Drag and Drop Question Drag and drop the tasks from the left into order on the right to implement adding Duo multifactor authentication to Meraki Client VPN login. Answer:

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Duo MFA for Meraki Client VPN - Step Order Explained

The correct order follows a dependency chain: each step creates a prerequisite for the next. You must build the authentication infrastructure before pointing any network device at it.

Step 1: Set up the Duo Proxy Primary Authenticator

Why first: Before installing any software, you must configure what the Duo proxy will authenticate against - typically your existing directory (Active Directory, LDAP, or RADIUS). This defines the "primary" credential source (username/password) that Duo will validate before issuing the second factor. Without knowing where to send primary auth, the proxy has nothing to proxy to.

Common mistake: People assume this means "set up Duo accounts/policies." It doesn't - it means configuring the backend identity source (e.g., your AD server details) that the proxy will forward credentials to.

Step 2: Install and configure the local Duo Authentication Proxy

Why second: Now that you know what the proxy will authenticate against (Step 1), you can actually install the Duo Authentication Proxy software on a local server and configure it with those details. The proxy is the critical middleware - it sits between Meraki and both your identity source and Duo's cloud service.

Common mistake: Trying to install the proxy first without knowing the primary authenticator details results in an incomplete authproxy.cfg configuration file.

Step 3: Configure Duo Authentication Proxy to work with Meraki MX

Why third: With the proxy running, you now configure the RADIUS application section of the proxy specifically to accept connections from the Meraki MX appliance - setting the shared secret, port, and client IP that Meraki will use. This is proxy-side network/application configuration.

Common mistake: Conflating this with Step 4. This step happens on the proxy server, not in the Meraki dashboard.

Step 4: Configure Meraki Client VPN

Why last: Only now do you touch Meraki. You point the Meraki MX's Client VPN RADIUS settings at your (now fully operational) Duo proxy - entering the proxy's IP, port, and shared secret. Meraki is the consumer of everything built in steps 1–3.

Common mistake: Starting here first is a classic error. If you configure Meraki to point at a RADIUS server that doesn't exist yet, VPN authentication silently fails and debugging is harder.

The Core Mental Model

[User] → [Meraki MX] → [Duo Auth Proxy] → [Primary Auth (AD/LDAP)]
                                        ↓
                              [Duo Cloud - 2nd factor]

Build right-to-left (from the identity source outward), but configure left-to-right in your planning. The order ensures every component has a working dependency before the next layer references it.

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