DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

With the release of Windows 10, many organizations who chose to skip Windows 8 are now beginning to deploy this new client operating systemn. To maximize investment in Windows 10, DirectAccess can be leveraged to provide employees with seamless and transparent, always on, secure remote corporate network connectivity. DirectAccess has been around for many years, and today the most popular DirectAccess client is Windows 7. However, Windows 10 provides better support for DirectAccess features that enhance performance and availability, while at the same making it easier to implement and support. Windows 10 opens up many new and compelling deployment scenarios for small businesses to large scale enterprises.

Full Support for Geographic Redundancy

Without a doubt the most important DirectAccess feature Windows 10 supports is automatic entry point selection and transparent failover for multisite deployments. DirectAccess multisite deployment provides essential geographic redundancy for organizations with multiple physical locations. Windows 7 has only minimal support for multisite deployment, with clients required to be assigned to a single entry point. Windows 10 clients are aware of all entry points and will intelligently select the closest entry point when establishing a DirectAccess connection. If the entry point becomes unavailable during the connection, Windows 10 clients will transparently connect to another entry point automatically.

Better Scalability and Performance

Windows 10, like Windows 8 before it, includes support for IP-HTTPS null encryption. This feature greatly improves scalability on the DirectAccess server by eliminating the needless double encryption that Windows 7 clients perform. This reduces resource consumption on the server and enables the server to support many more DirectAccess client connections.

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

Enhanced Supportability

Many will also appreciate Windows 10’s built-in DirectAccess connectivity status indicator. No longer will administrators have to deploy, manage, and maintain additional software to provide this essential functionality.

To access DirectAccess information in Windows 10, press Window Key + I, click Network & Internet, and then click the DirectAccess tab. Here you will find vital details about DirectAccess configuration and status such as connection state, currently connected entry point, and a site selection drop down box (if manual site selection is enabled by an administrator). In addition you can generate and collect log information for troubleshooting purposes.

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

Native PowerShell Support

Anyone tasked with troubleshooting DirectAccess configuration and connectivity issues will appreciate the native PowerShell integration with DirectAccess in Windows 10. With just a few commands a wealth of information about DirectAccess configuration and connectivity status can be obtained.

Need to quickly determine if a Windows 10 client has been provisioned for DirectAccess successfully?

Get-DAClientExperienceConfiguration

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

Has the Windows 10 client connected successfully? If not, why?

Get-DAConnectionStatus

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

Need to identify the Network Location Server (NLS) the client is configured to use?

Get-NCSIPolicyConfiguration

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

Looking for DirectAccess multisite entry point details and connection status?

Get-DAEntryPointTableItem

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

PKI Optional (But Recommended)

Finally, when Windows 10 (and Windows 8.x) clients are supported exclusively a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is optional. Here instead the Kerberos Proxy is leveraged to perform DirectAccess client authentication, which reduces infrastructure requirements by eliminating the need for a PKI. However, this configuration offers only limited support for DirectAccess features. For example, a PKI is still required if any Windows 7 clients are deployed. Also, PKI is required to support features such as one-time password (OTP) authentication, Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP) integration, load balancing (integrated or external), force tunneling, and multisite configuration.

DirectAccess and Windows 10 Better Together

For optimum security and maximum deployment flexibility it is recommended that PKI be used to manage certificates for all DirectAccess deployments including those supporting only Windows 8.x and Windows 10 clients.

Summary

DirectAccess and Windows 10 are much better together. Windows 10 provides full support for the geographic load balancing features of DirectAccess and at the same time offers improved scalability and performance. Windows 10 also makes supporting and troubleshooting DirectAccess clients much easier. And for smaller deployments, Windows 10 can lower the barrier to entry for organizations considering DirectAccess by eliminating the need for a full PKI deployment.

Additional Resources

Video: DirectAccess and Windows 10 in Action
DirectAccess and Windows 10 in Education
Implementing DirectAccess with Windows Server 2016 Book
Implementing DirectAccess with Windows Server 2016 Video Training Course
DirectAccess Consulting Services

More Information

Have a question about DirectAccess? Fill out the form below and I’ll get in touch with you.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Updated 6/10/2015: This post was revised to include instructions for enabling OTP support for Windows 7 clients and for configuring OTP on the DirectAccess server using the Remote Access Management console.

Introduction

DirectAccess in Windows Server 2012 R2 provides significantly improved authentication over traditional client-based VPN solutions. When configured to use certificate authentication (a recommended best practice) the DirectAccess client is authenticated using its machine certificate and its Active Directory computer account. Once the client machine has been authenticated, the user is also authenticated via Kerberos against a live domain controller over the existing DirectAccess connection. These multiple authentication steps provide a high level of assurance for DirectAccess-connected clients. If that’s not enough to meet your needs, additional strong user authentication is supported using dynamic One-Time Passwords (OTP).

Drawbacks for DirectAccess with OTP

While OTP provides an additional level of assurance, it does come with a few drawbacks. OTP adds additional complexity and makes troubleshooting more difficult. OTP cannot be configured with force tunneling; the two security features are mutually exclusive. DirectAccess OTP does not support RADIUS challenge-response. For Windows 7 clients, the DirectAccess Connectivity Assistant (DCA) v2.0 must be deployed. In addition, enabling OTP with DirectAccess disables the use of null cipher suites for IP-HTTPS. This can potentially have a negative effect on performance and scalability (more details here). Also, OTP fundamentally breaks the seamless and transparent nature of DirectAccess.

Configuring DirectAccess OTP

OTP for DirectAccess makes use of short-lived certificates for user authentication. Thus, enabling OTP for DirectAccess requires making changes to the internal Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). DirectAccess in Windows Server 2012 R2 can be configured to use the same Certificate Authority (CA) that is used to issue computer certificates to the DirectAccess clients and servers. This differs from DirectAccess with Forefront Unified Access Gateway (UAG) 2010, where a separate, dedicated CA was required.

To configure DirectAccess OTP, follow the instructions below.

OTP Certificate Request Signing Template

Open the Certification Authority management console, right-click Certificate Templates, and then choose Manage. Alternatively you can enter certtmpl.msc in the Start/Run box or search from the Windows Start menu. Right-click the Computer template and choose Duplicate Template. On a Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 CA, select Windows Server 2008 Enterprise when prompted for the duplicate certificate template version.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

On a Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 CA, select Compatibility tab and then select Windows Server 2008 R2 for the Certification Authority and Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 for the Certificate recipient.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the General tab and provide a descriptive name for the Template Display Name. Specify a validity period of 2 days and a renewal period of 1 day.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Security tab and click Add. Click Object Types and then select Computers and click Ok. Enter the names of each DirectAccess server separated by semicolons and click Check Names. Click Ok when finished. For each DirectAccess server, grant Read, Enroll, and Autoenroll permissions. Select Authenticated Users and remove any permissions other than Read. Select Domain Computers and remove the Enroll permission. Select Domain Admins and grant Full Control permission. Do the same for Enterprise Admins.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Subject Name tab and choose the option to Build from this Active Directory information. Select DNS name in the Subject name format drop-down list and confirm that DNS name is checked under Include this information in alternate subject name.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Extensions tab, highlight Application Policies and click Edit.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Remove all existing application policies and then click Add and then New. Provide a descriptive name for the new application policy and enter 1.3.6.1.4.1.311.81.1.1 for the Object Identifier. Click Ok for all remaining dialog boxes.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

OTP Certificate Template

In the Certificate Templates Console, right-click the Smartcard Logon certificate template and choose Duplicate Template. On a Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 CA, select Windows Server 2008 Enterprise when prompted for the duplicate certificate template version.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

On a Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 CA, select the Compatibility tab and then select Windows Server 2008 R2 for the Certification Authority and Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 for the Certificate recipient.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the General tab and provide a descriptive name for the Template Display Name. Specify a validity period of 1 hour and a renewal period of 0 hours.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Note: It is not possible to set the validity period to hours on a Windows Server 2003 Certificate Authority (CA). As a workaround, use the Certificate Templates snap-in on another system running Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 or later. Also, if the CA is running Windows Server 2008 R2, the template must be configured to use a Renewal Period of 1 or 2 hours and a Validity Period that is longer but no more than 4 hours.

Select the Security tab, then highlight Authenticated Users and grant Read and Enroll permissions. Select Domain Admins and grant Full Control permission. Do the same for Enterprise Admins.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Subject Name tab and choose the option to Build from this Active Directory information. Select Fully distinguished name in the Subject name format drop-down list and confirm that User principal name (UPN) is checked under Include this information in alternate subject name.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Server tab and choose the option Do not store certificates and requests in the CA database. Clear the checkbox next to Do not include revocation information issued in certificates.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Issuance Requirements tab and set the value for This number of authorized signatures to 1. Confirm that Application Policy is selected from the Policy type required in signature drop-down list and choose the OTP certificate request signing template created previously.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Select the Extensions tab, highlight Application Policies and click Edit. Highlight Client Authentication and click Remove. Ensure that the only application policy listed is Smart Card Logon.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Certificate Authority Configuration

In the Certificate Authority management console, right-click Certificate Templates, choose New, and then Certificate Template to Issue. Highlight both of the certificate templates created previously and click Ok.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Open an elevated command prompt and enter the following command:

certutil.exe -setreg dbflags +DBFLAGS_ENABLEVOLATILEREQUESTS

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Restart the Certificate Authority service by right-clicking the CA in the Certificate Authority management console and choosing All Tasks and then Stop Service. Once complete, repeat these steps and choose Start Service.

DirectAccess Server Configuration

In the Remote Access Management console, select DirectAccess and VPN under Configuration in the navigate pane and then click Edit on Step 2 – Remote Access Server. Select Authentication, choose Two-factor authentication (smart card or one-time password (OTP)), and then check the option to Use OTP.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Click Next and then add the RADIUS servers that will be used for OTP authentication. Provide the hostname, FQDN, or IP address of the server, the shared secret, and specify the service port.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Click Next, select the CA server that will be used to issue certificates to DirectAccess clients for OTP authentication, and then click Add.

Click Next, select the CA server that will be used to issue certificates to DirectAccess clients for OTP authentication, and then click Add.

Note: When performing this step you may receive the following error.

No CA servers can be detected, and OTP cannot be configured. Ensure that
servers added to the list are available on each domain controller in the
corporate network.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

If this occurs, close out of the Remote Access Management console and install this hotfix.

Click Next and select the certificate templates to be used for the enrollment of certificates that are issued for OTP authentication. Also select a certificate template used to enroll the certificate used by the DirectAccess server to sign OTP certificate enrollment requests.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Click Next and specify whether selected DirectAccess users can authenticate with a user name and password when OTP authentication is disabled. If some users need to be exempted from using OTP, specify the security group as required and click Finish.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Click Edit on Step 3 – Infrastructure Servers. Select Management and add the CA server used for OTP authentication to the list of management servers.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Click Ok and then Finish. Click Finish once more and then apply the changes.

DirectAccess OTP Client Experience

When a DirectAccess client is outside of the corporate network and has established DirectAccess connectivity, users can log on to their machine and access their desktop, but they will not be able to access corporate resources without first providing their OTP.

For Windows 8 clients, swipe in from the right side of the screen or press Window Key + I and click on the active network connection. The DirectAccess Workplace Connection will indicate that action is needed. Clicking on the Workplace Connection will indicate that credentials are needed. Clicking Continue will prompt the user to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and provide their OTP.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

For Windows 7 clients, an alert from the DirectAccess Connectivity Assistant (DCA) in the system tray will indicate that Windows needs your smart card credentials. Clicking on the notification Window will prompt the user to provide their OTP.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Alternatively the user can click on the DCA icon in the system tray and then click Lock and unlock your computer with a smartcard or a one-time password. The user will then press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, choose Other Credentials, select One-time password (OTP), and then provide their OTP.

Configure DirectAccess with OTP Authentication

Summary

Using dynamic, one-time passwords is an effective way to provide the highest level of assurance for remote DirectAccess clients. It does come with some potential drawbacks, so be sure to consider those before implementing OTP.

Unable to Generate DirectAccess Troubleshooting Logs in Windows 8.x Clients

When troubleshooting DirectAccess connectivity issues on Windows 8.x clients you may find the option to generate advanced troubleshooting logs missing. On Windows 8 clients, the Collect Logs button will be grayed out. On Windows 8.1 clients it will be missing altogether.

Windows 8

DirectAccess Client Troubleshooting Logs

Windows 8.1

DirectAccess Client Troubleshooting Logs

This issue is caused by not providing an e-mail address when configuring the DirectAccess server.

DirectAccess Client Troubleshooting Logs

To resolve this issue, supply an e-mail address and apply the configuration. The e-mail address does not necessarily have to be valid. It simply has to be present in order to have the option to generate DirectAccess advanced troubleshooting logs. After the clients have updated their group policy, the option to collect advanced troubleshooting logs will be available.

DirectAccess Client Troubleshooting Logs

DirectAccess Client Troubleshooting Logs