Deploying WatchGuard Mobile VPN with MFA

The Critical Role of MFA in Modern Security

In an era where data breaches are increasingly common and sophisticated, relying on a single password to protect your corporate network is no longer a viable security strategy. Stolen or weak credentials are one of the most common vectors for cyberattacks. This is where Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) becomes an indispensable tool. MFA, sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication (2FA), adds a vital second layer of security to the login process. It requires a user to provide two or more different types of credentials before they are granted access. This means that even if an attacker manages to steal an employee's password, they will still be unable to access the network without the second authentication factor.

For businesses that have embraced remote work, implementing MFA on their VPN is not just a best practice; it is an absolute necessity. The WatchGuard Mobile VPN solution is designed with this in mind, offering seamless integration with a variety of MFA providers through its support for the RADIUS protocol. This allows businesses to leverage their existing authentication infrastructure or to implement a new, dedicated MFA solution. By enforcing MFA on all remote access connections, a business can dramatically reduce its attack surface and protect itself from a wide range of common cyber threats. To get started, you can WatchGuard VPN download directly from our main page.

Planning Your MFA Deployment

Before you begin configuring MFA, it is essential to have a clear plan. The first step is to choose an MFA provider. WatchGuard's support for the RADIUS protocol gives you a wide range of options, from cloud-based services like AuthPoint (WatchGuard's own MFA solution) to on-premises authentication servers. When choosing a provider, consider factors such as ease of use, the types of authentication factors they support (e.g., push notifications, one-time passwords, hardware tokens), and their integration capabilities.

Once you have chosen a provider, you will need to configure it to communicate with your WatchGuard Firebox. This typically involves setting up the Firebox as a RADIUS client within your MFA provider's administration console. You will be provided with a shared secret, which is a password that the Firebox and the MFA server will use to authenticate each other. It is crucial that this shared secret is long, complex, and stored securely. You will also need to define your users and groups within the MFA solution and decide on the authentication policies you want to enforce. For example, you might require all users to use MFA, or you might only enforce it for users in specific, high-privilege groups.

Configuring the WatchGuard Firebox

With your MFA provider configured, the next step is to set up the WatchGuard Firebox. This is done through the Firebox's web UI or the WatchGuard System Manager. You will need to navigate to the authentication servers section and add a new RADIUS server. Here, you will enter the IP address of your MFA server and the shared secret that you configured previously. It is also a good practice to configure a backup or secondary RADIUS server if your provider supports it. This will ensure that users can still authenticate even if the primary server is unavailable.

Once the RADIUS server is configured, you need to tell the Mobile VPN to use it for authentication. Whether you are using an IPsec or SSL VPN, you will find a setting to specify the authentication server. Instead of using the Firebox's local user database, you will select the RADIUS server you just configured. This will redirect all VPN authentication attempts to your MFA provider. When a user tries to connect, they will first enter their standard username and password. The Firebox will pass these credentials to the RADIUS server, which will then challenge the user for their second factor of authentication. Only after the user has successfully provided both factors will the Firebox grant them access to the network. This simple but powerful mechanism is the key to securing your remote workforce with WatchGuard Mobile VPN.