- 2 Minutes to read
Always On VPN
- 2 Minutes to read
What is Always On VPN?
Always On VPN is a security feature that ensures a VPN connection is used to access the internet. If the VPN connection drops, the device is automatically restricted from internet access until a VPN connection is restored.
Always On VPN is a must for securing remote workers and those employees that travel frequently and connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks. The feature prevents any potential leaks and makes sure company — and personal — resources are kept safe and secure.
To better understand how Always On VPN works, we invite you to watch this explainer video:
Who can enable Always On VPN?
Both organization admins and members can enable Always On VPN.
Here is how Organization Admins can deploy Always On VPN:
- Go to Control Panel → Settings → Security configurations.
- Switch the toggle next to Always On VPN.
- Upon enabling Always On VPN - the Auto-Connect feature will be automatically activated.
- If the owner enables Always On VPN in the Control Panel – users will not be able to toggle this feature off through the application settings.
- The VPN connection will remain active at all times, regardless of whether the network is configured as trusted or untrusted.
- Always On VPN is currently supported only on Linux, Windows and macOS (downloaded directly from our website) applications.
To configure Windows client for Always On VPN:
- Go to the NordLayer app → Settings → General.
- Tick the box next to Always On VPN.
To configure macOS client for Always On VPN:
- Go to the NordLayer app → Preferences → General.
- Tick the box next to Always On VPN.
To configure Linux client for Always On VPN:
- Open Terminal and run these commands:
$ nordlayer settings set
Select setting to change:
1: VPN Protocol
2: Auto-connect
3: Always connect to
4: ThreatBlock
5: Always On
Select [number]: 5
Available values for Always On
1: Disabled
2: Enabled
Select [number]: 2
How to get temporary internet access?
Members might need temporary internet access to log in to the NordLayer app, handle captive portals when connecting to Wi-Fi in places like hotels and airports, and troubleshoot.
To get temporary internet access on macOS and Windows – click on the “Get internet access” button when logging in to the NordLayer application.
- If you are already logged in to the application – “Get internet access” access button can be found at the bottom of the gateways section.
To get temporary internet access on Linux, use the following command:
$ nordlayer alwaysonvpn
Available commands:
1: Enable Temporary Internet Access
Select [number]: 1
$ nordlayer status
Login: Not logged in
VPN: Disconnected
Current network: wired connection
Temporary internet access active.
Internet connection left: 00:02:56
Note: In case you have any questions or are experiencing any issues, please feel free to contact our 24/7 customer support team.