What is the Best RADIUS Service for Small to Medium Businesses?
Igal Flegmann |
Best RADIUS Options for Small to Medium Businesses
Organizations of all sizes require RADIUS authentication. Small to medium businesses (SMBs) are no exception. In fact, SMBs often have more to lose from a security breach than larger enterprises, making it crucial for them to implement strong authentication methods like RADIUS for their Wi-Fi and VPN access. However, SMBs typically have limited IT resources and budgets, which can make it challenging to find a RADIUS solution that is both effective and affordable.
When it comes to choosing a cloud RADIUS service for SMBs, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Cost: SMBs often operate on tight budgets, so it’s important to find a RADIUS solution that offers good value for money without compromising on security.
- Ease of Use: SMBs may not have dedicated IT staff, so a RADIUS solution that is easy to set up and manage is essential.
- Security: The RADIUS solution should provide robust security features to protect against unauthorized access and potential breaches.
- Integration: The RADIUS service should integrate well with existing systems, such as Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) and Intune, to streamline authentication processes.
If you have a simple setup and are comfortable with hosting your own infrastructure, then FreeRADIUS is a solid open-source RADIUS server that can be a cost-effective option for SMBs since no pricing can beat free. However, if you don’t have your own infrastructure or want to avoid the overhead of managing it, then a cloud RADIUS service is likely the best option. Below we compare some of the best RADIUS options for SMBs, including EZRADIUS by Keytos, JumpCloud, and FreeRADIUS.
EZRADIUS The Best RADIUS Provider
Keytos’ EZRADIUS provides all of the features you’d expect from a cloud RADIUS solution, and is often recommended in Reddit threads with a simple to configure interface that can get you from zero to hero in 10 minutes. EZRADIUS does not stop with regular EAP-TLS authentication it also comes with additional integrations with Azure and Entra ID such as Intune Device Compliance checks. EZRADIUS makes setup a breeze by utilizing Keytos’ turnkey PKI to easily enroll and configure your network for certificate authentication without needing to go through the painful and tedious setup process.
For SMBs, that do not use Intune or any other MDM, EZRADIUS stands out as the best option for a cloud RADIUS service since it has an application that can be installed on any Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android or Linux machine to enable the user to authenticate with their Entra ID credentials and get a certificate for Wi-Fi or VPN access. This means that even if you don’t have an MDM solution in place, you can still take advantage of EZRADIUS’s features and secure your network with RADIUS authentication.
In addition to the features and functionality, Keytos is able to offer RADIUS at a fraction of the cost. With the low entry price of $1 per user per month sometimes it is even more cost effective than hosting your own RADIUS server. If you want to learn more about EZRADIUS or want to see if it’s the right fit for your organization, you can learn more about it on the EZRADIUS product page or even schedule time to chat with one of our identity experts for a free consultation.
The only drawback to EZRADIUS is that it only supports Entra ID (Azure AD) as an identity source, so if you have a different directory service or need to support multiple directories, then EZRADIUS may not be the best fit for your organization. However, if you are already using Entra ID and want a cloud RADIUS solution that integrates seamlessly with it, then EZRADIUS is the clear choice.
Jumpcloud Cloud RADIUS
If you are not using Entra ID authentication JumpCloud’s RADIUS solution is a solid option for SMBs, especially if you are already using JumpCloud as your primary directory. JumpCloud’s RADIUS service is part of a broader identity and device management platform, so it works well if you want RADIUS tightly integrated with that ecosystem. However, if you are not already using JumpCloud and don’t need the full JumpCloud platform, then JumpCloud’s $3 USD per user per month may not be the most cost-effective option for your organization.
FreeRADIUS
FreeRADIUS is a powerful open-source RADIUS server that can be a cost-effective option for SMBs with the technical expertise to set it up and manage it. However, it requires a significant amount of time and effort to configure and maintain, which may not be feasible for SMBs with limited IT resources. Additionally, FreeRADIUS does not offer the same level of integration with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) and Intune as cloud RADIUS services like EZRADIUS. However, if all you need is a RADIUS server that can validate your users and devices against a local database or LDAP directory, then FreeRADIUS can be a great option.
Why Did I Not Mention NPS?
Microsoft’s Network Policy Server (NPS) is a common choice for RADIUS authentication, especially for organizations that are heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. However, NPS is an on-premises solution and NPS doesn’t play nice with cloud only objects, and since most SMBs have cloud identities makes it a poor fit for SMBs that are looking for a RADIUS solution.
