Nps Extension for Azure Mfa: Integrating with Microsoft Entra MFA

The NPS Extension for Azure MFA is a game-changer for organizations looking to integrate Microsoft Entra MFA into their security protocols. This extension provides a seamless way to authenticate users and protect sensitive data.

By integrating with Microsoft Entra MFA, the NPS Extension for Azure MFA enables organizations to leverage the power of Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to provide a robust and scalable multi-factor authentication solution. This is particularly useful for organizations with a large user base or those that require high levels of security.

The NPS Extension for Azure MFA is designed to work seamlessly with Azure AD, allowing organizations to easily manage and monitor user authentication and access to sensitive resources. This integration also enables organizations to take advantage of Azure AD's advanced security features, such as conditional access and identity protection.

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You can create as many Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication-enabled NPS servers as you need, which is a big plus for scalability.

To keep things organized, it's a good idea to use a different client certificate for each server. This way, you can update each certificate individually without affecting all your servers at once.

Having multiple servers means you'll need to make sure your VPN servers are aware of the new authentication-enabled NPS servers.

The NPS extension automatically handles redundancy, so you don't need a special configuration. This makes it easier to set up and manage your deployment.

You can create as many Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication-enabled NPS servers as you need. Having multiple servers can be beneficial for high-traffic or large-scale deployments.

If you do install multiple servers, use a different client certificate for each one of them. This allows you to update each certificate individually without affecting the entire deployment.

VPN servers need to be aware of the new Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication-enabled NPS servers. This ensures that authentication requests are routed correctly and efficiently.

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Before you dive into planning and preparation, it's essential to consider the licenses required for the NPS Extension for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication.

The NPS Extension is available to customers with licenses for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication, which is included with Microsoft Entra ID P1 and Premium P2 or Enterprise Mobility + Security.

You'll want to ensure you have the right licenses in place to avoid compatibility issues. Consumption-based licenses for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication, such as per user or per authentication licenses, aren't compatible with the NPS extension.

Make sure to review your current licenses and adjust as needed to avoid any potential roadblocks.

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To ensure a smooth setup of the NPS extension, it's essential to understand the network requirements. The NPS server must be able to communicate with the following URLs over TCP port 443.

TCP port 443 is required for both inbound and outbound communication between the NPS Extension server and Entra ID. This is necessary for user authentication against Entra ID when installing the extension.

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The NPS Extension server also needs to communicate with the access point over RADIUS ports. A common port used for RADIUS authentication is UDP 1812.

Another port used for RADIUS authentication is UDP 1645, which is less common but still required. For RADIUS accounting, UDP ports 1813 and 1646 are used.

Here's a summary of the required ports and protocols:

Workspace One Access is a powerful tool for managing user access to your organization's resources. It integrates with Azure MFA, providing an extra layer of security for your users.

Microsoft provides two options for using Azure MFA with Workspace One Access: the Azure MFA Server and the Network Policy Server extension for Azure. However, as of July 1st, 2019, the Azure MFA Server is no longer available for new deployments.

The Network Policy Server extension for Azure is a viable alternative for leveraging Azure MFA with Workspace One Access. This extension allows you to configure a Network Policy Server and integrate it with Azure MFA.

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Users may experience a short timeout period when using Azure MFA, giving them only about 15 seconds to approve the authentication request on the Microsoft Authenticator app. Increasing this timeout value may be necessary in some cases.

It's worth noting that the NPS client is a device that is used to connect to the Network Policy Server. The specific details about the NPS client are not mentioned in the provided article sections.

If you're migrating from VMware Verify to MS Authenticator, you may encounter issues with double login requirements for VDI desktops. A second login may be required for the desktop with a username and password, even after implementing the tutorial for migrating from VMware Verify to MS Authenticator.

AD (Active Directory) is a crucial component of Microsoft's identity and access management solution. It's the backbone of your organization's security and authentication process.

AD DS (Active Directory Domain Services) is responsible for performing primary authentication for RADIUS requests. This means it's the first line of defense when it comes to verifying user identities.

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The NPS (Network Policy Server) extension for Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication plays a key role in the authentication flow. It connects to AD DS to perform primary authentication and then passes the request to the NPS server.

If number matching is enabled for all users after May 8, 2023, users performing a RADIUS connection with NPS extension version 1.2.2216.1 or later will be prompted to sign in with a TOTP method instead of Approve/Deny.

Here's a high-level overview of the authentication request flow:

Azure AD MFA (multi-factor authentication) works similarly, but with some key differences. It involves the ADSelfService Plus server sending a RADIUS request to the NPS, which then triggers an MFA request to the Azure cloud.