In early December 2025, Microsoft announced an update for the Entra Global Secure Access client. This latest release, v2.24.117, includes important changes that administrators will find helpful for efficient connectivity and enhanced troubleshooting.
Intelligent Local Access
The latest release of the Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access client adds support for Intelligent Local Access (ILA). ILA ensures optimal network connectivity when accessing published resources. ILA can detect when it is on a trusted network and send traffic directly to the resource, bypassing the cloud gateway to improve performance. Authentication and authorization are still required for application access regardless of location.
B2B Guest Access
B2B Guest Access, now in public preview, enables external partners to securely access an organization’s private resources using their own devices and home Microsoft Entra ID credentials, without credential duplication. Partners install the Global Secure Access client, sign in, and switch to the resource tenant, routing traffic via Private Access profiles for Conditional Access, MFA, and continuous evaluation. It supports BYOD and multitenant switching, requires guest user setup and specific client configurations in the resource tenant, and needs licensing only in the resource tenant. However, B2B Guest Access does not support Kerberos-based on-premises resources. More details here.
Traceroute
This latest release of the Entra Global Secure Access client also includes a new traceroute tool. GsaTracert.exe, located in the C:\Program Files\Global Secure Access Client\GSATracert\ folder, allows administrators to test connectivity to published resources and evaluate network response time and performance.
FQDN
Administrators can use GsaTracert.exe to validate connectivity to a resource using its fully qualified domain name (FQDN). When running the command, GsaTracert.exe reports the round-trip time (RTT) in milliseconds for each hop along the path, including the target resource. It will also indicate which point of presence (PoP) the client is currently connected to. The syntax to perform this test is:
For example:
IP:Host
In addition to testing an FQDN, administrators can test individual resources using a combination of IP address and port number. The syntax to perform this test is:
For example:
Application ID
In addition to FQDN and IP:Port, administrators can also supply the application ID to test. However, since an application can include multiple IP addresses and/or ports, the measurement for backend resources is omitted when using this option. The syntax to perform this test is:
For example:
Note: You can find the application ID for a published application by opening the Entra admin center and navigating to Global Secure Access > Applications > Enterprise Applications. The application ID will be displayed on the Overview page of the published Enterprise application.
Speedtest
Administrators can use the –speedtest switch with any of the combinations above to test the endpoint’s Internet performance. The results are for the connection to the public Internet, not to the published resource.
Additional Features
The following new features are designed to improve the user experience for Global Secure Access users.
Disable Private Access
Administrators can now use a registry setting to show the Disable button, allowing users to disable Entra Private Access. Disabling Private Access is helpful when a device is on the internal network, and the user prefers to access resources directly rather than through Global Secure Access.
View Account
The new Global Secure Access client now includes a View Account link to the user’s Microsoft Entra My Account website.
Summary
The Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access Client v2.24.117 introduces several valuable enhancements for administrators and users alike. Key highlights include Intelligent Local Access for optimized performance on trusted networks, public preview support for B2B Guest Access enabling secure external collaboration without credential duplication, and the new GsaTracert.exe traceroute tool for detailed network diagnostics. Additional improvements, such as the ability to disable Private Access via registry settings and quick access to the My Account portal, further streamline management and troubleshooting. These updates reinforce Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access as a robust solution for secure, efficient resource connectivity.
Additional Information
Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access client v.2.24.117
Install the Entra Global Secure Access client for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Entra Private Access Intelligent Local Access (ILA)
Preventing Port Exhaustion on Entra Private Network Connector Servers
Always On VPN vs. Entra Private Access: Choosing the Right Access Model for Your Organization
