Meraki + Azure AD Integration – Simplified Identity-Driven Access

Network teams often manage Wi-Fi, VPN, and admin access as separate silos. Each entry point comes with its own credentials, policies, and monitoring. This fragmentation increases complexity and creates gaps in visibility. As more users connect from remote locations and more devices go unmanaged, enforcing consistent access control becomes nearly impossible.

The Azure Meraki integration brings unity to this fragmented model. By using Azure Active Directory as the central identity authority and Meraki as the access enforcer, organizations can apply the same user policies across VPN, wireless access, and administrative tools. This reduces risk, simplifies IT operations, and improves the user experience.

What Identity-Driven Access Looks Like on Meraki

With identity-first access in place, every authentication request, regardless of where it originates, is evaluated against the same source of truth. In the Azure Meraki model, Azure AD handles the identity logic while Meraki enforces the access outcome.

This means that:

• Meraki Dashboard administrators can log in using their Azure AD credentials.
• VPN users authenticate through Azure AD and receive access based on their group membership.
• Wireless clients connect to SSIDs using 802.1X, backed by Azure AD via RADIUS or SAML-based brokers.

Meraki doesn’t store or manage identities itself. It delegates that role to Azure AD. This separation improves flexibility, reduces overhead, and supports Zero Trust policies by verifying every user and device at the edge.

Mapping Azure AD to Meraki Access Points

There are three main access areas in a Meraki environment where Azure AD integration makes an impact:

1. Meraki Dashboard SSO: Administrators can log in to the Meraki Dashboard through Azure SAML authentication. Group-based roles are assigned based on Azure AD group membership.
2. Meraki VPN: Users authenticate to Meraki MX client VPN through Azure AD, typically via SAML and an identity broker or proxy.
3. Wi-Fi Authentication: Clients connecting to Meraki SSIDs use WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X. Azure AD identities are verified through RADIUS servers like NPS or cloud-based services.

Each access point relies on Azure AD to validate who is connecting and applies Meraki’s native tools (like VLAN tagging or access policies) to enforce the connection rules. This creates a strong link between user identity and network access behavior.

Choosing Between SAML and RADIUS for Integration

Choosing the right protocol depends on the type of access you’re securing. Azure Meraki supports both SAML and RADIUS-based authentication through Azure AD. Here’s how to decide:

• Use SAML for Meraki Dashboard logins and client VPN. This allows direct integration with Azure AD using Azure Enterprise Applications.
• Use RADIUS for Wi-Fi authentication. This typically involves setting up Network Policy Server (NPS) or a third-party RADIUS service and linking it to Azure AD.

SAML offers a cleaner, browser-based experience and supports group-based roles for dashboard access. RADIUS is more traditional and supports a wide range of client devices but requires additional setup, including certificate management and group attribute mapping.

Both protocols can be layered with Azure Conditional Access and Duo MFA to strengthen security policies. Meraki doesn’t care which method you use—it simply needs to receive an allow or deny response from your identity service.

How the Authentication Flow Works in Real Time

Here’s a basic example of how Wi-Fi access works with Azure Meraki:

1. A user connects to a Meraki SSID configured with WPA2-Enterprise.
2. The Meraki AP forwards the authentication request to a RADIUS server.
3. The RADIUS server (such as NPS) checks the request against Azure AD.
4. Azure AD evaluates the user credentials, group membership, and any Conditional Access policies.
5. If approved, the RADIUS server sends an Access-Accept message with VLAN or group policies.
6. Meraki grants access and applies those policies to the session.

The same flow applies to client VPN authentication. In that case, the Meraki MX appliance serves as the VPN gateway, and authentication is handled through a SAML broker that connects back to Azure AD.

This approach ensures consistent access policies across all network surfaces. Every connection is tied to a verified identity and subject to cloud-enforced controls.

Enforcing Zero Trust Across Wireless and Remote Access

The Azure Meraki model supports Zero Trust security by enforcing identity verification at every connection point. Users and devices must prove who they are, meet security posture requirements, and match access policies before entering the network.

With Meraki SSIDs, you can:

• Assign VLANs based on Azure AD group membership.
• Deny access to unmanaged or noncompliant devices using Azure AD Conditional Access.
• Enforce role-based wireless policies using RADIUS attributes.

With VPN, you can:

• Require MFA for all users.
• Allow or block access based on device state or location.
• Use session timeouts and re-authentication policies.

This layered access control ensures that users are continuously validated. Access isn’t just granted once but reevaluated with every session, providing ongoing protection against credential abuse or policy violations.

Controlling Admin Access to the Meraki Dashboard

The Meraki Dashboard is a powerful control plane for your entire network. Protecting administrative access is just as critical as securing user connectivity. With Azure Meraki integration, administrators can log in to the Dashboard using their Azure AD accounts through SAML SSO.

Here’s how it works:

1. You configure a new SAML SSO provider in the Meraki Dashboard, pointing it to Azure AD as the identity provider.
2. In Azure AD, you create an Enterprise Application for Meraki, defining user roles and group claims.
3. Each admin role—read-only, network admin, org admin—can be assigned based on Azure group membership.
4. When an admin signs in, they are redirected to Azure AD for authentication, which can include Conditional Access and MFA.

This setup ensures that only approved users with verified roles and security posture can administer your Meraki networks. It also allows centralized control of role assignments through Azure AD, reducing risk and streamlining offboarding.

Real Deployment Example from a Multi-Site Enterprise

A national retailer with over 50 branch locations recently deployed Azure Meraki integration to secure their wireless, remote access, and admin portals. Before the deployment, each site used pre-shared keys for Wi-Fi, standalone VPN credentials, and locally managed dashboard accounts.

After transitioning to Azure AD:

• Wi-Fi authentication is handled through RADIUS servers linked to Azure AD via NPS. VLANs are dynamically assigned based on department.
• Client VPN access is brokered through a SAML connection using Azure AD and Duo MFA. Remote workers connect securely from personal and corporate devices.
• Meraki Dashboard access is managed through SAML SSO with group-based admin roles. Temporary access is granted automatically via dynamic groups tied to HR systems.

The results included faster onboarding, reduced helpdesk tickets, and better access control reporting. When employees leave, access to all network surfaces is revoked instantly through Azure AD, without touching the Meraki configuration.

Tools and Configurations That Improve Integration

To optimize your Azure Meraki deployment, consider the following tools and settings:

• Azure Sign-In Logs: Track login attempts and policy failures across SSIDs, VPN, and dashboard access points.
• Meraki Syslog Exports: Send Meraki events to your SIEM for cross-platform correlation with Azure AD events.
• Conditional Access Policies: Use Azure to enforce device compliance, risk-based access, or MFA requirements before users can connect.
• Dynamic Azure AD Groups: Automatically assign users to access roles based on department, device type, or job function.
• Group-Based RADIUS Policies: Use NPS to send VLAN or policy tags back to Meraki based on Azure group membership.

These enhancements increase visibility, reduce misconfigurations, and improve your overall security posture.

From Device-Centric Networks to Identity-First Design

Networks that rely on device IPs, MAC addresses, or static VLANs cannot adapt to today’s mobile, hybrid environments. Azure Meraki shifts that model to one built around verified users, trusted devices, and centralized access policies.

By using Azure AD as the identity engine and Meraki as the access fabric, organizations can build networks that are more secure, easier to manage, and better aligned with Zero Trust principles.

Stratus Information Systems helps enterprises design and implement secure, scalable Meraki networks integrated with Azure AD. From Wi-Fi to VPN to dashboard controls, we deliver identity-driven access solutions that work from Day One.

Ready to unify your wireless and identity strategy? Talk to Stratus about Azure Meraki integration today.