Secure Palo Alto VPN with Passwordless Authentication
Replace vulnerable credentials with certificates that can’t be phished, stolen, or shared, significantly reducing VPN breach risk.
With SecureW2, Palo Alto VPN access is protected by certificate-based authentication instead of weak or shared passwords. Each login attempt is backed by a unique, tamper-proof certificate that validates both user identity and device posture. Organizations can reduce breach risk, meet modern compliance requirements, and streamline remote access without the complexity of legacy credential systems.
Technical Specifications
Setup Time
Fast Deployment
Certificate-Based VPN ready in an hour
Universal Compatibility
Support Palo Alto
Plus Leverage Your other IAM, MDM, & EDRs
Secure Protocols
EAP-TLS & RADIUS
Secure VPN with Passworldess Authentication
Context Sync
Real-Time APIs
Adaptive Accesss with Signals from Your Environment
Certificate Infrastructure
Cloud-Native PKI
HSM-Backed Certificate Management
Device Trust
Always-Current Access
Revoke Access as Threats Evolve
How SecureW2 + Palo Alto Networks Protects Your Remote Workforce
Passwordless VPN Security
Replace vulnerable credentials with certificates to block phishing, credential stuffing, and unauthorized VPN logins.
Zero Passwords
Smart Device Validation
Palo Alto VPN access is granted only to compliant, risk-free devices using real-time signals from your environment, including IDPs, MDMs, and EDR platforms.
Adaptive Trust
Real-Time Risk Response
SecureW2 can revoke VPN certificates the moment a device is flagged as risky, preventing compromised endpoints from staying connected.
Immediate Protection
Top SecureW2 + Palo Alto VPN Use Cases
Certificate Authentication for Palo Alto VPN
Ensure Palo Alto phishing-resistant VPN access remains secure with certificates that are automatically rotated and revoked as needed, without user or IT intervention.
- 1 User enrolls for a certificate via SecureW2 self-service onboarding clients
- 2 Palo Alto VPN initiates a connection and requests a client certificate
- 3 SecureW2 Cloud RADIUS verifies user/device trust using a policy engine
- 4 Access is granted or denied based on identity, role, and device posture
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Passwordless VPN login tied to user and device identity
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Fine-grained access policies using IdP and MDM signals
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Eliminates shared VPN credentials and reduces risk of lateral movement
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Enhances Zero Trust posture with certificate-bound session validation
Azure MFA Integration for Palo Alto VPN
Enable passwordless VPN access by issuing a token that triggers Azure AD MFA before establishing the VPN session.
- 1 User retrieves a SecureW2-issued token from JoinNow Portal or API
- 2 User enters token into Palo Alto VPN client to initiate connection
- 3 Token redirects to Azure AD login, triggering MFA challenge
- 4 Upon successful MFA, VPN session is established
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Azure MFA enforced before VPN connection is established
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No long-term passwords or shared credentials required
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Simple user experience with strong identity assurance
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Meets zero trust and compliance standards for remote access
Certificate Distribution for SSL Inspection (SSLI)
Securely deploy SSL inspection certificates to user devices and browsers using automated onboarding workflows.
- 1 Admin uploads the SSL inspection certificate to SecureW2
- 2 User runs the JoinNow MultiOS onboarding client
- 3 Certificate is installed into the device’s OS and browser trust stores
- 4 Firewall decrypts HTTPS traffic using trusted SSLI cert without user disruption
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Trusted SSL inspection with no security warnings or browser errors
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Works across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chromebook
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Enable SSLI on BYODs with our self-service certificate clients
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Reduces help desk tickets from failed or blocked SSL inspections
Protocols Supported
Comprehensive protocol support for SecureW2 and Palo Alto integration
| Protocol | Supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SAML 2.0 | Used with JoinNow MultiOS to authenticate users against a cloud IDP, initiating the certificate enrollment process. | |
| LDAP | Used with JoinNow MultiOS to validate users in an LDAP database before enrolling them for a certificate. | |
| 802.1X | Set up 802.1x in under an hour with our cloud, managed PKI, 802.1x onboarding, and RADIUS authentication services. | |
| EAP-TLS | We don't just set you up for 802.1x. Achieve the gold standard, Passwordless, certificate-based, 802.1x Wi-Fi. | |
| ACME | Dynamic PKI services that enable the use of ACME DA for user devices and for server certificate automation. | |
| Dynamic SCEP | Prevent API compromise and certificate spoofing with certificate auto-enrollment via Dynamic SCEP. | |
| OAuth 2.0 | Query IAM, MDM, and EDR infrastructure to continuously monitor trust for PKI and network access automation. | |
| OpenID Connect | Confirm user/device identity before authorizing certificate enrollment or renewal. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Most organizations can configure the integration in a single session by following our setup guide and working with our knowledgeable engineers. Once complete, users begin authenticating with certificates instead of passwords without requiring major changes to existing Palo Alto configurations.
Unlike Wi‑Fi enterprise networks, many VPNs — including Palo Alto’s — do not yet support EAP‑TLS certificate authentication natively over RADIUS. To address this, SecureW2 provides two pathways. Using Cloud RADIUS with Azure MFA, VPN sessions can be authenticated with SAML, where users are assigned a unique username/password and prompted with Azure MFA automatically. Alternatively, with SecureW2 Managed PKI, organizations can integrate our certificate authorities directly into their firewall, establishing a certificate chain of trust without relying on EAP‑TLS. Both methods give administrators flexible, secure options to remove traditional passwords from the VPN login process.
From the user’s perspective, connecting to Palo Alto VPN with SecureW2 is no different from opening the GlobalProtect client and clicking “connect.” The difference is behind the scenes: instead of typing a username or password, the session is authenticated automatically with a certificate issued to their device. This creates a frictionless login experience where users connect instantly and securely, without having to remember or reset passwords.
SecureW2 continuously manages the full lifecycle of VPN certificates. If a device is reported lost, stolen, or flagged by endpoint security tools, its certificate is revoked using cloud‑based PKI controls. Administrators can choose to suspend it temporarily (with the option to restore later) or revoke it fully, which updates the CRL and blocks VPN access. This minimizes exposure while giving IT teams flexible control to reinstate secure access once the device is remediated.
At present, Palo Alto VPN cannot accept EAP‑TLS certificate authentication directly over RADIUS. SecureW2 provides two integration paths: using Cloud RADIUS with Azure MFA to secure VPN logins with an identity‑bound, MFA‑protected credential, or deploying Managed PKI to establish a certificate trust chain within Palo Alto firewalls. Both methods provide strong security today — and ensure that when Palo Alto adds EAP‑TLS support in the future, your organization will already have the full PKI infrastructure in place.
Elevate Palo Alto VPN Security with SecureW2
Schedule a demo to see how certificate lifecycle automation and device trust keep only the right users connected to your VPN.