{"id":65923,"date":"2022-07-18T12:14:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T16:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?p=65923"},"modified":"2024-01-24T12:43:31","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T17:43:31","slug":"what-is-eap-tls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/what-is-eap-tls","title":{"rendered":"What Is EAP-TLS?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Network security is one of those behind-the-scenes protections that most employees don\u2019t think about but reap the benefits of every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only does network security protect company data, it safeguards employee data and customer data \u4e00 information that could have devastating consequences if leaked during a breach. By authenticating the right users, network security ensures that employees and contractors get access to the resources they need and only those resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But many companies aren\u2019t sure how to achieve network security, especially without causing massive network congestion. So what\u2019s the silver bullet? EAP-TLS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll define EAP-TLS, describe how it works, and outline the benefits you can expect from implementing it in your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is EAP-TLS Authentication?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

EAP-TLS stands for Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security. While the term is certainly a mouthful, the end goal of EAP-TLS is simply to provide enhanced network security through digital authentication. EAP-TLS locks down your network, only allowing authenticated users to access company data, resources, and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, EAP-TLS enables the use of X.509 digital authentication certificates, which are fairly flexible yet still optimally secure. Companies can use these digital authentication certificates to facilitate single sign-on<\/a> (SSO) through a VPN or various network devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll touch on how EAP-TLS works in detail in the following section, but at a high level, EAP-TLS methodology is rooted in public-key cryptography. Using this approach eliminates the need to pre-share keys among authenticating parties before they attempt to enter a network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does EAP-TLS Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As discussed above, EAP-TLS is a certificate-based mutual authentication method, meaning both the client and the server need certificates for successful authentication. Once those certificates are identified, the EAP-TLS will create session-based keys that each party can use to complete the login.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process goes something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. A user requests access to a network through some kind of wireless access point (AP) or authenticator app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The AP requests the user\u2019s identity information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Once user information is received, it gets transferred from the AP to an authentication server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. The authentication server requests identification verification from the AP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The AP acquires validation and sends it back to the authentication server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. The user connects directly to the network.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How Secure Is EAP-TLS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    EAP-TLS is widely accepted as the most secure authentication technique and has been for over 15 years. EAP-TLS is a particularly sound way to protect 802.1X networks because of the mutual authentication requirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Overall, EAP-TLS significantly reduces the possibility of cybercriminal activity, especially man-in-the-middle types of attacks. In those attacks, cybercriminals would spoof and authenticate into fake access points, which would immediately allow them to harvest users\u2019 credentials. But because mutual authentication requires users to validate their identity, over-the-air attacks are virtually impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Are EAP-TLS Benefits?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    EAP-TLS has several distinct advantages, particularly when it comes to security. As we\u2019ve mentioned, EAP-TLS is the most robust network authentication security on the market. And today, more modern EAP-TLS systems have incorporated sophisticated features like elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)<\/a> to strengthen the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the same time, EAP-TLS ties digital certificates to specific devices, which instantly boosts network visibility. Whereas passwords can be guessed or stolen by anyone, the mutual authentication built into EAP-TLS will show exactly which device is accessing your network at any given time. And if any issues arise, they can be traced back to a specific device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lastly, EAP-TLS greatly enhances the end-user experience. Because certificates cannot be stripped from a device or altered in any way, users don\u2019t have to create and memorize hundreds of separate passwords. Instead, they can authenticate straight into the network \u4e00 an easier, faster, and more secure process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s Needed for EAP-TLS Authentication?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are hardware and software requirements for realizing all the benefits of EAP-TLS. At a minimum, you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n