VMware Workspace One Access, VMware Horizon, and FIDO2 device

Publishing VDI outside our company network is an activity that has become a necessity for many companies since COVID-19 (employee smart working, workstations dedicated to consultants, etc.). In all the implementations, that I have done in recent years, one of the key points of my installations is the need to implement MFA solutions to increase the level of security.

In this post, I want to explain how to configure the integration of Workspace One Access WS1A, Horizon, and FIDO2 devices (I use a Yubikey 5 Series with NFC and Fingerprint)

A black usb flash drive with a yellow circle and a gold circle

Description automatically generated A hand holding a phone with a sign in the screen

Description automatically generated A hexagon with arrow

Description automatically generated A green computer with a white cloud in the screen

Description automatically generated

What is VMware WorkSpace One Access?

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Workspace ONE Access (vmware.com)

What is VMware Horizon?

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

VMware Horizon | VDI Software Solutions | VMware

What is FIDO2?

FIDO2 enables users to leverage common devices to easily authenticate to online services in both mobile and desktop environments.

The FIDO2 specifications are the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Authentication (WebAuthn) specification and FIDO Alliance’s corresponding Client-to-Authenticator Protocol (CTAP).

FIDO2 – FIDO Alliance

What is Yubikey 5 Series?

Multi-protocol security key, eliminate account takeovers with strong two-factor, multi-factor, and passwordless authentication, and seamless touch-to-sign. Multi-protocol support allows for strong security for legacy and modern environments. A full range of form factors allows users to secure online accounts on all of the devices that they love, across desktops and mobile.

  • Multi-protocol support; FIDO2, U2F, Smart card, OTP, OpenPGP 3
  • USB-A, USB-C, NFC, Lightning
  • IP68 rated, crush resistant, no batteries required, no moving parts

USB-A YubiKey 5 NFC Two Factor Security Key | Yubico

Configure Workspace one Access(WS1A) SaaS for use FIDO2 authentication

Enable Authentication methods on WS1A.

Go to integrations -> Authentication Methods -> Click on FIDO2 -> Enable FIDO2 Adapter

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Now we need to associate the authentication method to Identity provider (created to integrate WS1A with Active Directory)

Go to integrations -> Identity providers -> Click on correct IdP -> Flag FIDO2

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

After associating the FIDO2 to IdP we need to create the policy to enable self-services FIDO2 device registration (it is possible to pre-configure the FIDO2 device registration)

Go to resources -> Policies -> Click on default_access_policy_set -> Edit

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Create to rule:

Rule 1 -> enable self-service registration FIDO2 Device

Rule 2 -> enable the login with only FIDO2 Device

In the next image, there are the Policy Rule configurations

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Self-service registration key

Insert the Yubikey 5 into to USB port and log to the Workspace One Access portal.

Now the web portal requires two choices:

  • Sign in with Fido2 Authenticator
  • Register your Fido2 Authenticator

To register the device we need to select Register

Login with the correct domain name account

Now we need to select the authenticator

A screen shot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Select another device

Select Security Key where store the passkey

A screenshot of a computer security system

Description automatically generated

A screenshot of a computer security system

Description automatically generated

A screenshot of a computer security system

Description automatically generated

Insert the security pin

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Touch the key (there is a fingerprint ….)

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

A screen shot of a computer security

Description automatically generated

Add a name for the Security Key

A screenshot of a phone

Description automatically generated

Now you are ready to log in with the security key

User Experience login

Access to company workspace one access website

A screen shot of a sign

Description automatically generated

A screenshot of a computer security

Description automatically generated

Insert PIN number associated with FIDO2

A screenshot of a computer security

Description automatically generated

Now touch the key for fingerprint authentication Chiara2013!

A black and white screen with white text

Description automatically generated

You are redirected to Workspace One catalog portal

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

If you want to show and reset the User FIDO2 device you need to:

Login to Workspace One Access SaaS admin console, go to Accounts, Users and click on the user that you want to reset the device association

A screenshot of a login page

Description automatically generated

Select two-factor authentication

A red arrow pointing to a white background

Description automatically generated

A white and blue rectangle

Description automatically generated

And delete the FIDO2 security key

A screenshot of a computer security key

Description automatically generated

Otherwise, the administrator can associate the new device with the user.

VMware Workspace One Access, VMware Horizon, and FIDO2 device

Horizon 2312, new feature to simplify the Gold Image Linux Configuration

A penguin and microsoft active logo

Description automatically generated

Few people know that it is possible use Linux Distribution to create VDI desktop or Stream Application (Like RDS) to publish it with Horizon.

The desktop pool can to be Instant Clone or Full Clone.

In the last Horizon version (2312) there is a new functionality to configure the agent, the function have to objective to simplify the installation and also configure the OS ((Like the joined to Active Directory domain).

In the Horizon Agent for Linux package there is a new command file:

easyinstall_viewagent.sh

We can use this command for:

  • Configure Linux OS template
  • Install Horizon Agent

For complete all previous steps you can start this command (with root privileges)

./easyinstall_viewagent.sh

The command do:

Platform check

A black screen with white text

Description automatically generated

Now you need to insert information like DNS, Hostname, Domain and Account to join to domain

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

Now the script check and install missed packages (SSSD etc.…) and make the domain join

A screen shot of a black screen

Description automatically generated

After joined the template to AD domain the script start to install the horizon agent

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

A black screen with white text

Description automatically generated

Now the Linux GoldI mage is ready to use for create a Horizon instant clone desktop pool or used for Full Clone Desktop Pool.

It is possible to configure the OS and install Horizon Agent in two different steps

  • Configure OS
    • For configure user Linux OS use this command:

./easyinstall_viewagent.sh -c

  • Install Agent
    • After configure the OS we can install the Horizon agent with this command:

./easyinstall_viewagent.sh -i

With this command we can to use some switch value:

Default (Hostname, Domain FQDN, DOMAIN Join User, DOMAIN Join PASSWORD …)

Advanced (The same option of DEFAULT with NTP, HORIZON AGENT FEATURE and other)

Expert (The same option of Advanced with another function)

In this link more information

Use the Easy Setup Tool to Prepare a Linux Machine (vmware.com)

Horizon 2312, new feature to simplify the Gold Image Linux Configuration

VMware Horizon 2312

As usual, every 3 months VMware releases a new version of Horizon (and also of almost all EUC applications)
The following have been available for a few days:
Horizon 8 2312
App Volumes 4 2312
Dynamic Environment Manager 2312
ThinApp 2312

Among the various features released for Horizon 8, the most interesting one is Agent Auto Upgrade:

“The agent auto upgrade feature allows customers to automatically initiate upgrades without manual intervention. To utilize this feature, on-premises systems must have access to CDS servers. Customers without CDS access can establish their webserver, host the agent components, and then register the agent build with the connection server to upgrade agents in VDI/RDSH desktops. This feature requires Horizon Plus or Horizon Universal License, and is available for Full Clone Desktops and RDSH Servers only. To upgrade Horizon Agent in Instant Clone Desktop Pools or RDS Farms, upgrade Horizon Agent on the Golden Image and schedule maintenance to push the new image.”

VMware Horizon 2312