of ownership:

Administrative Time:

• NordLayer: 10-minute deployment, minimal ongoing management
• Perimeter 81: 15-minute deployment, more policy configuration options
• Impact: Both platforms offer rapid deployment with different management approaches

Support Accessibility:

• NordLayer: Around-the-clock support at all tiers (no upgrade needed)
• Perimeter 81: Chat only until Premium Plus ($16/user/month)
• Impact: Quality support available with NordLayer at lower tiers

Gateway Scaling:

• NordLayer: Infrastructure included in per-user pricing
• Perimeter 81: $50/month per gateway enables dedicated infrastructure control
• Impact: NordLayer offers simpler scaling; Perimeter 81 provides infrastructure flexibility

TCO Advantage: NordLayer demonstrates up to 65% lower Total Cost of Ownership over 5 years compared to traditional VPN solutions, with transparent pricing contributing to predictable budgeting.

Feature Comparison: What You Get at Each Tier

Core Security Features (Available in Both)

Both platforms provide fundamental zero-trust security capabilities:

✅ Encryption: AES-256 encryption for data in transit
✅ Multi-Factor Authentication: Integration with MFA providers
✅ Single Sign-On: Support for major identity providers (Azure AD, Okta, Google Workspace)
✅ Split Tunneling: Route specific traffic outside VPN
✅ Device Management: Control which devices can connect
✅ Audit Logging: Track user activity and access
✅ Compliance Certifications: ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR

Key Differentiators

NordLayer Advantages:

🎯 Simplified Deployment

• 10-minute setup with automated gateway selection
• Simplified configuration defaults
• Minimal policy configuration required upfront

🎯 Consistent Support Across All Tiers

• Around-the-clock support included in Lite and Core plans
• Priority 24/7 support in Premium plan
• No need to upgrade to Premium Plus for quality support

🎯 Higher Throughput

• 1 Gbps across all tiers
• No throttling at lower price points
• Better performance for bandwidth-intensive workloads

🎯 Transparent Pricing

• All features included in tier price
• No hidden gateway fees
• Predictable scaling costs

🎯 NordVPN Brand Authority

• 14M+ consumer users provide instant credibility
• Proven security expertise
• Trusted brand recognition

🎯 NIS2 Directive Support

• Platform features support NIS2 requirements
• EU critical infrastructure compliance tools
• Built-in controls for European regulatory framework

Perimeter 81 Advantages:

🎯 Check Point Integration

• Seamless integration with Check Point Infinity platform
• Access to 30+ years of threat intelligence
• Unified management across security infrastructure

🎯 Advanced Policy Management

• Up to 100 policies (Premium Plus) vs. team-based segmentation
• More granular application-level controls
• Sophisticated hierarchical rule structures

🎯 HITRUST Compliance Support

• Platform features support HITRUST certification requirements
• Tools to help healthcare organizations achieve compliance
• Comprehensive health data protection controls

🎯 Highest Ease of Use Rating

• 4.8/5 on Capterra (highest in category)
• Best Ease of Use badges across 8 categories
• Intuitive interface design

🎯 SIEM Integration (Premium Plus)

• Export security events to Splunk, ArcSight, IBM QRadar
• Centralized security monitoring
• Advanced threat correlation

🎯 API Access (Premium Plus)

• Programmatic administration
• Integration with existing IT management systems
• Automated policy management

Deployment and Setup: Time to Value

NordLayer: 10-Minute Deployment

NordLayer's deployment process emphasizes speed and simplicity:

Step 1: Account Creation (2 minutes)

• Sign up at nordlayer.com
• Choose plan tier
• Add payment information

Step 2: Admin Configuration (3 minutes)

• Set up admin account
• Configure basic settings
• Connect to secure server

Step 3: User Provisioning (5 minutes)

• Add employees from dashboard
• Send invitation emails
• Users install app and connect

Total Time: 10 minutes from signup to functional network access.

Why It's Faster:

• Automated gateway selection
• Simplified configuration defaults
• Cloud-native architecture
• Minimal policy configuration required upfront

Best For: Organizations needing immediate security deployment, startups, rapid business continuity restoration.

Perimeter 81: 15-Minute Deployment

Perimeter 81's deployment provides configuration flexibility:

Step 1: Account Setup (3 minutes)

• Sign up and choose tier
• Configure billing
• Set up admin credentials

Step 2: Gateway Configuration (5 minutes)

• Select gateway locations
• Configure network settings
• Set up dedicated VPN gateways

Step 3: Policy Definition (5 minutes)

• Define user groups and roles
• Configure basic security policies
• Set up device posture rules

Step 4: User Deployment (2 minutes)

• Add users to system
• Assign policies and roles
• Distribute client software

Total Time: ~15 minutes for basic deployment, potentially longer for complex policy configurations.

Deployment Characteristics:

• Quick onboarding of network resources
• Flexible configuration options
• Gateway infrastructure setup included
• Can expand policies after initial deployment

Best For: Organizations needing quick deployment with room for policy expansion, mid-market companies, enterprises with security teams.

User Experience and Satisfaction

NordLayer User Feedback

Ratings:

• Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5
• G2: 4.3-4.5/5
• Overall Satisfaction: Very High

What Users Love:

✅ "Set and Forget" Reliability

"We as a team love that NordLayer doesn't get in the way of our work. Previous VPN providers we used were constantly causing issues. Once connected to NordLayer's VPN, you forget that you are connected."

✅ Rapid Deployment

"We switched to get a really simple tool, easy to manage and to deploy."

✅ Transparent Pricing

"No hidden costs or surprise fees. What you see is what you pay."

✅ Responsive Support

"Support responds quickly and solves problems, not just pointing to documentation."

✅ Static IP Simplicity

"Static IPs for VPN gateways make firewall configuration and IP allowlisting straightforward."

Common Concerns:

⚠️ Occasional connection drops on unstable networks
⚠️ Some advanced features require higher tiers
⚠️ Minor UI inconsistencies between Nord and Teams services

User Profile: Small to medium-sized businesses, remote-first teams, organizations prioritizing simplicity and rapid deployment.

Perimeter 81 User Feedback

Ratings:

• G2: 4.6/5
• Gartner Peer Insights: 4.5/5
• Capterra Ease of Use: 4.8/5 (highest in category)

What Users Love:

✅ Intuitive Interface

"The ease of using Perimeter 81 in my day-to-day work has made integrating a VPN, monitoring, and security system seamless into my work day."

✅ App-Like Design

"Easy access to necessary options while allowing administrators sophisticated configuration."

✅ Seamless VPN Switching

"Particularly smooth during virtual meetings and network transitions."

✅ Fast Policy Enforcement

"Changes take effect immediately across all users."

✅ Check Point Integration

"Works seamlessly with our existing Check Point security infrastructure."

Common Concerns:

⚠️ Support Limitations at Lower Tiers

"Support is limited to text-based communications for small business customers. More complex inquiries receive responses suggesting paid training sessions that are difficult to schedule."

⚠️ Separate Gateway Costs

"The separate gateway pricing model adds complexity to budgeting, especially for multi-region deployments."

⚠️ Occasional Connectivity Issues

"Some users report intermittent connectivity issues requiring app restart, though experiences vary by network environment."

⚠️ Complex Setup for Non-Technical Users

"Initial configuration can be lengthy for users not very tech-savvy or unfamiliar with multi-factor authentication."

User Profile: Mid-market to enterprise organizations, Check Point customers, teams with dedicated security staff, organizations requiring advanced policy management.

Compliance and Certifications

NordLayer Compliance Portfolio

Certifications:

• ✅ ISO 27001 (Information Security Management)
• ✅ SOC 2 Type II (Security, Availability, Confidentiality)
• ✅ HIPAA (Healthcare data protection)
• ✅ GDPR (European data protection)

Compliance Support:

• ✅ PCI-DSS (Platform features support payment card compliance requirements)
• ✅ NIS2 (Platform features support EU critical infrastructure directive)

Best For:

• Healthcare organizations (HIPAA)
• Organizations with payment processing requirements (PCI-DSS support)
• European businesses (GDPR, NIS2 support)
• General business compliance (ISO 27001, SOC 2)

Business Associate Agreements: Available for HIPAA compliance

Perimeter 81 Compliance Portfolio

Certifications:

• ✅ ISO 27001 (Information Security Management)
• ✅ ISO 27002 (Security Controls)
• ✅ SOC 2 Type 2 (Security, Availability, Confidentiality)
• ✅ HIPAA (Healthcare data protection)
• ✅ GDPR (European data protection)

Compliance Support:

• ✅ PCI-DSS (Platform features support payment card compliance requirements)
• ✅ HITRUST-ready (Platform features support HITRUST certification requirements)

Best For:

• Healthcare organizations (HIPAA, HITRUST-ready platform)
• Financial services (SOC 2, PCI-DSS support)
• European businesses (GDPR)
• Highly regulated industries (ISO 27001/27002)

Unique Advantage: Platform features and controls support organizations pursuing HITRUST certification, providing tools to help achieve healthcare industry compliance requirements beyond basic HIPAA.

Compliance Comparison

Verdict: Both platforms hold major compliance certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR) and provide features supporting PCI-DSS requirements. Choose Perimeter 81 if your organization needs platform features specifically designed to support HITRUST certification. Choose NordLayer if you need platform features supporting NIS2 directive requirements (European critical infrastructure).

Performance and Reliability

NordLayer Performance

Throughput:

• Maximum: 1 Gbps across all tiers
• No throttling at lower price points
• Consistent performance regardless of plan

Protocol:

• NordLynx (based on WireGuard)
• Proprietary optimization
• 25% faster than traditional OpenVPN

Server Network:

• 30+ gateway locations
• Shared (Lite) or dedicated (Core/Premium) infrastructure
• Automatic failover and load balancing

Reliability:

• Always-on VPN with automatic reconnection
• Minimal disconnections reported by users
• "Set and forget" operational model

Best For: Bandwidth-intensive workloads, video conferencing, real-time collaboration, distributed teams.

Perimeter 81 Performance

Throughput:

• Essentials: 500 Mbps per gateway
• Premium/Premium Plus: 1,000 Mbps per gateway
• Tier-based throttling

Protocol:

• WireGuard support
• Multiple protocol options
• Optimized routing

Server Network:

• Global Point of Presence (PoP) distribution
• Dedicated gateway infrastructure
• Geographic redundancy options

Reliability:

• Generally reliable for enterprise workloads
• Some users report occasional disconnections
• Requires reconnection or app restart in some cases

Independent Testing:

• Miercom validation: Up to 10x faster than some competing solutions
• WizCase testing: 37% speed drop (local), 50% drop (international)
• Typical VPN encryption overhead

Best For: Enterprise workloads, organizations with existing Check Point infrastructure, multi-site deployments.

Support Quality and Accessibility

NordLayer Support Model

Lite and Core Tiers Include:

• ✅ Around-the-clock chat and email support
• ✅ Guaranteed response times
• ✅ Technical expertise for complex issues
• ✅ Consistent support quality

Premium Tier Adds:

• ✅ Priority 24/7 support
• ✅ Dedicated account management
• ✅ Technical solution architects
• ✅ Strategic guidance and optimization

Support Philosophy:

• Consistent quality across all tiers
• Technical staff with genuine expertise
• Practical problem-solving assistance
• Follow-up to ensure complete resolution

User Feedback:

"Support staff demonstrate technical expertise and provide thoughtful solutions tailored to specific problems."

Advantage: Small teams on $8/month plans receive quality support without needing to upgrade to Premium Plus tiers.

Perimeter 81 Support Model

Essentials & Premium:

• ✅ Chat support only (text-based)
• ⚠️ No phone support
• ⚠️ Limited technical assistance
• ⚠️ Complex issues directed to "training sessions"

Premium Plus & Enterprise:

• ✅ Phone support
• ✅ Dedicated account specialist
• ✅ Priority support queue
• ✅ 24/7 availability (Enterprise)

Support Philosophy:

• Tiered support based on subscription level
• Enterprise customers receive premium attention
• Lower tiers may experience support friction

User Feedback:

"Support is limited to text-based communications for small business customers. More complex inquiries receive responses suggesting paid training sessions that are difficult to schedule."

Disadvantage: Small teams must upgrade to Premium Plus ($16/user/month + gateway fees) to access phone support and dedicated assistance.

Identity Provider Integration

Both platforms support major identity providers for Single Sign-On (SSO) and centralized user management:

Supported Providers (Both Platforms):

• ✅ Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
• ✅ Okta
• ✅ Google Workspace
• ✅ OneLogin
• ✅ JumpCloud

NordLayer Additional Features:

• ✅ SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) protocol
• ✅ Automated user provisioning and deprovisioning
• ✅ Programmatic user lifecycle management
• ✅ LDAP and SAML authentication

Perimeter 81 Additional Features:

• ✅ LDAP and SAML authentication
• ✅ Advanced group-based policy assignment
• ✅ Multi-tenant identity management

Verdict: Both platforms provide comprehensive identity integration. NordLayer's SCIM support offers superior automation for user lifecycle management.

Device and Platform Support

NordLayer Platform Coverage

Supported Operating Systems:

• ✅ Windows (10 and later)
• ✅ macOS (recent versions)
• ✅ Linux (Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS)
• ✅ iOS (15 and later)
• ✅ Android (recent versions)

Additional Support:

• ✅ Browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
• ✅ MDM deployment (Jamf, etc.)
• ✅ 6 devices per user license

Unique Feature: Browser extension enables partial VPN protection for web traffic even on systems where full agent installation isn't practical.

Perimeter 81 Platform Coverage

Supported Operating Systems:

• ✅ Windows (10 64-bit and later)
• ✅ macOS (13 or later)
• ✅ Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Red Hat 8+, Fedora 40+, CentOS 8+)
• ✅ iOS (15 and later)
• ✅ Android (12.1 or later)

Limitations:

• ❌ No Windows ARM architecture support
• ❌ No PRISM emulation layer support

Additional Support:

• ✅ MDM deployment
• ✅ 5 devices per user (Essentials)

Note: Perimeter 81 has more specific OS version requirements and some architectural limitations.

Use Case Scenarios: Which Platform Fits Your Needs?

Choose NordLayer If You:

✅ Need Rapid Deployment

• Starting operations quickly
• Implementing security for remote team immediately
• Restoring business continuity after incident

✅ Prioritize Cost Transparency

• Want predictable monthly costs
• Need to budget accurately
• Prefer no hidden fees or surprise charges

✅ Lack Dedicated Security Team

• Small IT staff or no IT department
• Need simple, intuitive management
• Want "set and forget" reliability

✅ Value Consistent Support Quality

• Need responsive assistance at entry-level pricing
• Want quality support without Premium Plus upgrade
• Prefer guaranteed response times across all tiers

✅ Require Specific Compliance

• General business compliance (ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR)
• European critical infrastructure support (NIS2 directive)
• Payment processing compliance support (PCI-DSS)

✅ Trust Brand Recognition

• Value NordVPN's 14M+ user reputation
• Prefer established security expertise
• Want instant credibility with stakeholders

Ideal Organizations:

• 5-100 employee SMBs
• Startups and scale-ups
• Remote-first companies
• Organizations new to zero-trust security
• Teams without dedicated security staff

Choose Perimeter 81 If You:

✅ Already Use Check Point Infrastructure

• Existing Check Point security investments
• Need unified management across security tools
• Want seamless integration with Infinity platform

✅ Require Advanced Policy Management

• Need 100+ policies and application controls
• Complex organizational structures
• Sophisticated network segmentation requirements

✅ Need HITRUST Compliance Support

• Platform features to support HITRUST certification
• Tools for healthcare industry compliance
• Comprehensive health data protection controls

✅ Have Dedicated Security Team

• Can manage complex configurations
• Need advanced features and controls
• Tolerate longer setup times for sophistication

✅ Prioritize Ease of Use Interface

• Value 4.8/5 ease of use rating
• Need intuitive administrative interface
• Want app-like design simplicity

✅ Require SIEM Integration

• Centralized security monitoring
• Export events to Splunk, ArcSight, QRadar
• Advanced threat correlation

Ideal Organizations:

• 50-500 employee mid-market companies
• Healthcare organizations (HITRUST compliance support)
• Check Point customers
• Enterprises with security teams
• Organizations with complex policy requirements

Migration Considerations

Migrating to NordLayer

Timeline: 1-2 days for most organizations

Process:

1. Day 1 Morning: Sign up, configure admin account (10 minutes)
2. Day 1 Afternoon: Add users, deploy to pilot group (2-3 hours)
3. Day 2: Full rollout to remaining users (4-6 hours)

Advantages:

• Minimal disruption to operations
• Rapid deployment enables quick validation
• Simple configuration reduces migration complexity
• Around-the-clock support available immediately

Challenges:

• May need to recreate complex policies manually
• Some advanced features require higher tiers

Migrating to Perimeter 81

Timeline: 1-2 days for most organizations

Process:

1. Day 1 Morning: Account setup, gateway configuration (15 minutes)
2. Day 1 Afternoon: Policy definition, pilot deployment (2-3 hours)
3. Day 2: Full rollout to remaining users (4-6 hours)

Advantages:

• Quick initial deployment with policy expansion options
• Advanced features available immediately
• Check Point integration (if applicable)

Challenges:

• More configuration options to learn
• Gateway fees add to costs
• Support limitations at lower tiers during evaluation

Decision Matrix: Quick Selection Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Both NordLayer and Perimeter 81 represent legitimate, capable business VPN and ZTNA solutions with strong security credentials, comprehensive compliance certifications, and satisfied user bases. The choice between them should reflect your organization's specific priorities, technical capabilities, and operational requirements rather than absolute platform superiority.

Choose NordLayer For:

• Rapid deployment and business continuity
• Transparent, predictable pricing
• Consistent support quality across all tiers
• Lower total cost of ownership
• Simplified management without dedicated security team
• NordVPN brand recognition and trust
• NIS2 directive support requirements

Choose Perimeter 81 For:

• Check Point ecosystem integration
• Advanced policy management (100+ policies)
• HITRUST compliance support features
• Existing Check Point infrastructure
• Dedicated security team managing complex policies
• SIEM integration requirements
• Highest ease of use interface (4.8/5 rating)

Our Recommendation

For cost-conscious SMBs (5-100 employees) without Check Point infrastructure: NordLayer typically delivers better value through transparent pricing, rapid deployment, consistent support quality, and lower total cost of ownership. The $720-2,400 annual cost difference (depending on team size) can fund other security investments while maintaining comprehensive zero-trust capabilities.

For mid-market organizations (100-500 employees) with Check Point infrastructure: Perimeter 81 provides seamless integration, advanced policy management, and enterprise-grade features that justify the premium pricing through operational efficiency, unified management, and reduced integration complexity.

For healthcare organizations: Evaluate whether your organization needs specific platform features to support HITRUST certification requirements. Organizations pursuing HITRUST should strongly consider Perimeter 81's purpose-built compliance features. Organizations requiring only HIPAA compliance will find both platforms suitable, with NordLayer offering lower direct costs and Perimeter 81 offering more comprehensive healthcare-specific controls.

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Primary references (verified 2026-02-16):

• NordLayer pricing
• Perimeter 81 / Check Point SASE overview
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0

Affiliate note: Some links in this guide may be partner links. Recommendations are based on fit and product quality.