aws-gate vs NordLayer Threat Protection: 2026 Comparison
aws-gate is a free vpn tool. NordLayer Threat Protection is a commercial vpn tool by Nord Security. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best vpn fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, company size fit, deployment model, here is our conclusion:
Teams managing SSH access to AWS EC2 fleets will appreciate aws-gate for eliminating bastion host complexity; it routes connections through the AWS Systems Manager Session Manager API instead, cutting operational overhead and removing a persistent attack surface. The tool is free and open-source with 516 GitHub stars, making it genuinely low-friction to pilot in existing AWS environments. Skip this if your organization needs fine-grained IAM policy enforcement or audit logging at the session level; aws-gate prioritizes access simplicity over the compliance controls that large regulated enterprises typically require.
SMB and mid-market security teams managing distributed workforces need NordLayer Threat Protection for its DNS filtering and real-time download scanning, which catch phishing and malware at the perimeter before they reach endpoints. The platform covers GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS compliance natively, and its centralized management means you're not juggling separate consoles for VPN, threat intel, and network monitoring. Avoid this if your primary concern is incident response and recovery; NordLayer prioritizes continuous detection and prevention over post-compromise investigation tools.
