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NordLocker Business review 2024


NordLocker Business is a file encryption tool and a secure cloud storage solution by Nord Security, the company behind such products as NordVPN and NordPass. The service was launched in November 2019.

NordLocker Business is now offering plans both for business and personal use and is a well-rounded platform for business data security. Triple-encryption methods, cloud backup, and support for all file formats are just some of the cool things about NordLocker.

So, in this NordLocker review, I dive deeper into the depths of secure cloud storage and encryption. I will answer questions regarding the safety of NordLocker, take a look at the apps, and explain how exactly NordLocker works.

📢 LIMITED OFFER: Get up to 50% OFF NordLocker!

💵 Price:$3.99/month
🔒 Encryption:AES-256, ECC, XChaCha20-Poly1305-IETF, Argon2id
✂️ Free version:Yes (for personal use)
💿 Storage:from 3GB
📱 Apps:

NordLocker pros and cons

Visit NordLocker to learn more about the features

NordLocker features overview

Here are all the features of NordLocker – both the ones you can see and click on and the ones that are seamlessly integrated into the app:

  • Support for any file formats. There are no restrictions or limits on what kind of files can be encrypted.
  • Drag and drop. The simplest and easiest way to load files onto NordLocker. You can just drag and drop them in there, and the app will take care of the rest.
  • Organize your files. NordLocker allows for a number of organization methods. You can sort your files into lockers and subsequently into folders or leave them in the locker as single files.
  • Unlimited secure local storage. You can encrypt and store as many files as you want on your computer because there are no limits to NordLocker’s encryption.
  • Cloud storage. Secure, always-encrypted storage space in the cloud.
  • Syncing across devices. If you choose to store your files in the cloud, you’ll be able to access your files from any Windows, macOS, and Android device.
  • Cloud backup. This is just what it says on the tin. NordLocker automatically backs up all of your files on the cloud, so no matter what happens to your device, you’ll always be able to access your data.
  • Web Access. If you don’t want to install NordLocker on every device ever, you can use the web to access your documents, as well as upload new files.
  • Space Saver. With this feature, you can free up some space on your device by offloading rarely used files to the cloud. They will still be accessible to you at any time.
  • MFA and biometric login. Multi-factor authentication is available on all apps, while the biometric login option is for Windows and Android devices.
  • Secure sharing. You can share single items quickly, using a securely generated link that keeps the file encrypted in transit. The link has an expiration date and a secure code.
  • Instant photo encryption. You can take a photo on Android app and it instantly gets encrypted without using any space on your device.
  • Admin panel. You can explore your organization's data storage at a glance via your admin panel.

Is NordLocker safe?

Yes, NordLocker is very safe. It uses a number of different encryption ciphers for a number of tasks, such as encryption of the files you upload, for the lockers you create, and for login authentication purposes. And if you’re worried about someone at NordLocker accessing your private cloud – don’t be. The zero-knowledge architecture of NordLocker means that no one can see your encryption keys or what is in your personal cloud – not even NordLocker developers.

Encryption

NordLocker uses AES-256 for encrypting your files, ECC and XChaCha20-Poly1305-IETF cipher for the lockers in which your files are, and Argon2id is the one that derives the secret key from your master password.

I know that all these ciphers look like bird-speak but there is one thing that I want you to take away from this. The fact that NordLocker uses different ciphers for different parts of itself makes it much more secure than it would be with just one encryption method.

Cloud security

But what about the safety of your files when they are on their way to the cloud, you may ask. Can someone intercept the traffic and retrieve them? The answer is no – as soon as the file enters NordLocker locally, it gets encrypted, and only the encrypted files leave your computer and enter the cloud. If anyone were to steal your files while in transit, they would have a hard time decrypting them.

Authentication

NordLocker allows for multi-factor and biometric authentication, which adds an extra layer to app security and offers protection in case someone finds out your account password.

NordLocker offers you to choose from several 2FA methods – you can rely on single-use codes, authentication apps such as Google Authenticator, Duo, or Authy, as well as third-party authentication keys.

These authentication apps, when connected with Nord Account, will generate temporary keys that you will be asked to enter once logging in. So, as long as your mobile phone with an authenticator app is in your hands, no one else will be able to log in and access your NordLocker files.

Biometric authentication is available on Windows and Android NordLocker apps – it can either be Face ID or fingerprint. The company says the biometrics for the rest of the apps is coming out later this year too.

NordLocker apps

NordLocker has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, as well as the web. It does not offer any apps for Linux yet. The current apps are very simple, both on mobile, desktop, and browser. They are incredibly easy to use because there aren’t really many settings to tweak and toggle. The overall look is nothing exciting, but I count that as a good thing – you don’t want fireworks to explode and purple unicorns to appear every time you upload a file.

Desktop apps

The NordLocker desktop apps on both macOS and Windows look like File Explorer on any PC. It’s a compliment to the design – it is familiar and thus doesn’t require learning anything from scratch. Neither macOS nor Windows apps differ from each other in terms of functions and navigation.

nordlocker mac interfce

On the homepage, you can see all of your lockers on the left sidebar and the contents of the lockers themselves in the middle. Below the locker list on the left, it’s displayed how much storage you have left in the cloud. On the right side of the app, there are the stats for the locker you’re currently viewing – how many items are in the cloud, who can access the locker’s contents, etc.

Through the File tab, you can access NordLocker settings, and from there, the fun starts. You can set the app to automatically lock after a set amount of time and enable MFA in security settings, for example. The files settings let you choose if you want all of your files to be uploaded to the cloud or on your computer or whether you want to always be asked about that.

Overall, the NordLocker desktop app is simple. It resembles File Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS, and using it doesn’t require any extensive technical knowledge.

Mobile apps

NordLocker currently has apps for Android and iOS devices. Both iOS and Android apps are simple, have a purple theme going on, and are exceptionally easy to navigate. The homepage contains all of your lockers and files, and you can choose between a grid view and a list view. Here's how it looks on Android.

nordlocker android app

To create a new locker, you simply tap on the plus icon in the upper right corner. Each locker also has a kebab menu, which contains options for renaming, deleting, sharing, and general information about the locker.

You can access the settings through the burger menu in the upper left corner of the screen. There, you can set the lock time, choose to use biometric data to unlock the app, enable MFA, and manage your subscription.

Interestingly, the Android app doesn’t allow taking screenshots – and toggling the “allow screen capture” permission on or off requires your master password. However, there's an instant photo encryption on Android app now – it allows you to keep them secure.

The only slightly frustrating thing about the mobile NordLocker app is that it sometimes takes a second too long to load the lockers and files.

Web Access

The NordLocker cloud can be accessed on the web as well, and this is especially convenient when you need a file but don’t want to download NordLocker on every device you ever use, such as a school computer.

nordlocker web access interface

The NordLocker Web Access interface looks exactly like the desktop application. It has the purple theme going on, and all the file uploading, locker organization, and settings tweaking action happen just the same as with mobile and desktop apps.

The only difference is maybe that the settings for your account, security, privacy, and everything else can be accessed by clicking on your profile icon in the upper right corner.

How does NordLocker work?

NordLocker’s working principle is file encryption. All uploaded files get encrypted with end-to-end encryption and can either stay on your computer or be uploaded to the NordLocker cloud. The NordLocker cloud also has a sync function, which allows you to access the same files and settings on different devices.

On Windows and macOS devices, you can choose whether you want to upload the files to the cloud only or to also download them on your computer. On Android and iOS – all the files are in the cloud only and are not automatically downloaded. This is done to save space on your mobile device. However, you always have the option to download any files from the cloud if you wish.

How to install and use NordLocker?

Installing and using NordLocker is as uncomplicated a process as it could be. You don’t need to worry about configurations or ponder over complex encryption processes.

To give you an idea of what may lie ahead if you decide to get NordLocker for yourself, I put together a simple step-by-step guide on how to install and use the app.

How to install NordLocker

  1. Go to the NordLocker pricing page and choose your plan.
  2. Log into your NordAccount or create one. NordLocker create an account
  3. Download the NordLocker app. download nordlocker for windows
  4. Follow the instructions from the installation wizard. install nordlocker
  5. Create a master password (NordLocker Key). nordlocker create master password
  6. Save the recovery key in a safe place – without it, you will lose all your files in case you forget your master password.

How to encrypt files with NordLocker

  1. Create a new locker by clicking on the little plus icon on the upper left corner near the "My lockers" tab. Choose whether you want the locker to be on your PC or in the cloud. NordLocker create new locker
  2. Open the locker and drag and drop your files and folders. They will be encrypted instantly. nordlocker upload files windows
  3. On the web, you can also upload files by clicking the purple Upload Files button. nordlocker upload files on the web

How much does NordLocker cost?

NordLocker has both personal and business plans. The personal plans are for individual users, while the business plans are oriented towards, well, businesses in need of a secure cloud storage and file encryption solution.

Business

The business plans of NordLocker offer a little more than those for a single user, but that is expected. For example, besides the unlimited end-to-end encryption, business owners also get to control access via an Admin Panel, This allows the business owner to manage organization members, approve account recovery, assign roles, enable/disable sharing outside the organization, and securely manage the files and share them internally. Eve though NordLocker Business does not offer a free storage plan, you can have a 14-day free trial, request a demo, get a custom plan for your company needs, and have a dedicated account manager.

Just like the Personal plans, though, the pricing difference appears only in storage space. With a Business plan, you can get 500MB storage for $8.99/user/month, and with the Business Plus plan, 2TB of cloud storage will be yours for $14.99/user/month. NordLocker offers a 14-day trial for business plans.

There is also an option to get a custom plan tailored to your business.

Business PlusBusiness Plus
Secure Storage500GB2TB
End-to-end encrypted cloud
Local file encryption tool
24/7 priority support
Secure sharing with anyone
Admin panel
30-day money-back guarantee
$8.99/month$14.99/month

Personal

NordLocker has a free tier, which grants you 3GB of storage space, unlimited end-to-end encryption, and email support. Unlimited end-to-end encryption means that you can use NordLocker to encrypt however many files you want, and store them locally to your heart’s content (or however much your device’s storage allows). The 3GB limit applies to cloud storage.

The other two paid plans also include priority 24/7 support, which the free plan doesn’t offer. The main price difference between Personal and Personal Plus plans comes down to storage. With Personal, you can get 500GB of storage for $2.99/month, and with Personal Plus – 2TB of storage for $6.99/month. Both paid plans also offer 30-day money-back guarantees.

Personal PlusPersonalFree
Cloud Storage2TB500GB3GB
Unlimited end-to-end encryption
Email support
24/7 priority support
30-day money-back guarantee
$6.99/month$2.99/month$0.00

NordLocker support

24/7 live chat
Email support
Phone support
Guides and/or articles
FAQs✅/❌*

* There are no dedicated FAQ pages, but some frequently asked questions are answered under guides and articles.

NordLocker doesn’t have an incredibly extensive support infrastructure. Despite that, their communication is quick and helpful. Free users can browse through the help center’s articles and contact support by email. Unfortunately, there is no live chat or phone support, and no separate FAQ section.

NordLocker’s help center is divided into four sections – for business accounts, for dealing with NordLocker’s applications, for any issues related to NordLocker WebAccess, and for payments. The guides on installing, using, and troubleshooting the apps are informative and easy to understand.

To test the support’s capabilities, I contacted NordLocker through email. I got a response within two hours, which was pretty quick.

Overall, NordLocker has a pretty good user support system, and the lack of live chat, a clear FAQ section, or phone support doesn’t really affect the overall experience.

Conclusion

All things considered, NordLocker Business is an excellent secure cloud storage and file encryption solution. It is affordable, exceptionally safe, and easy to use. Features such as cloud backup, web access, and support for any file format make it arguably the best among similar products. The zero-knowledge architecture and advanced encryption also prove NordLocker’s dedication to making file organization and sharing experience as secure as possible.

With NordLocker being available on macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and through the web, accessing and uploading or offloading files becomes especially convenient. The apps themselves are easy to navigate, and the close resemblance to an ordinary computer file manager affords the user a sense of familiarity from the very beginning.

So, if you’re looking for an app that encrypts and securely stores all of your most sensitive files, NordLocker is definitely the best choice.

FAQ

Comments

Cam steiner
prefix 1 year ago
Hi, when will IOS app be out for use on NordLocker?
Can I play downloaded videos from nordlocker?
Can I download videos/ pictures directly to local locker or cloud locker and not go through my apple pictures app
Cybernews Team
prefix 1 year ago
Hi! Yes, you can play videos straight from the vault. And to answer your next question, it seems that you can't download files straight to the vault or the cloud on Windows, so you most likely won't be able to do that on iOS either.
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