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Zero Trust VPNs are a modern solution designed to protect sensitive data by ensuring that no device or user can be trusted by default, even if they are inside the network perimeter. This approach works by continuously verifying the identity and security posture of every entity trying to access network resources. Cloudflare and WireGuard together can be an excellent choice for implementing a Zero Trust VPN. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps of building such a system.
Prerequisites
Before we dive into the implementation, make sure you have the following:
- A Cloudflare account
- WireGuard installed on your server
- Administrative access to your server and Cloudflare account
- Basic knowledge of Linux commands and networking
Setting Up WireGuard on the Server
WireGuard is a modern VPN protocol that is fast, secure, and simple to configure. To begin, install WireGuard on your server. Depending on your distribution, the installation command may vary:
For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wireguard
For CentOS/RHEL-based systems:
sudo yum install epel-release
sudo yum install wireguard-tools
After installing WireGuard, generate the server and client keys using the following commands:
wg genkey | tee server_private_key | wg pubkey > server_public_key
wg genkey | tee client_private_key | wg pubkey > client_public_key
Make sure to store the private keys securely.
Configuring WireGuard on the Server
Now that you have your keys, create the WireGuard configuration file for your server. This file typically resides at /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf.
ini
[Interface]
PrivateKey =
Address = 10.0.0.1/24
ListenPort = 51820
SaveConfig = true
[Peer]
PublicKey =
AllowedIPs = 10.0.0.2/32
Here, replace with the contents of server_private_key, and with the contents of client_public_key. This configuration binds WireGuard to port 51820 and assigns the IP address 10.0.0.1 to the server interface.
Configuring the Client
On the client side, you need to create a WireGuard configuration file, typically located at /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf.
ini
[Interface]
PrivateKey =
Address = 10.0.0.2/24
[Peer]
PublicKey =
Endpoint = :51820
AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0, ::/0
PersistentKeepalive = 25
Replace with the contents of client_private_key, and with the server’s public key. The Endpoint field should point to your server’s public IP address.
Configuring Cloudflare Access for Zero Trust VPN
Cloudflare Access provides a way to create secure Zero Trust access for users. By integrating Cloudflare with WireGuard, we can ensure that only authorized users can connect to the VPN.
Log in to your Cloudflare dashboard.
Navigate to the “Access” section under the “Zero Trust” tab.
Create a new application and choose “VPN” as the application type.
Configure your application settings, ensuring the IP address of your WireGuard server is included in the allowed range.
Set up policies to define who can access the VPN based on identity and device health. For example, you can restrict access to only users with a verified email address.
Integrating WireGuard with Cloudflare Tunnel
Cloudflare Tunnel (formerly Argo Tunnel) allows you to securely expose your WireGuard VPN to the internet, bypassing the need for public IPs or port forwarding. Here’s how you can set up Cloudflare Tunnel to work with WireGuard:
Install the cloudflared tool on your server.
sudo apt install cloudflared
Authenticate cloudflared with your Cloudflare account:
cloudflared login
Create a tunnel:
cloudflared tunnel create vpn-tunnel
Configure the tunnel by setting up a route that will forward traffic to the WireGuard port.
cloudflared tunnel route dns vpn-tunnel vpn.yourdomain.com
Finally, run the tunnel:
cloudflared tunnel run vpn-tunnel
At this point, all WireGuard traffic is securely routed through Cloudflare Tunnel, offering an additional layer of security.
Configuring Client Access with Cloudflare Gateway
To complete the Zero Trust integration, use Cloudflare Gateway to enforce security policies for accessing your WireGuard VPN. This will ensure that users must meet certain criteria, such as device health checks, before they can connect.
In the Cloudflare dashboard, navigate to “Access” and then “Gateway.”
Create a new policy that applies to the VPN application.
Define the conditions for device health, such as requiring a certain version of an operating system or ensuring that anti-virus software is installed.
Assign this policy to the WireGuard VPN application.
This will ensure that only secure devices are allowed to connect to your VPN, further enforcing the Zero Trust model.
Final Thoughts
By combining Cloudflare’s Zero Trust features with the flexibility and security of WireGuard, you can build a modern, highly secure VPN system that ensures only authenticated and trusted users can access your network. The integration of Cloudflare Tunnel and Cloudflare Gateway offers additional layers of protection and makes the VPN accessible without the need for exposing public IP addresses. This setup provides a robust solution for companies looking to enforce a Zero Trust security model while maintaining ease of use and high performance.
