Author: Susanto Irwan, Matthew Koehr & Vishal Gupta, Xage Security 

In today’s rapidly evolving defense landscape, the ability to securely access mission-critical applications and sensitive information remotely is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, whether deployed, working in field operations, or operating under constrained environments, must have seamless yet highly secure access to sensitive systems without compromising operational integrity. However, traditional authentication mechanisms relying on physical access to Common Access Card (CAC)-secured systems present significant challenges, particularly when attempting CAC-based authentication from a remote system. The reliance on physical smart cards in remote environments introduces logistical and security complexities, often requiring additional complex gateway solutions which rely on insecure protocols or require thick clients installed on the user’s desktop. 

These challenges highlight the need for seamless and secure remote authentication solutions. Xage Security offers an innovative solution that overcomes these barriers, enabling remote CAC authentication through a Zero Trust architecture.

The Challenges of Traditional CAC Authentication

The DOD has long relied on CACs for authentication, providing personnel with a secure means of accessing sensitive systems. However, the requirement for a physical presence at secured locations or within an approved IT infrastructure severely limits accessibility. This model presents critical issues, including:

• Operational Delays: Personnel must be onsite to authenticate, slowing response times for urgent missions.
• Logistical Hurdles: Deploying personnel solely to access secure applications is inefficient and costly.
• Increased Attack Surface: Workarounds, such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), introduce vulnerabilities and expand the cyber attack surface. Alternative solutions that employ micro-VPN approaches come with challenges; these solutions can be difficult to scale and, like RDP, do not support deep packet inspection, leaving organizations vulnerable to sophisticated threats. Given these limitations, strict security controls must be enforced to prevent unauthorized access and minimize risk.

The Security Risks of RDP-Based Solutions

While some organizations attempt to use solutions like Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) with CAC passthrough to facilitate remote authentication, this approach comes with significant security risks due to its reliance on RDP.

The most notable risk is the exposure to cyber threats. RDP, commonly operating over port 3389, remains a prime target for malicious actors. While it is possible to run RDP over HTTPS (443), the fundamental risk persists due to the lack of deep packet inspection for RDP traffic, making it susceptible to zero-day attacks. Additionally, implementing RDP over HTTPS requires the addition of an RD Gateway, increasing system complexity and potential attack vectors.

Some solutions also require downloading an RDP configuration file, a practice that has been exploited in past spear-phishing campaigns to facilitate unauthorized access. Given these risks—including brute force attacks, exploitation of vulnerabilities like “BlueKeep,” and the misuse of RDP files in phishing campaigns—RDP should never be exposed externally under any circumstances. Even over VPNs or other tunneling methods, RDP traffic must remain confined within the internal network to prevent potential breaches. 

Xage’s Zero Trust Approach: Enabling Secure Remote CAC Authentication

Xage’s Remote Smart Card-based Authentication solution revolutionizes secure access by enabling DOD personnel to authenticate remotely using their CAC, without requiring traditional physical presence. This capability is built upon Xage’s Zero Trust architecture, which ensures:

• Agentless, RDP-free Access: Eliminating RDP from public exposure removes a major attack vector, reducing risk exposure.
• Seamless User Experience: Personnel can securely access mission-critical applications from anywhere using a browser-based connection.
• Policy-Based Control: Access is governed by fine-grained Zero Trust policies, ensuring only authorized users can reach sensitive systems.
• Break-and-Inspect Security: Administrators gain enhanced monitoring and control over remote access sessions.

How It Works: Secure Remote CAC Authentication with Xage

Xage’s solution allows DOD personnel to authenticate remotely using their CAC via a secure, browser-based connection. By leveraging a Zero Trust framework, the process ensures seamless access to mission-critical applications without the need for RDP or physical presence at secured locations. Authorized personnel log into the Xage Fabric UI, authenticate via federated credentials, and a trusted connection is established between the sensitive web application on the remote workstation and the authorized personnel’s machine (with the locally inserted CAC), ensuring secure access without compromising security.

For a detailed walkthrough, watch the embedded product demo video below.

Why Xage? Unmatched Security & Resilience for Defense Applications

Xage stands apart as the only cybersecurity provider offering this advanced remote authentication capability with CAC passthrough. Designed to support DOD’s most stringent security requirements, Xage’s solution:

• Works across multicloud and hybrid environments – Ensuring seamless access to classified and unclassified applications.
• Operates in DDIL (Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, and Limited) environments – Critical for mission resilience.
• Prevents adversarial threats at every stage – Stopping insider threats, lateral movement, and unauthorized access attempts.

Conclusion: Empowering the DOD with Secure, Remote Access

With adversaries constantly evolving and operational needs demanding greater flexibility, the ability to securely access CAC-protected applications remotely is a game-changer. While solutions like Azure Virtual Desktop with CAC passthrough offer remote access capabilities, their reliance on RDP introduces significant security concerns. Xage’s Zero Trust-based Remote Smart Card Authentication provides the U.S. DOD with a secure, resilient, and efficient means of enabling personnel to operate effectively from any location, without compromising security.

Learn more about how Xage is securing the future of defense operations.