{"id":79850,"date":"2024-07-06T17:44:34","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T09:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/?p=79850"},"modified":"2024-07-03T17:47:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T09:47:21","slug":"nordlayer-features-in-review-vpn-split-tunneling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/version-2.com\/en\/2024\/07\/nordlayer-features-in-review-vpn-split-tunneling\/","title":{"rendered":"NordLayer features in review: VPN split tunneling"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>

Maintaining secure network connections is paramount when our lives merge with technology. However, striking an optimal balance between security and performance remains a complex task, especially in our fast-paced business environments.<\/p>

At NordLayer, we understand this complexity, which is why we’re excited to introduce our VPN split tunneling feature\u2014a cutting-edge solution that empowers organizations with granular control over their network traffic.<\/p>

Split tunneling allows you to specify which traffic should traverse the secure VPN tunnel and which can access the internet directly. By “splitting” the traffic based on user-defined rules, you can tailor your network security approach to meet your organization’s unique needs.<\/p>

Our VPN split tunneling functionality offers a tailored approach to traffic management, enabling you to selectively encrypt and route specific data streams while maintaining optimal speeds for non-sensitive traffic<\/b>. This innovative feature provides a fresh approach to network security, paving the way for enhanced productivity, flexibility, and peace of mind.<\/p>

How does VPN split tunneling work?<\/h2>

Traditional VPN connections route all internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, providing robust security but potentially impacting performance for certain applications or services. VPN split tunneling breaks free from this one-size-fits-all approach by enabling you to specify which traffic should traverse the secure VPN tunnel and which can access the internet directly.<\/b><\/p>

\"How<\/p>

The process is remarkably straightforward: IT administrators define rules based on IP addresses, subnets, domain names, or even specific applications. By tailoring the rules to the organization’s needs, they can determine which network resources require the added protection of encrypted tunneling. This granular control ensures that mission-critical data associated with specific applications remains secure while other traffic, such as regular web browsing, flows uninterrupted. This optimization of network performance reduces potential bottlenecks, enhancing the user\u2019s experience.<\/p>

VPN split tunneling with NordLayer<\/h2>

At NordLayer, we’ve made it our mission to simplify the implementation of advanced networking solutions. Our VPN split tunneling<\/a> feature easily integrates with our existing suite of products, providing a seamless and user-friendly experience.<\/p>

To harness the power of VPN split tunneling, simply navigate to the \u201cNetwork\u201d section of the NordLayer Control Panel<\/a>, select the desired server, and configure the split tunneling settings. Here, you can input the specific IP addresses or subnets you wish to route through our secure VPN servers, ensuring that only designated traffic utilizes the encrypted tunnel.<\/p>

You also have the option to enable URL-based split tunneling directly from the Control Panel. Go to \u201cSettings\u201d and choose \u201cBrowser Extension Settings\u201d to add specific domains you want to exclude from the encrypted VPN tunnel. This allows certain internet traffic to bypass encryption for optimized performance while maintaining security for other resources.<\/p>

With our Core and Premium<\/a> subscription plans, you gain access to this feature, unlocking new realms of network control and optimization. Premium subscribers can further leverage the Site-to-Site<\/a> and Cloud Firewall<\/a> capability, allowing secure access to private network subnets through the NordLayer gateway.<\/p>

Differences between URL-based and IP-based split tunneling<\/h2>

While VPN split tunneling is not a novel concept, NordLayer’s implementation stands apart, offering a flexible split tunneling solution with both URL-based and IP-based filtering options. This dual approach addresses the needs of modern organizations by allowing customized network security configurations.<\/p>

\"URL-based<\/p>

URL-based split tunneling<\/h3>

URL-based split tunneling for the Browser Extension allows you to create exceptions by excluding specific domains from the encrypted VPN tunnel.<\/b> This method is ideal for scenarios where you want to bypass VPN encryption for certain domains to optimize the internet performance while keeping the security for organizational resources.<\/p>

IP-based split tunneling<\/h3>

On the other hand, IP-based split tunneling, our newly released feature for desktop and mobile apps, takes a more targeted approach. Instead of excluding domains, it allows you to include specific IP addresses or subnets for encryption through the NordLayer VPN tunnel<\/b>. It provides less sensitive web browsing traffic to bypass encryption while keeping the protective layer on through the use of NordLayer\u2019s Secure Internet Access<\/a> features, such as DNS Filtering by Category and ThreatBlock.<\/p>

This granular control enables you to pinpoint the exact network resources that require the heightened security of encrypted tunneling, while all other traffic traverses the internet directly.<\/p>

Together, these two methods create NordLayer’s comprehensive VPN split tunneling feature, providing unprecedented flexibility in tailoring your organization’s network security posture. By combining URL-based and IP-based split tunneling, NordLayer enables you to customize your network security posture according to your organization’s specific needs and use cases.<\/p>

Benefits of VPN split tunneling<\/h2>

The advantages of implementing NordLayer’s VPN split tunneling are multifaceted, catering to the diverse needs of IT administrators, end-users, and the organization as a whole.<\/p>