Integrating RADIUS as a Service with Cloud Directories (Azure AD & Google Workspace)

This technical reference guide details how to integrate RADIUS as a Service with cloud directories - Microsoft Entra ID and Google Workspace - for enterprise WiFi authentication. It covers the architectural shift from on-premise NPS to cloud-native RADIUS, the deployment of certificate-based EAP-TLS authentication, and the operational best practices for securing wireless access across hospitality, retail, and public-sector environments. For IT managers and network architects already invested in cloud identity, this guide bridges the gap between directory management and physical network security.

📖 10 min read📝 2,373 words🔧 2 worked examples❓ 4 practice questions📚 10 key definitions

Listen to this guide

View podcast transcript

Welcome to the Purple Technical Briefing. Today, we are covering a topic that sits at the intersection of cloud identity management and physical network security: integrating RADIUS as a Service with cloud directories, specifically Microsoft Entra ID and Google Workspace.

If you are managing enterprise WiFi across a hotel, a retail estate, a stadium, or a public-sector estate, this briefing is directly relevant to your next infrastructure decision.

Let us start with context. For the past two decades, WiFi authentication in enterprise environments relied on a fairly predictable stack. You had on-premise Active Directory, Windows Network Policy Server acting as the RADIUS server, and WPA2-Enterprise on the access points. It worked. But it required on-premise servers, manual certificate management, and a team with specialist knowledge to keep it running.

The problem is that most organisations are no longer on-premise first. They are cloud-first. Microsoft Entra ID and Google Workspace are now the directories of record for millions of organisations. And here is the gap: your wireless access points still speak RADIUS. They do not understand SAML. They do not understand OAuth. They speak RADIUS, and they always will.

So the question is: how do you bridge your cloud identity platform to your physical network infrastructure, without dragging an on-premise server back into the picture?

The answer is RADIUS as a Service. A cloud-hosted RADIUS server that integrates directly with your cloud directory, validates authentication requests in real time, and returns an access decision to your access point. No on-premise servers. No patching. No 2am certificate renewal emergencies.

The foundation is IEEE 802.1X. When a device tries to connect to a WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise network, the access point acts as an authenticator. It intercepts the connection attempt and forwards EAP packets to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server validates the identity and returns either an Access-Accept or an Access-Reject. Only then does the access point grant network access.

Now, the most consequential technical decision in this entire deployment is your choice of EAP method.

PEAP-MSCHAPv2 is the old way. It uses usernames and passwords. It sounds secure. It is not. If a device does not strictly validate the RADIUS server certificate, an attacker can set up a rogue access point with your SSID, intercept the handshake, and capture the credentials. This is called an Evil Twin attack, and it is happening.

EAP-TLS is the right answer. It uses digital certificates on both the server and the client device for mutual authentication. There are no passwords involved. The device presents its certificate. The RADIUS server validates it against your cloud directory in real time. No credential theft possible. No phishing vector. No helpdesk tickets when someone changes their password.

Let us walk through a Microsoft Entra ID deployment.

Step one: licensing and PKI. You need Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 to access Intune and Conditional Access. Establish a cloud PKI using your Cloud RADIUS vendor's managed PKI or Microsoft's own Cloud PKI.

Step two: certificate deployment via Intune. Create a Trusted Certificate profile with your Root CA and deploy it to device groups. Then create a SCEP certificate profile. For user-based authentication, the subject name uses the User Principal Name.

Step three: Cloud RADIUS configuration. Grant the RADIUS service Microsoft Graph API permissions: User.Read.All and GroupMember.Read.All. Define your authentication policies: allow access if the certificate is issued by our trusted CA, the user is a member of the Corporate-WiFi-Users group in Entra ID, and the device is marked compliant in Intune.

Step four: wireless infrastructure. In your controller, whether that is Cisco Meraki, HPE Aruba, Ruckus, or Juniper Mist, add the Cloud RADIUS IP addresses and shared secrets. Set the RADIUS timeout to at least five seconds. Create your WPA3-Enterprise SSID.

Step five: WiFi profile deployment. Create a WiFi configuration profile in Intune. Set the SSID, select WPA3-Enterprise, choose EAP-TLS, link the SCEP certificate profile. Devices silently receive the certificate and WiFi profile on their next sync. They connect automatically. No user interaction required.

Now let us look at the Google Workspace path, because it is architecturally different in one important way.

Google does not offer a native RADIUS service. There is no Google equivalent of Windows NPS. So you always need an intermediary: a Cloud RADIUS provider that connects to Google Workspace via Google Secure LDAP or via a SAML and OAuth integration.

Google Secure LDAP is available on Cloud Identity Premium and Google Workspace Enterprise editions. It provides a traditional LDAP interface to your cloud directory. Your Cloud RADIUS server connects to ldap.google.com on port 636 using client certificates that Google generates for you. From that point, the RADIUS server can query Google's directory to validate credentials or group memberships.

For managed Chromebooks, the deployment path uses the Google Admin Console. You configure a cloud PKI to issue certificates, push the Root CA and client certificates to the Chromebooks, and deploy a WiFi profile specifying EAP-TLS. The Chromebooks connect silently. For BYOD devices and guest access, you use a captive portal tied to Google Single Sign-On. That is the right separation: EAP-TLS for managed devices, captive portal for everything else.

Let us talk about pitfalls, because this is where deployments go wrong.

The first and most common is blocked firewall ports. RADIUS authentication uses UDP port 1812. RADIUS accounting uses UDP port 1813. If those ports are not open outbound from your wireless infrastructure to the Cloud RADIUS service, nothing works. Check this first, every time.

The second pitfall is certificate expiry. If your RADIUS server certificate expires, every device on the network loses connectivity simultaneously. Set monitoring alerts at 90 days, 30 days, and 7 days before expiry. Automate renewal where possible.

The third is clock skew. EAP-TLS relies on accurate timekeeping for certificate validation. If a device's system clock is significantly out of sync, certificate validation fails. Ensure NTP is configured correctly across all devices and infrastructure.

The fourth, specific to PEAP deployments, is failing to enforce strict server certificate validation on client devices. Without it, devices will accept any certificate presented by any access point claiming to be yours. This is the single configuration decision that separates a secure deployment from a vulnerable one.

Now for a rapid-fire question and answer.

Can I use Cloud RADIUS for both staff and guest WiFi? Staff WiFi, yes, using EAP-TLS. Guest WiFi should use a separate captive portal. Mixing the two on a single SSID creates unnecessary complexity and security risk.

Does this work with WPA3? Yes. WPA3-Enterprise is fully supported and recommended for all new deployments.

What about compliance? EAP-TLS with Cloud RADIUS supports PCI DSS requirements for strong authentication on cardholder data networks. It also supports GDPR obligations by enabling precise access logging and instant revocation when an employee leaves.

How does this affect our analytics capabilities? Positively. By tying network access to a verified cloud identity, platforms like Purple's WiFi Analytics provide richer data on space utilisation. You move from anonymous MAC addresses to authenticated, named users, which transforms the quality of your insight.

To summarise the key takeaways.

One: Cloud RADIUS eliminates on-premise server dependencies. Your access points authenticate against a cloud-hosted service that integrates directly with Entra ID or Google Workspace.

Two: EAP-TLS is the right authentication method. Certificates replace passwords. No phishing vector, no credential theft, no helpdesk overhead from password resets.

Three: Microsoft Intune and Google Admin Console automate certificate deployment. Devices receive certificates and WiFi profiles silently, with no user interaction.

Four: Dynamic VLAN assignment via RADIUS attributes enables granular network segmentation based on directory group membership. This limits lateral movement and supports compliance.

Five: Always verify ports 1812 and 1813 are open, monitor certificate expiry, and enforce strict server certificate validation.

If you are planning a deployment this quarter, start with a pilot group of 20 to 50 devices. Validate the certificate deployment, the RADIUS authentication, and the VLAN assignment before rolling out globally. The investment in getting this right pays dividends in reduced helpdesk overhead, a stronger security posture, and the ability to use your network data for genuine business intelligence.

Thank you for listening to the Purple Technical Briefing. For detailed deployment steps, configuration examples, and worked scenarios, see the full technical reference guide at purple.ai.

Key Takeaways

✓Cloud RADIUS eliminates on-premise NPS and FreeRADIUS servers. Your access points authenticate against a cloud-hosted service that integrates directly with Microsoft Entra ID or Google Workspace.
✓EAP-TLS is the correct authentication method for enterprise WiFi. It uses digital certificates instead of passwords, eliminating credential theft, phishing, and password-related helpdesk overhead.
✓Microsoft Intune and Google Admin Console automate certificate deployment to managed devices via SCEP profiles. Devices receive certificates and WiFi profiles silently, with no user interaction.
✓Google Workspace requires an intermediary for RADIUS integration. Google Secure LDAP (available on Cloud Identity Premium and Enterprise editions) provides the LDAP interface that Cloud RADIUS servers use to query the Google directory.
✓Dynamic VLAN assignment via RADIUS attributes (Tunnel-Type, Tunnel-Medium-Type, Tunnel-Private-Group-Id) enables granular network segmentation based on directory group membership, supporting PCI DSS requirements.
✓Check UDP ports 1812 and 1813 first. Blocked firewall ports are the leading cause of initial deployment failure. Monitor certificate expiry at 90, 30, and 7 days. Enforce strict server certificate validation on all PEAP deployments.
✓Disabling a user in Entra ID or Google Workspace immediately revokes their WiFi access at all sites. This is the primary offboarding advantage over PSK-based networks and directly supports GDPR obligations.

Executive summary

For modern enterprises invested in cloud identity ecosystems, bridging cloud directories with physical wireless networks is a critical security imperative. Historically, WiFi authentication relied on on-premise Active Directory Domain Services and Windows Network Policy Server (NPS). As organisations migrate to Microsoft Entra ID and Google Workspace, that on-premise authentication stack becomes a liability - costly to maintain, difficult to scale, and incompatible with zero-trust security models.

RADIUS as a Service (RADIUSaaS) changes the equation. A cloud-hosted RADIUS server integrates directly with your cloud directory, validates authentication requests in real time, and returns access decisions to your access points - with no on-premise servers, no patching cycles, and no single point of failure. Combined with EAP-TLS certificate-based authentication, this architecture eliminates credential theft, supports PCI DSS and GDPR compliance, and delivers a seamless experience for staff across every site.

This guide covers the architectural decision between on-premise NPS and cloud-native RADIUS, the deployment of EAP-TLS via Microsoft Intune and Google Admin Console, and the operational best practices for securing wireless access across hotels, retail estates, stadiums, and public-sector venues. For a broader introduction to network access control, see A Guide to Your Network Access Control System .

Technical deep-dive: architecture and standards

The role of RADIUS and IEEE 802.1X

The foundation of secure enterprise WiFi is the IEEE 802.1X standard, which provides port-based network access control. When a client device (the supplicant) attempts to connect to a WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise network, the Wireless Access Point (the authenticator) blocks all traffic except EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) packets. The AP forwards these packets to a RADIUS server. The RADIUS server validates the identity against a directory service and returns an Access-Accept or Access-Reject message. Only then does the AP grant network access.

This three-party model - supplicant, authenticator, authentication server - is the cornerstone of enterprise wireless security and is defined in IEEE 802.1X. It has not fundamentally changed since its introduction. What has changed is where the RADIUS server lives and how it communicates with your directory.

Cloud-native RADIUS architecture

A cloud-native RADIUS architecture eliminates the need for on-premise NPS or FreeRADIUS servers. A third-party Cloud RADIUS provider integrates directly with Microsoft Entra ID via Microsoft Graph API, or with Google Workspace via Google Secure LDAP or SAML/OAuth. Authentication happens entirely in the cloud. This aligns with zero-trust network access principles and significantly reduces operational overhead.

The table below compares the two primary architectural approaches:

Dimension	Hybrid on-premise (NPS)	Cloud-native (RADIUSaaS)
Infrastructure	Windows Server VM or bare metal required	No on-premise servers
Identity source	AD DS via LDAP/Kerberos	Entra ID or Google Workspace via API
Certificate authority	ADCS on-premise + Intune Connector	Cloud PKI from vendor or Microsoft
High availability	Manual HA and load balancing	Auto-scaled by provider
Setup time	Days to weeks	Hours
Best for	Hybrid AD, legacy devices	Cloud-first, MDM-managed organisations
Operational complexity	Higher initial and ongoing	Lower operational overhead

EAP-TLS vs. PEAP-MSCHAPv2: the critical choice

The choice of EAP method is the single most consequential security decision in this deployment. PEAP-MSCHAPv2 relies on users entering their domain credentials. This is vulnerable to credential theft and man-in-the-middle attacks. If a client device does not strictly validate the RADIUS server certificate - and many do not by default - an attacker can deploy a rogue access point with your SSID, intercept the EAP handshake, and capture credentials. This is an Evil Twin attack, and it is well-documented.

EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security) uses digital certificates installed on the client device for mutual authentication. Both the client and the server prove their identity cryptographically. There are no passwords to type or steal. In a Microsoft environment, certificates deploy silently via Microsoft Intune using SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol) or PKCS profiles. This is the recommended path for all new deployments and is essential for compliance with PCI DSS v4.0 (Requirement 8.3 on strong authentication) and GDPR data protection obligations.

Google Workspace: the architectural difference

Microsoft Entra ID and Google Workspace differ in one important way for RADIUS integration. Microsoft NPS integrates natively with Active Directory, and Cloud RADIUS providers connect to Entra ID via Microsoft Graph API. Google, however, does not offer a native RADIUS service. You always need an intermediary.

Google Secure LDAP is the primary integration path. Available on Cloud Identity Premium and Google Workspace Enterprise editions, it provides a traditional LDAP interface to your cloud directory. Your Cloud RADIUS server connects to ldap.google.com on port 636 using client certificates that Google generates for you. From that point, the RADIUS server queries Google's directory to validate credentials or group memberships, just as it would query an on-premise Active Directory.

An alternative path uses SAML-based integration, where the Cloud RADIUS provider registers as a SAML application in Google Admin Console and performs an OAuth lookup at authentication time to verify the user's identity and group memberships in real time.

Implementation guide

Implementing RADIUSaaS with EAP-TLS requires coordinating identity, device management, and network infrastructure. The following five-phase approach applies to both Microsoft Entra ID and Google Workspace environments.

Phase 1: prepare identity and device management infrastructure

For Microsoft Entra ID: verify that your tenant has Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) E3/E5 licensing. This includes Microsoft Intune and Conditional Access. Without Intune, automated certificate deployment is not possible.

For Google Workspace: confirm you have Cloud Identity Premium or Google Workspace Enterprise to access Google Secure LDAP. If you plan to use EAP-TLS on managed Chromebooks, ensure the Google Admin Console is configured to manage device certificates.

Establish your Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). For new deployments, a cloud-native PKI provided by your Cloud RADIUS vendor is strongly recommended. Alternatives include Microsoft Cloud PKI (available with Intune Suite licensing) or an existing on-premise ADCS deployment connected via the Microsoft Intune Certificate Connector.

Phase 2: configure certificate deployment

Microsoft Intune path: in the Intune admin centre, create a Trusted Certificate configuration profile. Upload the Root CA certificate and deploy it to your target device groups. This ensures client devices trust the certificate presented by the RADIUS server during the TLS handshake. Next, create a SCEP Certificate profile. For user-based authentication, set the Subject Name to CN={{UserPrincipalName}}. For device-based authentication, use CN={{DeviceName}}. Set the Subject Alternative Name to include the User Principal Name or device ID.

Google Admin Console path: navigate to Devices, then Networks, then Certificates. Upload your Root CA. Configure a certificate issuance mechanism - either a cloud PKI that supports SCEP integration with Google Workspace, or the Google Cloud Certificate Connector which proxies requests to an on-premise Microsoft Certificate Authority. Deploy the Root CA and client certificate profiles to the appropriate Organisational Units.

Phase 3: configure Cloud RADIUS integration

Grant your Cloud RADIUS provider the necessary API permissions in your directory tenant. For Entra ID, this requires at minimum User.Read.All and GroupMember.Read.All via Microsoft Graph API. Some providers also require Device.Read.All for device compliance checks. For Google Workspace via Secure LDAP, download the client certificate and key from Google Admin Console and install them on the RADIUS service.

Define your authentication policies within the Cloud RADIUS management portal. A well-structured policy for a corporate environment: "Allow access if the certificate is issued by [Trusted CA] AND the user is a member of the [Corporate-WiFi-Users] group AND the device is marked Compliant in Intune." This enforces identity, group membership, and device health simultaneously.

Phase 4: configure wireless infrastructure

In your wireless LAN controller or cloud management dashboard - Cisco Meraki, HPE Aruba, Ruckus, Juniper Mist, Ubiquiti UniFi, Cambium, Extreme, or Fortinet - add the Cloud RADIUS server IP addresses and shared secrets as RADIUS authentication servers. Configure primary and secondary servers for redundancy. Set the RADIUS timeout to a minimum of five seconds to accommodate cloud round-trip latency.

Create a new SSID configured for WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise. For Hospitality deployments, ensure the corporate SSID is on a separate VLAN from any Guest WiFi network. For Retail environments, consider deploying the corporate SSID only in back-of-house areas.

Phase 5: deploy WiFi profile via MDM

Microsoft Intune: create a WiFi configuration profile. Set the SSID to match your infrastructure configuration exactly. Select WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise. Under EAP settings, select EAP-TLS. Link the SCEP certificate profile as the client certificate and specify the Trusted Root CA profile. Assign this WiFi profile to the same device groups that received the certificate profiles. Devices silently receive the certificate and the WiFi configuration during their next Intune sync.

Google Admin Console: navigate to Devices, then Networks, then Wi-Fi. Create a new WiFi network profile. Set the SSID, select WPA3-Enterprise, choose EAP-TLS, and push the trusted Root CA certificate to the devices. Apply this profile to your Organisational Units. Chromebooks connect silently and securely.

Best practices

Mandate EAP-TLS across all new deployments. Do not deploy new networks using PEAP-MSCHAPv2. The security risks are well-documented and the migration path is straightforward with modern MDM tooling.

Enforce strict server certificate validation. If you must use PEAP for legacy devices, configure the devices to validate the RADIUS server's certificate. In the Intune WiFi profile and in the Google Admin Console WiFi profile, there is a field to specify the trusted CA for server validation. Do not leave this blank. This single configuration decision is the difference between a secure deployment and a vulnerable one.

Segment your network with dynamic VLAN assignment. Use your RADIUS server to inspect the user's group membership in Entra ID or Google Workspace and dynamically assign them to different VLANs. The RADIUS server returns the Tunnel-Private-Group-Id attribute to the access point, which places the client on the correct VLAN. This limits lateral movement in the event of a compromise and supports PCI DSS network segmentation requirements.

Separate corporate and guest authentication. Use EAP-TLS for corporate-managed devices. Use a captive portal with SSO for BYOD and guest devices. Trying to manually configure EAP-TLS on unmanaged devices creates excessive support overhead. Purple's Guest WiFi platform handles guest onboarding separately, maintaining a clean separation between staff and visitor traffic.

Monitor certificate expiry proactively. Set up monitoring and alerting at 90 days, 30 days, and seven days before certificate expiry. If your RADIUS server certificate expires, all devices lose connectivity simultaneously. Automate renewal where your PKI supports it.

Test RADIUS timeout settings. Cloud RADIUS introduces network round-trip latency that on-premise NPS does not. Set the RADIUS timeout on your access points to at least five seconds. A timeout of two seconds - common in default configurations - will cause intermittent authentication failures.

Troubleshooting and risk mitigation

Blocked firewall ports are the leading cause of initial deployment failure. RADIUS authentication requires UDP port 1812 outbound from your wireless infrastructure to the Cloud RADIUS service. RADIUS accounting requires UDP port 1813. Verify these are open before any other troubleshooting.

Certificate validation failures present as authentication rejections with no obvious cause. Check the following in order: certificate expiry on both the client and the RADIUS server; clock skew between the client device and the RADIUS server (EAP-TLS relies on accurate timekeeping); and whether the Root CA certificate has been successfully deployed to the device via MDM.

Group membership not enforcing is a common issue when RADIUS policies reference Entra ID or Google Workspace groups. Verify that the Cloud RADIUS provider has the correct API permissions to read group memberships. In Entra ID, confirm the service principal has GroupMember.Read.All. In Google Workspace, confirm the Secure LDAP client has permission to read group information.

VLAN assignment not working typically indicates a mismatch between the RADIUS attribute values and the VLAN IDs configured on the wireless infrastructure. Confirm that Tunnel-Type is set to VLAN (value 13), Tunnel-Medium-Type is set to 802 (value 6), and Tunnel-Private-Group-Id matches the VLAN ID configured on the switch or controller.

BYOD devices failing EAP-TLS usually indicates the client certificate was not successfully deployed. For Intune-managed devices, check the device's certificate store in the Intune admin centre. For Google-managed Chromebooks, verify the certificate profile is assigned to the correct Organisational Unit and that the device has synced recently.

ROI and business impact

Moving to Cloud RADIUS delivers measurable operational savings. On-premise RADIUS requires at minimum two servers for high availability, ongoing OS patching, certificate management, and specialist engineering time. A single engineer's time spent on RADIUS maintenance over a year typically exceeds the annual cost of a Cloud RADIUS subscription.

The business case extends beyond cost reduction. By tying network access to verified cloud identities, you gain:

Instant offboarding. Disabling a user in Entra ID or Google Workspace immediately revokes their network access at all sites. There is no lag, no manual process, and no risk of a former employee retaining WiFi access. This directly supports GDPR obligations around data access rights.

Richer analytics. Platforms like Purple's WiFi Analytics provide richer data on space utilisation and visitor journeys when network access is tied to authenticated identities. You move from anonymous MAC addresses to named, authenticated users, which transforms the quality of insight available to operations and marketing teams.

Compliance evidence. EAP-TLS authentication generates detailed access logs - who connected, from which device, at which location, and at what time. This audit trail supports PCI DSS Requirement 10 (logging and monitoring) and GDPR accountability obligations.

Multi-site consistency. A single Cloud RADIUS service authenticates all your sites with consistent policies, managed from one dashboard. Adding a new hotel, store, or venue means adding its access points to the RADIUS configuration - not shipping and configuring another server. For organisations managing large estates, this is a significant operational advantage.

For Transport operators and Healthcare venues where network uptime is operationally critical, Cloud RADIUS providers typically offer 99.999% uptime SLAs with multi-region failover built in. Purple operates at 99.999% uptime across 80,000+ live venues, with 440 million logins processed in 2024 (Purple internal data, 2024).

For further reading on related topics, see WAN Computer Definition: A Practical Guide for 2026 and World WiFi Day 2026: How Your Venue Can Help Bridge the Digital Divide .

Key Definitions

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service)

A networking protocol defined in RFC 2865 that provides centralised Authentication, Authorisation, and Accounting (AAA) management for users connecting to a network service. The RADIUS server acts as the decision engine between your access points and your identity directory.

Every enterprise WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise WiFi network depends on a RADIUS server. Without it, IEEE 802.1X authentication does not function.

RADIUS as a Service (RADIUSaaS)

A cloud-hosted RADIUS implementation delivered as a managed service. The provider maintains the infrastructure, patching, high availability, and identity provider integrations. You configure authentication policies and point your access points to the cloud RADIUS IPs.

RADIUSaaS eliminates the need for on-premise NPS or FreeRADIUS servers, removing the associated hardware, OS patching, and specialist maintenance overhead.

IEEE 802.1X

An IEEE standard for port-based Network Access Control. It defines the three-party authentication model: the supplicant (client device), the authenticator (access point or switch), and the authentication server (RADIUS server). The authenticator blocks all traffic until the RADIUS server grants access.

The foundational standard for enterprise WiFi authentication. WPA2-Enterprise and WPA3-Enterprise both rely on 802.1X.

EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol - Transport Layer Security)

An authentication method defined in RFC 5216 that uses digital certificates on both the RADIUS server and the client device for mutual authentication. Neither party sends a password. The client presents its certificate; the server validates it against the directory in real time.

The gold standard for enterprise WiFi security. Eliminates credential theft, phishing, and password-related helpdesk overhead. Required for PCI DSS compliance on cardholder data networks.

PEAP-MSCHAPv2 (Protected EAP - Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol v2)

An authentication method that creates an encrypted TLS tunnel and then sends the user's username and password through it. Vulnerable to Evil Twin attacks if the client does not strictly validate the RADIUS server certificate.

The legacy default for enterprise WiFi. Still widely deployed but should be migrated to EAP-TLS in all new and existing deployments where possible.

Microsoft Entra ID

Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service, formerly known as Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). Manages user identities, group memberships, device compliance, and Conditional Access policies.

The primary identity source for Cloud RADIUS in Microsoft-centric environments. Cloud RADIUS providers connect to Entra ID via Microsoft Graph API.

Google Secure LDAP

A managed service available on Cloud Identity Premium and Google Workspace Enterprise editions that provides a traditional LDAP interface to Google's cloud directory. RADIUS servers connect to ldap.google.com on port 636 using client certificates.

The primary integration path for connecting a Cloud RADIUS server to Google Workspace. Google does not offer a native RADIUS service, so Secure LDAP acts as the bridge.

PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)

The set of roles, policies, hardware, software, and procedures needed to create, manage, distribute, use, store, and revoke digital certificates. A PKI is required to issue the client and server certificates used in EAP-TLS authentication.

Cloud-native PKI options from RADIUS vendors or Microsoft (Cloud PKI) eliminate the need for on-premise Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS).

SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol)

A protocol that enables devices to request and receive digital certificates from a Certificate Authority automatically. Used by Microsoft Intune and Google Admin Console to deploy client certificates to managed devices without user interaction.

SCEP profiles in Intune are the mechanism by which corporate devices silently receive the client certificates needed for EAP-TLS authentication.

Dynamic VLAN assignment

A RADIUS feature that returns VLAN assignment attributes (Tunnel-Type, Tunnel-Medium-Type, Tunnel-Private-Group-Id) to the access point based on the authenticated user's directory group membership. The AP places the client on the specified VLAN automatically.

Enables granular network segmentation without manual VLAN configuration per device. Staff in different roles or departments land on different network segments, limiting lateral movement and supporting PCI DSS segmentation requirements.

Worked Examples

A 200-room hotel is migrating its back-of-house staff network from an ageing on-premise NPS server to a cloud-native solution. The hotel has recently moved to Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365 E5. Staff devices are Windows laptops managed by Intune. The wireless infrastructure is Cisco Meraki. The hotel needs staff to connect automatically without password prompts, and needs instant revocation when a member of staff leaves.

Deploy a Cloud RADIUS solution with Entra ID integration. Step 1: grant the Cloud RADIUS provider Microsoft Graph API permissions (User.Read.All, GroupMember.Read.All, Device.Read.All) in the Entra ID tenant. Step 2: in Intune, create a Trusted Certificate profile with the Cloud RADIUS Root CA and deploy it to the 'All Corporate Devices' group. Step 3: create a SCEP Certificate profile with Subject Name CN={{UserPrincipalName}} and deploy it to the same group. Step 4: configure the Cloud RADIUS authentication policy: allow access if certificate is issued by [Trusted CA] AND user is member of [Hotel-Staff-WiFi] Entra ID group AND device is Intune-compliant. Step 5: in Cisco Meraki dashboard, add the Cloud RADIUS primary and secondary IPs as RADIUS servers on the back-of-house SSID. Set RADIUS timeout to 5 seconds. Step 6: in Intune, create a WPA3-Enterprise WiFi profile for the back-of-house SSID, specifying EAP-TLS and linking the SCEP certificate profile. Deploy to the 'All Corporate Devices' group. Devices silently receive the certificate and WiFi profile on next Intune sync and connect automatically. When a staff member leaves, disabling their Entra ID account immediately revokes network access at all sites.

Examiner's Commentary: This approach eliminates the on-premise NPS dependency entirely. EAP-TLS removes the phishing vector of credential-based authentication. Intune automates certificate lifecycle management, removing the manual overhead that caused the previous NPS deployment to fall behind on certificate renewals. The Entra ID group policy means that when HR disables an account, network access is revoked in real time - no manual RADIUS policy update required. The Cisco Meraki integration is straightforward: Cloud RADIUS is hardware-agnostic and works with any 802.1X-capable infrastructure.

A retail chain with 50 stores uses Google Workspace and manages a fleet of 500 Chromebooks used by store associates for inventory and point-of-sale operations. They currently use a shared WPA2 PSK for the store operations network, which creates a security risk when devices are lost or stolen. They want to move to 802.1X authentication without deploying local servers at each store. Their wireless infrastructure is HPE Aruba.

Deploy a Cloud RADIUS solution with Google Workspace integration via Google Secure LDAP. Step 1: in Google Admin Console, navigate to Apps, then LDAP, and add a new LDAP client for the Cloud RADIUS service. Configure read permissions for user information and group membership. Download the generated client certificate and key. Step 2: configure the Cloud RADIUS service with the Google Secure LDAP credentials. Step 3: configure a cloud PKI to issue certificates to the Chromebooks. In Google Admin Console, navigate to Devices, then Networks, then Certificates, and upload the Root CA. Configure the certificate issuance profile and apply it to the Store-Associates Organisational Unit. Step 4: in Google Admin Console, create a WPA3-Enterprise WiFi profile for the store operations SSID. Set EAP-TLS, link the Root CA, and apply to the Store-Associates OU. Chromebooks receive the certificate and WiFi profile on next Admin Console sync. Step 5: in HPE Aruba Central, configure the store operations SSID with WPA3-Enterprise and add the Cloud RADIUS primary and secondary IPs. Set RADIUS timeout to 5 seconds. Configure dynamic VLAN assignment to place store associates on VLAN 20 (store operations) based on their Google Workspace group membership. When a Chromebook is lost or stolen, removing it from the Store-Associates OU immediately revokes its network access.

Examiner's Commentary: This deployment eliminates the shared PSK risk. A lost or stolen Chromebook with a shared PSK gives an attacker persistent network access until the PSK is rotated across all 50 stores. With EAP-TLS, the certificate on the lost device can be revoked immediately. The Google Secure LDAP integration is the correct path for Google Workspace environments - it provides a stable, standards-based interface that the Cloud RADIUS service can query without requiring a custom API integration. Dynamic VLAN assignment ensures store associates land on the correct network segment, supporting PCI DSS network segmentation requirements for retail environments.

Practice Questions

Q1. Your organisation is migrating from on-premise Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID. You currently use PEAP-MSCHAPv2 for WiFi authentication on 300 corporate laptops managed by Intune. You have Microsoft 365 E5 licensing. What is the most secure and operationally efficient path to migrate WiFi authentication to a cloud-native architecture?

Hint: Consider the vulnerabilities of credential-based authentication, the capabilities of Microsoft Intune for certificate deployment, and the need to avoid on-premise infrastructure dependencies.

View model answer

Deploy a Cloud RADIUS solution with Entra ID integration. Use Microsoft Intune to deploy a Trusted Certificate profile (Root CA) and a SCEP Certificate profile to the 300 laptops. Configure the Cloud RADIUS authentication policy to require a valid certificate from the trusted CA and membership of the Corporate-WiFi-Users Entra ID group. Create a WPA3-Enterprise WiFi profile in Intune specifying EAP-TLS and link the SCEP certificate profile. Devices silently receive the certificate and WiFi configuration on next Intune sync. This eliminates PEAP-MSCHAPv2 credential theft risk, removes the on-premise NPS dependency, and provides instant revocation when an Entra ID account is disabled.

Q2. A user at your hotel reports they cannot connect to the back-of-house staff WiFi after returning from a two-week holiday. Other staff are connecting without issue. The network uses EAP-TLS with certificates deployed via Intune. What are the three most likely causes, in order of likelihood?

Hint: EAP-TLS relies on time-sensitive cryptographic assets and real-time directory lookups.

View model answer

The user's client certificate has expired. Certificates have a defined validity period, and if the device was offline during the renewal window, the SCEP profile may not have renewed it. Check the certificate expiry date in the Intune device certificate store. 2. The device's system clock is significantly out of sync (clock skew), causing certificate validation to fail. EAP-TLS validates certificate timestamps; a clock more than five minutes out of sync will cause authentication failures. 3. The user's Entra ID account was placed in a different group during their absence (for example, moved from active staff to a different OU), and the RADIUS authentication policy no longer matches their group membership. Check the user's group memberships in Entra ID against the RADIUS policy.

Q3. You are the IT manager for a retail chain with 80 stores. You use Google Workspace and manage 400 Chromebooks via Google Admin Console. You want to replace the current shared WPA2 PSK on the store operations network with 802.1X authentication. You have no on-premise servers at any store location. What architecture do you deploy, and what is the primary security benefit over the current PSK approach?

Hint: Consider what happens when a Chromebook is lost or stolen under each authentication model.

View model answer

Deploy a Cloud RADIUS service with Google Secure LDAP integration. Configure a cloud PKI to issue certificates to the Chromebooks. In Google Admin Console, deploy the Root CA and a SCEP client certificate profile to the Store-Associates Organisational Unit. Create a WPA3-Enterprise WiFi profile specifying EAP-TLS and deploy it to the same OU. Configure HPE Aruba (or equivalent) access points at each store to point to the Cloud RADIUS service. The primary security benefit: under the current shared PSK, a lost or stolen Chromebook retains WiFi access until the PSK is rotated across all 80 stores - a disruptive, time-consuming process. With EAP-TLS, removing the device from the Store-Associates OU in Google Admin Console immediately revokes its certificate and network access, with no impact on any other device.

Q4. During a Cloud RADIUS deployment, you configure the SSID on Cisco Meraki access points and deploy the Intune WiFi profile to a pilot group of 20 devices. None of the devices can connect. The Intune device status shows the certificate and WiFi profile as successfully deployed. What is the first thing you check?

Hint: The most common cause of initial deployment failure is not a configuration error in the RADIUS policy or the certificate.

View model answer

Check that UDP ports 1812 and 1813 are open outbound from the Cisco Meraki access points (or the Meraki cloud infrastructure) to the Cloud RADIUS server IP addresses. Blocked firewall ports are the leading cause of initial deployment failure. The fact that certificates and WiFi profiles are successfully deployed rules out Intune configuration issues. The next checks are: RADIUS shared secret mismatch between Meraki and the Cloud RADIUS service; RADIUS timeout set too low (increase to at least 5 seconds); and whether the Cloud RADIUS server IPs are correctly entered in the Meraki SSID configuration.

Continue reading in this series

The Security Benefits of RADIUS as a Service for Hybrid Workforces

This technical reference guide explains how RADIUS as a Service secures network access for hybrid workforces across distributed venues. It covers the architecture, security benefits, and deployment steps for replacing on-premise RADIUS infrastructure with a cloud-managed authentication service. For IT managers and network architects at hotels, retail chains, stadiums, and public-sector organisations, this guide provides the evidence needed to evaluate and act on a cloud RADIUS migration this quarter.

The Security Benefits of RADIUS as a Service for Hybrid Workforces

This technical reference guide explains how RADIUS as a Service secures network access for hybrid workforces across distributed venues. It covers the architecture, security benefits, and deployment steps for replacing on-premises RADIUS infrastructure with a cloud-managed authentication service. For IT managers and network architects at hotels, retail chains, stadiums, and public-sector organisations, this guide provides the evidence needed to evaluate and act on a cloud RADIUS migration this quarter.

How to Implement 802.1X Authentication with Cloud RADIUS

This technical reference guide provides a comprehensive framework for implementing 802.1X authentication with Cloud RADIUS across distributed enterprise estates. It details the architecture, EAP method selection, deployment sequencing, and risk mitigation strategies required to secure network access while eliminating the operational overhead of on-premises infrastructure.