As part of the Microsoft Global Secure Access (GSA) Security Service Edge (SSE) solution, Microsoft Entra Private Access is an identity-centric Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) cloud service that provides secure remote access to applications and data hosted on private networks. Entra Private Access is a modern replacement for legacy VPN solutions, designed for ease of deployment, simplified management, minimal infrastructure requirements, and significantly reduced attack surface with limited client access and no exposure of on-premises services to the public Internet.
Per-App Zero Trust
Unlike legacy VPN, Entra Private Access does not allow full network access. Instead, administrators define individual applications with traffic-forwarding profiles that allow only specific protocols and ports to specific destinations on the private network.
Conditional Access
Entra Private Access is tightly integrated with Microsoft Entra ID and supports full Conditional Access policy enforcement for published applications. This allows administrators to enforce device compliance, evaluate sign-in and user risk, require multifactor authentication, and dictate the use of phishing-resistant credentials, even for legacy applications.
Minimal Infrastructure
Entra Private Access leverages Microsoft Entra ID for authentication and authorization, eliminating the need for complex, on-premises certificate services infrastructure and Active Directory. To leverage the service, administrators must only provision two lightweight software agents: one on premises and one on their managed endpoints.
Private Network Connector
The Entra Private Network Connector is a software component installed on the private network to facilitate communication between GSA clients and private applications and data. The connector communicates outbound only and requires no inbound firewall rules or reverse proxy configuration.
Global Secure Access Client
The Global Secure Access Client is installed on managed endpoints to allow selected traffic to be delivered to the private network via the cloud service and Entra Private Network connector. The GSA client is not a virtual network adapter and does not require a routable IP address. It operates as a network filter driver deep in the networking stack, selectively acquiring traffic in accordance with defined policy and delivering it securely to the private network as needed.
Cross Platform
Entra Private Access provides cross-platform support. Not only does it support Windows clients (Enterprise or Professional editions), but it also supports macOS, iOS, and Android. Broad client support makes Entra Private Access a comprehensive, secure remote access solution for all your managed endpoints.
Summary
Microsoft Entra Private Access is a modern, cloud-based service that delivers identity-centric Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), enabling secure connections to private applications and resources without relying on traditional VPN technologies. As an identity-centric cloud service, it verifies every access request against conditional access policies, making it an effective legacy VPN replacement that eliminates the broad network access risks associated with VPNs. This approach provides ease of administration through centralized management in the Microsoft Entra admin center, reduced infrastructure requirements by eliminating the need for on-premises VPN servers, PKI and supporting infrastructure, or extensive hardware maintenance, and simplified deployment with per-app policy enforcement, global edge connectivity, and seamless integration for users on any device or network. Overall, it enhances security while boosting productivity and operational efficiency for organizations transitioning to a true Zero Trust model.
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