In February 2022, Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN, announced its merger with another leading VPN service, Surfshark. This move came after Nord Security had already acquired AtlasVPN in October 2024. What does this merger mean for users and the overall VPN industry? Let’s dive in to find out.
Who Owns These Companies?
Before the merger, Surfshark was an independent VPN service. Now, it falls under the umbrella of Cyberspace, which is Nord Security’s parent company.
Surfshark Highlights
- Robust AES-256-GCM encryption
- Highly effective Kill Switch
- Supports Netflix and much more
NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, which itself is a subsidiary of Cyberspace.
NordVPN Highlights
- One of the fastest VPNs
- High privacy & no logs
- Very good for streaming like Netflix
Why Did Nord Security and Surfshark Merge?
Months of negotiations preceded the merger between Nord Security and Surfshark, culminating in an official announcement on February 2, 2022. The goals of this merger included focused market diversification, shared technical knowledge, and a grand ambition: to become the largest internet security company.
Will Service Change for Users?
According to the merger announcement, Surfshark and NordVPN will continue to function as separate entities. Each will maintain its own infrastructure and product roadmap. This means that, in the immediate future, users shouldn’t expect any drastic changes in the services they are using.
The Larger Context: Consolidation in the VPN Industry
The NordVPN and Surfshark merger is part of a larger trend of consolidation in the VPN industry. Kape Technologies owns several major players, such as ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate VPN. Likewise, Ziff Davis owns IPVanish, StrongVPN, and Encrypt.me, in addition to numerous tech publications.
NordVPN Highlights
- One of the fastest VPNs
- High privacy & no logs
- Very good for streaming like Netflix
Why This Matters
👀 Reduced Competition: Having multiple VPN services under a single corporate structure impacts competition. This is worrisome as less competition often leads to reduced innovation and potentially higher prices.
💫 Conflict of Interest: When the same parent company owns both tech publications and the products they review, it could lead to biased reviews and recommendations, which is not beneficial for consumers.
Future Challenges
With fewer companies controlling more VPNs, how will data privacy be impacted?
Will the consolidation lead to a stagnation in the quality of VPN services?
Will these parent companies provide transparent operations to maintain user trust?
Could this lead to more stringent regulations as fewer corporations will hold larger shares of user data?
The merger between NordVPN and Surfshark under Nord Security is a significant event that could have far-reaching implications for the VPN industry. While it’s too soon to gauge the direct impact on consumers, the trend toward consolidation in the industry could be a concerning development. The future will tell us whether this move leads to better services and innovations, or if it stifles competition and puts data privacy at risk.
What do you think about this merger? Do you share concerns about the future of the VPN industry? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading!
NordVPN Highlights
- One of the fastest VPNs
- High privacy & no logs
- Very good for streaming like Netflix
