DirectAccess and Windows 10 in Action

DirectAccess and Windows 10 in ActionRecently I recorded a short video to outline some of the benefits of using Windows 10 and DirectAccess. The video highlights common uses cases and includes a working demonstration of DirectAccess and Windows 10, both from the user’s and the administrator’s perspective.

The video shows how users transparently connect to the network and seamlessly access corporate resources over the DirectAccess connection. It also shows how administrators can leverage existing system management tools such as the Computer Management MMC, PowerShell remoting, and the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to manage remote connected Windows 10 DirectAccess clients.

If you have any questions about implementing DirectAccess, integrating Windows 10 clients, or enabling outbound management, click here.

DirectAccess Client Firewall Rule Configuration for ISATAP Manage Out

For DirectAccess manage out scenarios, it is necessary to configure the Windows firewall on the DirectAccess client to allow any required inbound communication from the corporate network. For example, if management hosts on the internal network need to initiate Remote Desktop sessions with remote connected DirectAccess clients, the Remote Desktop – User Mode (TCP-In) Windows firewall rule will need to be enabled for the Public and Private profiles.

DirectAccess Client Firewall Rule Configuration for ISATAP Manage Out

While enabling this rule will allow remote desktop connections to be made from the corporate network, its default configuration will also accept remote desktop connections from any network. From a security perspective this is not desirable.

DirectAccess Client Firewall Rule Configuration for ISATAP Manage Out

A better solution is to restrict access to connections originating only from the corporate network. To do this it will be necessary to identify the ISATAP prefix used internally. To determine the corporate ISATAP prefix, run the ipconfig command on a management workstation that is configured for ISATAP. The ISATAP prefix will be the first 96 bits of the IPv6 address assigned to the ISATAP tunnel adapter (essentially everything with the exception of the embedded IPv4 address).

DirectAccess Client Firewall Rule Configuration for ISATAP Manage Out

On the DirectAccess client, right-click the firewall rule and choose Properties. Choose the Scope tab and then select These IP addresses . Click Add and then enter the ISATAP prefix as shown here.

DirectAccess Client Firewall Rule Configuration for ISATAP Manage Out

Once the firewall rule is configured to restrict access to the ISATAP prefix, only corporate management workstations on the internal network will have access to remote DirectAccess clients.