IEEE 802.1X Authentication Methods Compared
There were almost 1,800 significant security breaches in 2021 as per a news report by CNET, and this number only rose during 2022, making network security a critical requirement for enterprises.
From personal information to infrastructure to key data, everything is vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data compromise.
Secure, fool-proof and seamless authentication of end users is a critical requirement for any growing enterprise dealing with data of any kind. Enterprise environments can achieve this by implementing robust 802.1X authentication methods.
This article explores:
- the differences between the WPA2-PSK and the WPA2-Enterprise network authentication via the 802.1X protocol
- the WPA2-Enterprise protocols, and why they are widely accepted as the superior mode of authentication
- the most common 802.1X authentication methods
What Is IEEE 802.1X Authentication?
IEEE 802.1X is an IEEE standard for Port-based Network Access Control (PNAC). Set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Standard, it provides an authentication mechanism for devices that wish to connect to a LAN or a Wi-FI LAN.
IEEE 802.1X authentication has three components involved in the process of authentication: the user, the authenticator, and an authentication server. The authentication servers run software that supports the RADIUS and the EAP protocols.
Our Cloud RADIUS server is a solution that authenticates end-users across organizations of any size.
The most commonly used EAP protocols are the WPA2-PSK and the WPA2-Enterprise protocols across home networks and organizations.
WPA or Wi-Fi Protected Access is the authentication protocol put in place by the Wi-Fif: Alliance to secure end users in an organizational network.
The four Wireless Security Protocols at present are:
- Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3)
You can learn more about 802.1X authentication and how it works in this video.
What Is WPA2-PSK?
WPA2-PSK (WPA2 Pre-Shared Key) is a network protected by a single password for all. It is only as safe as the people using it. If it is obtained by unauthorized users through dubious means, the network can be compromised easily, whereas the WPA2-Enterprise uses a RADIUS server to authenticate users on its network.
Success: Based on the 802.1X protocol, the WPA2-Enterprise is considered the gold standard, as it provides maximum security by facilitating the use of digital certificates along with the RADIUS authentication server.
What Are the Three Key Components of 802.1X Authentication?
The 802.1X authentication process controls network access using three key components: the supplicant, the authenticator, and the authentication server.
The supplicant is the endpoint device that requests access to the network. The supplicant provides credentials – like passwords or certificates – to prove its identity, in response to authentication requests.
The authenticator is the network switch or wireless access point that manages access to the network. It blocks all traffic – except authentication messages – until the endpoint identity has been verified.
The authentication server validates the credentials presented by the supplicant, permitting or denying access based on those credentials.
How Does 802.1X Authentication Work?
802.1X authentication follows a structured sequence to control network access. Here’s what that looks like:
- At the initiation stage, the authenticator detects a new device and blocks all traffic on the port except for EAPOL messages.
- At the authentication stage, the supplicant and RADIUS server exchange credentials, or digital 802.1X certificates.
- At the authorization stage, the server validates the credentials and returns a RADIUS Access-Accept packet to the authenticator, including a precise definition of the device’s network permissions.
- At the enforcement stage, the authenticator unlocks the port and applies the permissions provided by the server. The new endpoint can now transmit and receive standard network traffic.
- At the termination stage — when the device disconnects or the session timer expires — the authenticator locks the port and the server logs the session data.
How Does 802.1X Enable Your Network?
802.1X authentication, backed by a RADIUS server, enables secure network connections across wireless access points and Ethernet switches.
The protocol blocks unauthorized network access by locking ports until endpoint devices prove their identities. It authenticates authorized users’ credentials, allowing them to prove their identity each time they connect.
802.1X enforces policies and permissions, allowing you to restrict access to authorized network segments or Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs).
802.1X authentication also enables admins to end sessions and disconnect devices when a user’s status changes. This prevents new users from accessing your network before they are individually approved.
Common 802.1X Authentication Methods Explained
The three most common 802.1X authentication methods — which are also the primary authentication protocols for WPA-2 Enterprise —are:
- EAP-TTLS/PAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Tunneled Transport Layer Security with Password Authentication Protocol)
- PEAP-MSCHAPv2 (Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol with Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol Version 2)
- EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security)
EAP-TTLS/PAP
EAP-TTLS/PAP is a credential-based authentication protocol like the PEAP-MSCHAPv2 and faces similar threats as devices on the PEAP-MSCHAPv2 protocol. An EAP-TTLS/PAP is vulnerable to MITM attacks and phishing based on credentials.
End-users have to be extremely cautious and follow best practices and stop sharing passwords to avoid credential theft. An EAP-TTLS/PAP transmits credentials in the form of cleartext through its tunnels. The cleartext is unencrypted, making it vulnerable to MITM or a phishing attack.
Warning: A data thief can easily get access to a secure network if credentials are easily accessible.
PEAP-MSCHAPv2
PEAP-MSCHAPv2 requires credentials to authenticate users. Credential-based authentication is easy to set up and widely used.
A user enters their credentials, and these credentials are sent through encrypted tunnels using the EAP protocol. The encrypted tunnel keeps data secure and private, preventing users from reading or accessing credentials.
However, what is easy is not safe all the time. Credentials are still vulnerable to several attacks, like a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, where they can be intercepted by someone on the way to encryption. Hackers can also use various forms of attacks like trying to guess easy passwords and using a combination of letters, symbols, or words to guess a password or credentials.
Warning: The PEAP-MSCHAPv2 protocol has been in use for many years, making it more open to attacks.
The PEAP-MSCHAPv2 uses the MD4 algorithm for hashing and is obsolete due to cryptographic weaknesses. Cryptographic weakness renders the algorithm vulnerable to attacks and security threats as these credentials can be masked by a hacker. Once hacked, they can perform any action that the original user is authorized to perform on the network.
EAP-TLS
EAP-TLS is the best solution for strong and secure authentication of devices over a network. The EAP-TLS is a certificate-based security authentication that uses unique certificates for individual systems. Being highly secure, it is always on guard to fight any attacks on the network and reduce vulnerability.
Success: Information for authentication on the EAP-TLS is sent through a tunnel; however, it is encrypted and cannot be accessed by an impersonator or a hacker.
If the network is hacked, then the credentials that are obtained are encrypted and cannot be decrypted, rendering it unusable. Also, a certificate is unique for each device and cannot be shared among devices or users.
The following table explains the key differences between the protocols:
| WPA2 Enterprise Protocols | Level of Encryption | Authentication Speed | Directory Support | Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAP-TLS | Public-Private Key Cryptography | Fast – 12 Steps | SAML/LDAP/MFA | Passwordless |
| PEAP-MSCHAPV2 | Encrypted Credentials | Slow – 22 Steps | Active Directory | Passwords |
| EAP-TTLS/PAP | Non-Encrypted Credentials | Slowest – 25 Steps | Non-AD LDAP Servers | Passwords |
Why Should an Organization Shift to Certificate-Based Authentication (CBA)?
Configuring EAP-TTLS/PAP on an end-user device is very technical and easy to mess up. A small misstep, such as omitting Server Certificate Validation, introduces a weakness in your security perimeter – making the whole network vulnerable to threats.
Encrypted credentials sent over cleartext are vulnerable to data theft as they are easier to decrypt and fall into the wrong hands. Credentials sent over cleartext are vulnerable to data theft as their encryption can be sidestepped, leaving the password plain to see.
Certificates do not have this disadvantage – even if intercepted, the attacker only receives one-half of the asymmetric key rendering it useless.
Authenticate Your Network Through EAP-TLS: A Zero Trust-Based Solution
The authentication method to secure a network server is crucial to the safety and security of an organization. Users are going to connect to a network daily and a lot of crucial and confidential data is passed through these networks.
Info: A network authentication process that is susceptible to MITM or phishing attacks can compromise the integrity of an organization, leaving it vulnerable.
The PEAP-MSCHAPv2 and the EAP-TTLS/PAP use passwords as credentials to authenticate a user on the network, thus making it vulnerable to credential theft and compromising data.
The EAP-TLS uses certificates to authenticate users on a network, making it secure as it is impossible to duplicate them or use them in more than one system.
Replace Legacy 802.1X Infrastructure With Certificate-Based Network Access
802.1X is only as strong as the infrastructure behind it. Password-based methods such as PEAP-MSCHAPv2 introduce credential risk that no firewall can fully neutralize whereas certificates remove that risk entirely.
Our JoinNow platform delivers cloud-native 802.1X enforcement built around EAP-TLS, with streamlined certificate enrollment for both managed and unmanaged devices, eliminating the need for on-premises RADIUS hardware while simplifying secure network access at scale.
Organizations that move to SecureW2 solutions minimize credential-based support tickets, and close attack surfaces left wide open by legacy network access control systems.
See how SecureW2 simplifies certificate-based 802.1X for your environment: Schedule a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the core components of 802.1X?
There are three core components of the 802.1X standard: the supplicant, the authenticator, and the authentication server. The supplicant is the endpoint, or client, seeking access to the network. The authenticator acts as a gateway, enforcing network access policies. The authentication server, usually a RADIUS server, verifies the supplicant’s credentials and relays instructions to the authenticator.
What are the most common 802.1X authentication methods?
EAP-TLS (Transport Layer Security) is often called the “gold standard” for 802.1X authentication in zero-trust environments. It relies on mutual certificate-based authentication rather than passwords.
EAP-TTLS (Tunneled Transport Layer Security) is also widely used, especially by Linux and Android users. It relies on server-side certificates to create secure access tunnels.
PEAP-MSCHAPv2 (Protected EAP) is gradually falling out of use, largely because it is vulnerable to password-based attacks. Some systems, including Windows Credential Guard, actively block it.
Does 802.1X require authentication?
Yes. 802.1X always requires authentication; the protocol verifies the identity of all users or devices seeking to access the network. As soon as the 802.1X authenticator detects a new device, it blocks network and internet traffic on that port until it has verified the new client’s credentials. Once the authentication server validates those credentials, the authenticator allows the client access to the network.
