At OpenVPN, we’re always looking for ways to make our products and our customers’ experience better. We are excited to announce the beta release of Location Context Policy for CloudConnexa, a powerful new feature that allows you to create network access policies based on the geographic location of the user attempting to connect to your CloudConnexa Wide-area Private Cloud (WPC).
By leveraging IP address geolocation, you can now set location-specific access controls, ensuring that only users connecting from authorized regions or IP addresses can access your network. This adds an extra layer of security, particularly for industries where location-based access restrictions are critical.
New to CloudConnexa? You can get started for free today — with instant access to all features, no credit card required.
What is Location Context for CloudConnexa?
Location Context allows administrators to configure access policies (called "Location Context Policies") based on the location of a device’s IP address. By using IP geolocation data, CloudConnexa can identify the general geographic region of a device and either allow or block its connection based on preconfigured rules. You can set policies to permit or deny access based on specific IP address ranges or country-level locations.
Why does Location Context matter?
Zero trust network access (ZTNA) enables adaptive, context-aware access to private applications. As such, location-based access control is an important part of any ZTNA strategy. By considering a user’s geographic location as part of the context when determining whether to grant access, CloudConnexa allows organizations to achieve an even higher level of security.
The Location Context feature is particularly useful for organizations that want to restrict access to especially sensitive data or networks.
Context-aware security
Location is a critical context that can significantly strengthen security controls. For instance, highly regulated companies or organizations can block access from untrusted regions to safeguard sensitive data. Another example is government agencies that may need to block any connections originating from outside their country’s borders.
Enhanced access control
Security-conscious companies can set additional restrictions, such as allowing access to critical resources only if users connect from a predefined IP address (i.e. that of their home internet connection) or geographic region.
Compliance
Certain industries or organizations require that data and networks be accessed only from specific geographic regions, helping meet compliance requirements.
How do I get started with Location Context?
Getting started with Location Context in CloudConnexa is straightforward. Here’s how to add a new Location Context Policy:
- Navigate to Users > Location Context.
- Click Add Policy.
- Provide a Name for the policy and, optionally, a Description.
- Add the User Groups for which this policy should apply in the Apply To section.
- Configure the Block/Allow action for IP Address range matches, Country matches, and the action that must occur when the device's IP address does not match a configured IP address or Country.
Note: Each Location Context Policy configuration must contain at least a Country or IP Address. - Click Add Policy.
Need more assistance? Our support team is available to answer any questions and help you optimize your network configuration. Contact Support here.
With the Location Context feature, CloudConnexa delivers yet another tool to help you protect your network with more granular, adaptive security controls. Take advantage of this feature today to ensure that only authorized users, from trusted locations, can access your CloudConnexa resources.
Get started today with CloudConnexa
Ready to take your business to the next level with CloudConnexa or Access Server? Work from anywhere and from any device with confidence. Create an account today for three free connections with CloudConnexa or two free connections with our self-hosted VPN solution, Access Server.
