Enable Passwordless Azure/Entra ID VPN Authentication

You can link your Azure AD (Microsoft Entra ID) credentials to your VPN. There are plenty of modern VPN providers that enable a direct SAML integration. SecureW2’s integration is made possible by leveraging certificate-based authentication, which has attributes from Azure AD/Entra ID baked into the templates used by the certificates.

SecureW2’s PKI can leverage information from your Azure AD/Entra ID environment to issue and maintain certificates that authenticate devices connecting to your VPN. This configuration guarantees that only devices with valid certificates and Azure AD credentials may connect to the VPN, resulting in a secure and simplified authentication procedure.

Please note that this applies specifically to VPNs that support certificate-based authentication.

SecureW2’s managed PKI service makes distributing and managing certificates for VPN authentication simple. However, just how the process works depends on whether you are distributing certificates to devices managed by an MDM such as Intune or unmanaged devices/BYODs.

For managed devices, our API Gateways check a device’s status every 10 minutes, and can automatically revoke or renew certificates based on their status. Our PKI as a service also includes customizable policies you can create, such as non-utilization, which means certificates that aren’t used for a definable period of time (such as 60 days) are automatically revoked.

With devices managed by MDMs such as Intune, we offer class-leading API Gateways that support SCEP, Dynamic SCEP, OAuth, ACME, JSON, and much more. These gateways constantly scan sources like Intune, Jamf, or Crowdstrike to make sure that devices are low-risk and compliant, so a certificate doesn’t still exist on a device that was forgotten about or stolen.

For BYODs, SecureW2’s JoinNow onboarding solution is the highest-rated self-service certificate enrollment solution available in the market, beating Cisco and HPE. This is how users get certificates using their Azure AD credentials. MultiOS makes certificates easy by guiding users through registration and ensuring safe certificate issuance and configuration without IT intervention. This solution strikes a compromise between security and user comfort, speeding certificate distribution for devices with all major operating systems.

Our PKI allows administrators to leverage the information they already have in Azure AD/Entra ID by encoding customizable attributes on certificates. Because those certificates cannot be transferred to another device, it gives administrators the utmost certainty that each device connecting to your VPN is supposed to be there.

Our Cloud RADIUS service integrates with Azure AD further through the process of Identity Lookup. At the time of authentication, Cloud RADIUS will verify with Azure AD directly that the user or device exists in your directory. As a result, only the most current access policies are applied to users and devices trying to access your VPN, even if you haven’t revoked their certificates yet. This is perfect for changes that might occur suddenly, such as an employee leaving the organization or changes in departments.

Using Microsoft Cloud PKI for VPN certificates has restrictions that may not suit all organizational requirements. While Microsoft Cloud PKI provides basic certificate services, it lacks the sophisticated functionality and flexibility needed for full VPN administration. One major restriction is its integration capability. Microsoft Cloud PKI may not connect effectively with non-Microsoft systems or provide the granular control required for various network configurations.

SecureW2 provides more automation and user self-service choices than Microsoft Cloud PKI. SecureW2's PKI services, for example, offer automatic certificate enrollment for managed devices and a user-friendly onboarding application for BYOD or unmanaged devices, ensuring that certificates are distributed smoothly and securely.

Furthermore, SecureW2's PKI works natively with Azure AD, providing dynamic policy enforcement and sophisticated security features designed specifically for VPN authentication. Third-party PKI systems, such as SecureW2, are a more comprehensive option for VPN certificates due to their flexibility, integration, and user-centric features.

No, it does not. The JoinNow solution verifies Entra ID users and issues secure digital certificates for VPN authentication. However, these certificates are not compatible with an Azure VPN Gateway. SecureW2 VPN solutions use credential-based authentication rather than certificate authentication. While we may provide certificates for VPN authentication, we do not suggest SecureW2 CloudRADIUS for this reason. Using our managed PKI and Cloud RADIUS services, you may improve security and expedite authentication operations. This setup provides a secure, user-friendly VPN login experience while preserving robust network access control and visibility. Integration with current Azure AD and Intune setups allows a more efficient deployment and maintenance strategy for your network's security requirements.

No, this is incompatible with the Azure VPN Client. The JoinNow solution aims to validate Entra ID users and give secure digital certificates for VPN authentication. However, these certificates are not compatible with the Azure VPN Client. SecureW2 VPN solutions do not employ passwordless authentication but rather credential-based authentication. Instead, these certificates work with other VPN systems that use certificate-based authentication. Using our managed PKI and Cloud RADIUS services, you can improve security and streamline authentication procedures, providing a safe and user-friendly VPN login experience while retaining robust network access control and visibility.

The Azure Virtual Network Gateway and traditional VPN enable secure network connections, but their operations and functionalities differ. The Azure Virtual Network Gateway is a cloud-based solution that connects on-premises networks to Azure using secure tunnels. It integrates well with other Azure services, making it an excellent choice for optimizing cloud deployments and hybrid cloud solutions. Scalability is one of its main advantages since it can easily manage significant traffic. Furthermore, being managed by Microsoft eliminates the need for customers to worry about on-premises hardware and maintenance, simplifying network administration and upkeep.

A traditional VPN, on the other hand, is often hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider. It requires real or virtual VPN hardware to manage the connections, which might complicate the setup and maintenance procedures. This VPN gives you complete control over the network setup, allowing unique settings and adherence to specified security regulations. Traditional VPNs often provide secure remote access and site-to-site communications between many sites. While they offer more flexibility and customization possibilities, they also need more effort in hardware, software, and network settings.

Our managed PKI platform allows your organization to issue certificates to your end-users based on attributes in Azure AD/Entra ID. These certificates may then be used to authenticate to all major VPNs, increasing flexibility and security. Because they cannot be stolen or transferred to other devices, certificates ensure that only authorized users and devices can access your virtual network gateway.

Cloud RADIUS works in tandem with our PKI to offer passwordless authentication, eliminating the risks associated with conventional passwords. Cloud RADIUS's direct connection with Azure AD provides smooth policy enforcement and real-time user verification, boosting network security.