Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is a Microsoft-proprietary VPN protocol with several advantages over Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) for Always On VPN user tunnel connections. SSTP uses HTTP with Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt communication between the Always On VPN client and the VPN gateway. SSTP is very firewall-friendly, with VPN connections operating on the commonly open TCP port 443, resulting in more consistent VPN availability. SSTP throughput is better compared to IKEv2 as well.
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TLS and Windows Server
For versions of Windows Server before Windows Server 2022, the out-of-the-box security for TLS is not ideal. TLS is notoriously complex to configure, with myriad options for administrators to choose from. However, with the release of Windows Server 2022 and Windows 11, Microsoft has introduced support for the latest TLS specification, TLS 1.3, which eases much of this configuration pain.
TLS 1.3
TLS 1.3 provides significant advantages for Always On VPN SSTP user tunnel connections in security and performance.
Security
TLS 1.3 is greatly simplified and offers only five cipher suites, all considered secure by today’s standards. In addition, all TLS 1.3 ciphers support forward secrecy, ensuring the privacy of communication even in the event of a server private key compromise.
Performance
The TLS handshake in TLS 1.3 is streamlined and requires less back-and-forth (round trips) to establish a connection. TLS 1.3 speeds connection establishment for new Always On VPN user tunnel connections.
Caveat
Adding support for TLS 1.3 on the server-side is a compelling reason to consider upgrading existing Windows Server Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) servers to Windows Server 2022. However, TLS 1.3 support for SSTP also requires Windows 11 on the client-side. TLS 1.3 is not currently supported in Windows 10.
Summary
Realizing the performance benefits provided by TLS 1.3 will likely only occur in large environments supporting many thousands of concurrent connections per server. However, the security benefits apply to all deployments, regardless of size. Administrators should consider upgrading to Windows Server 2022 before proceeding with Windows 11 adoption.
Additional Information
Practical TLS: A Deep Dive into SSL and TLS Online Video Training Course
Always On VPN SSTP Security Configuration
Always On VPN SSTP with Let’s Encrypt Certificates
Always On VPN TLS Certificate Requirements for SSTP
TLS Protocol Version Support in Windows
