SSL VPN - Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network

What is SSL VPN?

SSL VPN stands for Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network. It allows users to securely access a private network (like a company’s internal systems) over the internet using a standard web browser. It uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect data in transit.

Why is SSL VPN important?

Secure Remote Access – Enables employees to access internal resources from anywhere.

Data Protection – Encrypts data to prevent eavesdropping and tampering.

No Special Software Needed – Often works through a browser, reducing setup complexity.

User Authentication – Ensures only authorized users can access the network.

How SSL VPN works (in simple steps):

You open a browser and go to your company’s SSL VPN portal.

You log in with your credentials (and possibly 2FA).

The SSL VPN gateway authenticates you and establishes a secure tunnel.

You can now access internal apps, files, or systems as if you were on the company network.

Where is SSL VPN used?

Remote Workforces

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Environments

Third-party Vendor Access

Secure Mobile Access

Disaster Recovery Scenarios

Which OSI Layer does this protocol belong to?

SSL VPN operates at the Application Layer (Layer 7) because: * It uses HTTPS (SSL/TLS), which is an application-layer protocol. * It interacts directly with user applications (like browsers or remote desktops). * It handles user authentication, session management, and encryption at the application level.

Learnings in this section

In this section, you are going to learn

Terminology

Terminology

Version Info

Version Info

SSL VPN Version&RFC Details

SSL VPN Version	RFC	Year	Core Idea / Contribution
SSL v2
	RFC 6176 (obsoleted)	1995	Early version of SSL; insecure and deprecated.
SSL v3
	RFC 6101 (obsoleted)	1996	Introduced stronger encryption and handshake improvements; later deprecated due to flaws.
TLS v1.0
	RFC 2246	1999	First standardized version of SSL as TLS; improved security and
			interoperability.
TLS v1.1
	RFC 4346	2006	Added protection against CBC attacks; now deprecated.
TLS v1.2
	RFC 5246	2008	Widely adopted; supports stronger cipher suites and AEAD
			modes.
TLS v1.3
	RFC 8446	2018	Simplified handshake, removed legacy features, improved
			performance and security.
VPN Architecture
	RFC 2764	2000	Framework for IP-based VPNs, including SSL VPNs.
Remote Access VPN
	RFC 3809	2004	Requirements for Layer 3 VPNs, relevant to SSL VPN
			deployments.
TLS Extensions
	RFC 6066	2011	TLS extensions including Server Name Indication (SNI), used in
			SSL VPN portals.
TLS Session Resumption
	RFC 5077	2008	Stateless session resumption using session tickets.
TLS Authentication
	RFC 7250	2014	Authentication using raw public keys in TLS.
TLS with EAP
	RFC 5216	2008	EAP-TLS for secure authentication in VPNs.
TLS over TCP
	RFC 5246	2008	Defines how TLS operates over TCP, the foundation for SSL
			VPN tunnels.
TLS 1.3 Deployment
	RFC 8447	2018	Guidelines for deploying TLS 1.3 in applications like VPNs.

SSL VPN Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4

Setup

SSL VPN Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6

Setup

SSL VPN Protocol Packet Details

SSL Handshake Packet

S.No	Protocol Packets	Description	Size(Bytes)
1	SSL Handshake Packet	Initiates secure communication between client and server.	~100300 bytes
	Header	Contains version, content type, and length.	5
	Version	SSL/TLS version used (e.g., TLS 1.2).	2
	Content Type	Indicates type of message (e.g., handshake, alert, application data).	1
	Length	Length of the payload.	2
	Handshake Type	Type of handshake message (e.g., ClientHello, ServerHello).	1
	Random	Random number used for key generation.	32
	Session ID	Identifier for session reuse.	Variable (032)
	Cipher Suites	List of supported encryption algorithms.	Variable
	Compression Methods	Supported compression algorithms.	Variable
	Extensions	Additional info like Server Name Indication (SNI), ALPN, etc.	Variable

SSL VPN Authentication Packet

S.No	Protocol Packets	Description	Size(Bytes)
2	SSL VPN Authentication Packet	Used for verifying user identity (e.g., username/password, certificate)	~100500 bytes
	Auth Type	Method of authentication (e.g., password, certificate, token)	Variable
	Credentials	Encrypted user credentials	Variable
	Certificate	X.509 certificate for identity verification	~5001500 bytes
	Signature	Digital signature for integrity and authenticity	Variable

SSL VPN Data Packet

S.No	Protocol Packets	Description	Size(Bytes)
3	SSL VPN Data Packet	Encrypted data exchanged after handshake and authentication	Variable
	Header	SSL record header with content type, version, and length	5
	Version	SSL/TLS version used (e.g., TLS 1.2).	2
	Content Type	Indicates type of message (e.g., handshake, alert, application data).	1
	Length	Length of the payload.	2
	Encrypted Payload	Application data encrypted using negotiated cipher	Variable
	MAC (Message Auth Code)	Ensures integrity of the encrypted data	Variable

SSL VPN Usecases

S.no	Use Case	Description
1	Secure Remote Access	Allows employees to securely access internal corporate resources
		from remote locations.
2	BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)	Enables secure access from personal devices without needing full
		device management.
3	Third-Party Vendor Access	Provides controlled and encrypted access to external partners or
		contractors.
4	Mobile Workforce Connectivity	Ensures secure access for users on mobile devices or public networks
5	Application-Specific Access	Grants access to specific internal applications without exposing the
		entire network.
6	Disaster Recovery	Maintains business continuity by enabling remote access during
		outages or emergencies.
7	Compliance and Auditing	Helps meet regulatory requirements by encrypting data in transit and
		logging access activity.
8	Multi-Factor Authentication	Enhances security by requiring additional verification (e.g., OTP,
		biometrics) during login.

SSL VPN Basic Features

S.no	Feature	Description
1	Encrypted Communication	Uses SSL/TLS to encrypt data between client and server, ensuring
		confidentiality and integrity.
2	User Authentication	Supports various authentication methods like username/password,
		certificates, and MFA.
3	Access Control	Grants access to specific internal resources based on user roles and
		policies.
4	Application-Level Access	Allows access to specific applications without exposing the full network.
5	Web-Based Access	Enables secure access through standard web browsers without
		requiring client software.
6	Session Management	Manages user sessions with timeouts, re-authentication, and session
		persistence.
7	Endpoint Security Checks	Verifies device compliance (e.g., antivirus, OS version) before granting
		access.
8	Logging and Auditing	Tracks user activity for compliance, troubleshooting, and security
		monitoring.
9	Split Tunneling	Allows routing only specific traffic through the VPN, reducing bandwidth
		usage.
10	High Availability & Failover	Ensures continuous access through redundant gateways and load
		balancing.

SSL VPN Feature : Encrypted Communication

Encrypted Communication - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	VPN Client Launch	Start SSL VPN client	Client initializes
2	VPN Server Launch	Start SSL VPN server	Server listens on configured port
3	TLS Handshake Initiation	Client initiates TLS handshake	Server responds with certificate
4	Certificate Validation	Validate server certificate	Certificate accepted
5	Invalid Certificate Handling	Use expired or invalid certificate	Connection rejected
6	Mutual TLS Authentication	Use client and server certificates	Both sides authenticated
7	TLS Version Compatibility	Use supported TLS version	Handshake succeeds
8	TLS Version Mismatch	Use unsupported TLS version	Handshake fails
9	Cipher Suite Negotiation	Negotiate cipher suite	Strongest common cipher selected
10	Weak Cipher Rejection	Use weak cipher	Connection rejected
11	VPN Tunnel Establishment	Complete handshake and start tunnel	Tunnel established
12	Data Transfer Through Tunnel	Send data over tunnel	Data encrypted and delivered
13	Tunnel Teardown	Disconnect VPN	Tunnel closed gracefully
14	Reconnect After Drop	Drop connection and reconnect	Tunnel re-established
15	UDP Transport Mode	Use UDP for transport	Tunnel established
16	TCP Transport Mode	Use TCP for transport	Tunnel established
17	NAT Traversal	Connect behind NAT	Tunnel established
18	Firewall Traversal	Connect through firewall	Tunnel established
19	Port Blocking	Block SSL VPN port	Connection fails
20	Compression Disabled	Ensure compression is off	Data uncompressed
21	Keepalive Mechanism	Enable keepalive	Tunnel remains active
22	TLS Renegotiation	Trigger TLS renegotiation	Tunnel remains secure
23	Replay Protection	Replay old packet	Packet dropped
24	Packet Fragmentation	Send large packets	Packets reassembled
25	IPv4 Tunnel Test	Use IPv4 for tunnel	Tunnel established
26	IPv6 Tunnel Test	Use IPv6 for tunnel	Tunnel established
27	DNS Leak Test	Check DNS resolution path	No DNS leak
28	Split Tunneling	Route only specific traffic	Only selected traffic tunneled
29	Full Tunneling	Route all traffic through VPN	All traffic tunneled
30	Authentication with Username/Pass	Use credentials for auth	Tunnel established
31	Authentication Failure	Use wrong credentials	Connection rejected
32	Static Key Mode	Use static key instead of TLS	Tunnel established
33	TLS-Auth HMAC Test	Use tls-auth key	HMAC verified
34	TLS-Crypt Test	Use tls-crypt key	Encrypted control channel
35	Log File Generation	Enable logging	Logs created
36	Verbosity Level Test	Change log verbosity	Logs reflect level
37	VPN with Mobile Client	Connect from mobile device	Tunnel established
38	VPN with Desktop Client	Connect from desktop	Tunnel established
39	VPN with Virtual Machine	Connect from VM	Tunnel established
40	VPN with Container	Connect from container	Tunnel established
41	VPN with Roaming	Roam between networks	Tunnel persists
42	VPN with Failover	Failover to backup link	Tunnel re-established
43	VPN with Load Balancer	Use load balancer	Tunnel established
44	VPN with Proxy	Connect via HTTP/SOCKS proxy	Tunnel established
45	VPN with Monitoring Tools	Monitor tunnel traffic	Traffic visible
46	VPN with IDS/IPS	Detect VPN traffic	Traffic detected
47	VPN with ACLs	Apply access control	Unauthorized traffic blocked
48	VPN with Policy Enforcement	Apply routing/firewall policies	Policies enforced
49	VPN with Analytics	Analyze VPN usage	Metrics collected
50	VPN with Certificate Revocation	Use CRL or OCSP	Revoked certs rejected

SSL VPN Feature : User Authentication

User Authentication - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Valid Username and Password	Authenticate with correct credentials	Access granted
2	Invalid Username	Use incorrect username	Access denied
3	Invalid Password	Use incorrect password	Access denied
4	Empty Credentials	Leave username and password blank	Access denied
5	Case Sensitivity Test	Use different case in username/password	Access denied if case-sensitive
6	Special Characters in Password	Use special characters in password	Access granted
7	Long Password Test	Use a very long password	Access granted
8	Short Password Test	Use a very short password	Access denied (if policy enforced)
9	Expired Password	Use expired password	Access denied
10	Locked Account	Try logging into a locked account	Access denied
11	Disabled Account	Try logging into a disabled account	Access denied
12	Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)	Use MFA with OTP	Access granted after OTP
13	Invalid OTP	Enter incorrect OTP	Access denied
14	Expired OTP	Use expired OTP	Access denied
15	OTP Resend	Request OTP resend	New OTP received
16	Certificate-Based Authentication	Use valid client certificate	Access granted
17	Invalid Certificate	Use invalid or expired certificate	Access denied
18	Certificate Revocation Check	Use revoked certificate	Access denied
19	Smart Card Authentication	Use smart card for login	Access granted
20	Biometric Authentication	Use fingerprint or face ID	Access granted
21	LDAP Authentication	Authenticate via LDAP	Access granted
22	RADIUS Authentication	Authenticate via RADIUS	Access granted
23	Active Directory Authentication	Authenticate via AD	Access granted
24	OAuth Integration	Authenticate via OAuth provider	Access granted
25	SAML Integration	Authenticate via SAML	Access granted
26	OpenID Connect Integration	Authenticate via OIDC	Access granted
27	Token-Based Authentication	Use access token	Access granted
28	Expired Token	Use expired token	Access denied
29	Invalid Token	Use malformed token	Access denied
30	Session Timeout	Let session idle	Session expires
31	Concurrent Login Restriction	Try logging in from multiple devices	Second login denied (if restricted)
32	Login Attempt Logging	Log all login attempts	Logs generated
33	Brute Force Protection	Attempt multiple failed logins	Account locked or delayed
34	CAPTCHA on Login	Trigger CAPTCHA after failed attempts	CAPTCHA displayed
35	Password Change	Change password and re-authenticate	Access granted with new password
36	Password Complexity Enforcement	Use weak password	Password rejected
37	Password History Check	Reuse old password	Password rejected
38	Password Expiry Notification	Notify user before password expires	Notification shown
39	Login from New Device	Login from unknown device	Additional verification required
40	Login from New Location	Login from new IP/location	Alert or verification triggered
41	Authentication via API	Authenticate using API call	Access granted
42	Authentication Failure Logging	Log failed login attempts	Logs generated
43	Authentication Success Logging	Log successful login attempts	Logs generated
44	Authentication Audit Trail	Review historical login data	Audit trail available
45	Authentication with VPN Client	Authenticate via VPN client UI	Tunnel established
46	Authentication with Web Portal	Authenticate via web interface	Access granted
47	Authentication with Mobile App	Authenticate via mobile VPN app	Access granted
48	Authentication with CLI Tool	Authenticate via command-line tool	Access granted
49	Authentication with Custom Script	Use script to automate login	Script executes successfully
50	Authentication with Config File	Store credentials in config file	Tunnel established (if allowed)

SSL VPN Feature : Access Control

Access Control - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Valid User Access	Authenticate valid user	Access granted
2	Invalid User Access	Attempt access with invalid user	Access denied
3	Role-Based Access	Assign user role and test access	Access based on role
4	Group-Based Access	Assign user to group and test access	Access based on group
5	Time-Based Access	Restrict access to specific hours	Access allowed only during allowed times
6	IP-Based Access	Allow access from specific IPs	Access granted/denied based on IP
7	MAC Address Filtering	Allow access from specific MAC addresses	Access granted/denied
8	Device-Based Access	Restrict access to registered devices	Access granted only to known devices
9	Location-Based Access	Restrict access by geolocation	Access granted/denied
10	Concurrent Session Limit	Limit number of active sessions per user	Excess sessions denied
11	Access Control List (ACL) Test	Apply ACL to user traffic	Unauthorized traffic blocked
12	Port-Based Access Control	Allow access to specific ports	Only allowed ports accessible
13	Protocol-Based Access Control	Allow specific protocols (e.g., HTTP, SSH)	Only allowed protocols pass
14	Application-Based Access Control	Restrict access to specific applications	Access denied to restricted apps
15	URL Filtering	Block specific URLs	Access denied
16	DNS Filtering	Block DNS resolution for certain domains	Resolution fails
17	Bandwidth-Based Access Control	Limit bandwidth per user	Bandwidth capped
18	Quota-Based Access Control	Set data usage limits	Access denied after quota exceeded
19	Access Logging	Log all access attempts	Logs generated
20	Access Alerting	Alert on unauthorized access attempts	Alert triggered
21	Access Denied Notification	Notify user on access denial	Notification displayed
22	Access Control Policy Update	Modify access policy dynamically	New policy enforced
23	Access Control Policy Rollback	Revert to previous policy	Old policy enforced
24	Access Control with MFA	Require MFA for access	Access granted after verification
25	Access Control with VPN Client	Enforce access rules via client	Rules applied
26	Access Control with Web Portal	Enforce access via web interface	Rules applied
27	Access Control with API	Enforce access via API	Rules applied
28	Access Control with CLI	Enforce access via command-line	Rules applied
29	Access Control with Certificate	Use certificate-based access control	Access granted/denied
30	Access Control with Token	Use token-based access control	Access granted/denied
31	Access Control with LDAP	Integrate with LDAP for access rules	Rules enforced
32	Access Control with RADIUS	Integrate with RADIUS	Rules enforced
33	Access Control with Active Directory	Integrate with AD	Rules enforced
34	Access Control with SAML	Use SAML for access decisions	Access granted/denied
35	Access Control with OAuth	Use OAuth for access decisions	Access granted/denied
36	Access Control with OpenID Connect	Use OIDC for access decisions	Access granted/denied
37	Access Control with Firewall Rules	Enforce access via firewall	Unauthorized traffic blocked
38	Access Control with VLANs	Restrict access by VLAN	Access limited to VLAN
39	Access Control with Subnet Rules	Restrict access by subnet	Access granted/denied
40	Access Control with Logging Tools	Monitor access control logs	Logs visible
41	Access Control with Monitoring Tools	Monitor access attempts	Attempts visible
42	Access Control with Analytics	Analyze access patterns	Insights generated
43	Access Control with Roaming Users	Enforce access for roaming users	Rules still apply
44	Access Control with Failover	Maintain access rules during failover	Rules enforced
45	Access Control with Load Balancer	Maintain access rules across nodes	Rules enforced
46	Access Control with VPN Gateway	Enforce access at gateway level	Rules enforced
47	Access Control with Endpoint Security	Check endpoint compliance	Non-compliant devices blocked
48	Access Control with Patch Status	Block unpatched systems	Access denied
49	Access Control with OS Detection	Restrict access by OS type	Access granted/denied
50	Access Control with User Behavior	Detect abnormal access patterns	Access flagged or blocked

SSL VPN Feature : Application-Level Access

Application-Level Access - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Allow Web Browser Only	Permit access to browser traffic	Only browser traffic allowed
2	Block Social Media Apps	Deny access to social media apps	Apps cannot connect
3	Allow Email Client	Permit access to email application	Email syncs successfully
4	Block File Sharing Apps	Deny access to file-sharing tools	File sharing blocked
5	Allow SSH Client	Permit SSH application	SSH connection succeeds
6	Block Torrent Clients	Deny access to torrent apps	Torrent traffic blocked
7	Allow RDP Application	Permit Remote Desktop	RDP session established
8	Block Gaming Applications	Deny access to online games	Game traffic blocked
9	Allow VoIP Application	Permit VoIP apps like Zoom or Skype	Calls connect successfully
10	Block Streaming Services	Deny access to video streaming apps	Streaming blocked
11	Allow Specific App by Path	Allow app based on file path	Only specified app allowed
12	Block App by Executable Name	Block app using its executable name	App access denied
13	Allow App by Port Usage	Allow app using specific port	App traffic allowed
14	Block App by Protocol	Block app using specific protocol	App traffic blocked
15	Allow App by Signature	Allow digitally signed app	App allowed
16	Block Unsigned Applications	Block apps without valid signature	Access denied
17	Allow App by Publisher	Allow apps from specific vendor	Only vendor apps allowed
18	Block App by Hash	Block app using hash-based ID	App blocked
19	Allow App by User Role	Allow app for specific user roles	Access granted based on role
20	Block App for Guest Users	Deny app access for guest accounts	Access denied
21	Allow App by Time Window	Allow app access during specific hours	Access granted during allowed time
22	Block App After Hours	Deny app access outside business hours	Access denied
23	Allow App by Location	Allow app access from specific locations	Access granted based on location
24	Block App by Region	Deny app access from restricted regions	Access denied
25	Allow App by Device Type	Allow app on desktops only	Access denied on mobile
26	Block App on Mobile Devices	Deny app access on mobile	Access denied
27	Allow App by OS	Allow app on Windows only	Access denied on other OS
28	Block App on Outdated OS	Deny app access on unsupported OS	Access denied
29	Allow App with MFA	Require MFA for app access	Access granted after verification
30	Block App Without MFA	Deny app access if MFA not used	Access denied
31	Allow App with VPN Only	App works only when VPN is active	App fails without VPN
32	Block App Outside VPN	Deny app access outside VPN	App cannot connect
33	Allow App with Certificate Auth	Require certificate for app access	Access granted with valid cert
34	Block App with Invalid Cert	Deny app with invalid certificate	Access denied
35	Allow App with Token Auth	Require token for app access	Access granted with valid token
36	Block App with Expired Token	Deny app with expired token	Access denied
37	Allow App with Logging Enabled	Log all app access events	Logs generated
38	Block App with Alerting	Trigger alert on blocked app access	Alert triggered
39	Allow App with Bandwidth Limit	Throttle app bandwidth	Bandwidth capped
40	Block App on High Bandwidth Use	Block app if usage exceeds threshold	Access denied
41	Allow App with Quota	Allow app until data quota is reached	Access denied after quota
42	Block App After Quota	Block app after usage limit	Access denied
43	Allow App with Audit Trail	Track app access history	Audit logs available
44	Block App with Policy Violation	Deny app violating policy	Access denied
45	Allow App with Endpoint Compliance	Allow app on compliant devices	Access granted
46	Block App on Unpatched Device	Deny app on outdated systems	Access denied
47	Allow App with VPN Gateway Rules	Enforce app access at gateway	Rules enforced
48	Block App with DPI Detection	Detect and block app via DPI	Access denied
49	Allow App with Custom Script	Use script to allow app	Script executes successfully
50	Block App with Custom Rule	Use custom rule to block app	Rule enforced

SSL VPN Feature : Web-Based Access

Web-Based Access - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Web Portal Availability	Access VPN portal via browser	Login page loads
2	HTTPS Access	Access portal over HTTPS	Secure connection established
3	HTTP Access Redirect	Access portal via HTTP	Redirected to HTTPS
4	Valid Login	Enter correct credentials	Access granted
5	Invalid Login	Enter incorrect credentials	Access denied
6	Empty Credentials	Submit empty login form	Error message shown
7	Session Timeout	Stay idle after login	Session expires
8	Logout Functionality	Click logout	Session terminated
9	Browser Compatibility - Chrome	Access portal via Chrome	Portal functions correctly
10	Browser Compatibility - Firefox	Access portal via Firefox	Portal functions correctly
11	Browser Compatibility - Edge	Access portal via Edge	Portal functions correctly
12	Browser Compatibility - Safari	Access portal via Safari	Portal functions correctly
13	Mobile Browser Access	Access portal via mobile browser	Responsive UI loads
14	Multi-Factor Authentication	Login with MFA enabled	Second factor required
15	CAPTCHA on Login	Trigger CAPTCHA after failed attempts	CAPTCHA displayed
16	Password Reset Link	Click Forgot Password	Reset instructions sent
17	Certificate-Based Login	Use client certificate	Access granted
18	SSO Integration	Login via Single Sign-On	Redirected and authenticated
19	OAuth Integration	Login via OAuth provider	Access granted
20	SAML Integration	Login via SAML identity provider	Access granted
21	Access to Internal Web Apps	Open internal web app via portal	App loads successfully
22	File Access via Web	Download file from internal server	File downloaded securely
23	Web-Based RDP Access	Launch RDP session via browser	Remote session starts
24	Web-Based SSH Access	Launch SSH session via browser	Terminal opens
25	Web-Based VNC Access	Launch VNC session via browser	Desktop session opens
26	Portal Branding	Check for custom branding	Logo and theme applied
27	Portal Language Support	Switch portal language	UI updates accordingly
28	Portal Accessibility	Use screen reader	Elements are accessible
29	Portal Performance	Measure page load time	Loads within acceptable time
30	Portal Load Test	Simulate multiple users	Portal remains responsive
31	Portal with Expired Certificate	Access with expired SSL cert	Browser warning shown
32	Portal with Revoked Certificate	Access with revoked cert	Access blocked
33	Portal with Self-Signed Certificate	Access with self-signed cert	Warning shown
34	Portal with Valid Certificate	Access with valid cert	No warnings
35	Portal with Weak Cipher	Use weak TLS cipher	Connection rejected
36	Portal with Strong Cipher	Use strong TLS cipher	Connection accepted
37	Portal with IP Restriction	Access from unauthorized IP	Access denied
38	Portal with Geo-Restriction	Access from restricted region	Access denied
39	Portal with Device Restriction	Access from unregistered device	Access denied
40	Portal with Browser Restriction	Access from unsupported browser	Warning or block shown
41	Portal with Logging Enabled	Enable access logs	Logs generated
42	Portal with Monitoring Enabled	Monitor portal usage	Metrics visible
43	Portal with Alerting Enabled	Trigger alert on suspicious login	Alert sent
44	Portal with Session Recording	Record user session	Session recorded
45	Portal with File Upload	Upload file via portal	File uploaded successfully
46	Portal with File Download	Download file via portal	File downloaded securely
47	Portal with Timeout Warning	Show warning before session timeout	Warning displayed
48	Portal with Custom Scripts	Run custom login/logout scripts	Scripts executed
49	Portal with API Access	Access portal features via API	API responds correctly
50	Portal with Maintenance Mode	Enable maintenance mode	Maintenance message shown

SSL VPN Feature : Session Management

Session Management - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Session Creation	Establish a new VPN session	Session created successfully
2	Session ID Assignment	Verify session ID is assigned	Unique session ID generated
3	Session Timeout	Let session idle beyond timeout	Session terminated
4	Session Keepalive	Send periodic keepalive packets	Session remains active
5	Session Reconnection	Reconnect after temporary network loss	Session resumed
6	Session Termination by User	User manually disconnects	Session closed
7	Session Termination by Admin	Admin forcibly ends session	Session terminated
8	Concurrent Session Limit	Exceed allowed number of sessions	New session denied
9	Session Logging	Enable session logging	Logs show session activity
10	Session Monitoring	Monitor active sessions	Sessions visible in dashboard
11	Session Start Time Logging	Record session start time	Timestamp logged
12	Session End Time Logging	Record session end time	Timestamp logged
13	Session Duration Calculation	Measure session duration	Duration recorded
14	Session with Invalid Credentials	Attempt session with wrong login	Session not created
15	Session with Expired Token	Use expired token to start session	Session denied
16	Session with Valid Token	Use valid token	Session created
17	Session with Certificate Auth	Use certificate for session auth	Session created
18	Session with MFA	Use multi-factor authentication	Session created after verification
19	Session with IP Restriction	Connect from unauthorized IP	Session denied
20	Session with Device Restriction	Connect from unregistered device	Session denied
21	Session with Role-Based Access	Assign session based on user role	Access granted accordingly
22	Session with Group Policy	Apply group-based session rules	Policy enforced
23	Session Roaming	Move between networks	Session persists
24	Session Failover	Switch to backup server	Session re-established
25	Session Load Balancing	Distribute sessions across servers	Load balanced
26	Session Encryption	Encrypt session traffic	Data secured
27	Session Compression	Compress session traffic	Data compressed
28	Session Replay Protection	Replay old session packets	Packets dropped
29	Session Hijack Detection	Attempt session hijack	Session terminated or alert triggered
30	Session Integrity Check	Tamper with session data	Integrity check fails
31	Session Audit Trail	Review session history	Audit logs available
32	Session Quota Enforcement	Exceed session data quota	Session terminated or throttled
33	Session Bandwidth Limit	Apply bandwidth cap	Speed limited
34	Session with ACLs	Apply access control to session	Unauthorized access blocked
35	Session with Policy Enforcement	Enforce security policies	Policy applied
36	Session with Logging Tools	Use external logging tools	Session data logged
37	Session with Monitoring Tools	Use monitoring tools	Session metrics visible
38	Session with Alerting	Trigger alert on session anomaly	Alert sent
39	Session with Custom Timeout	Set custom timeout value	Session expires accordingly
40	Session with Custom Script	Run script on session start/stop	Script executed
41	Session with API Access	Manage session via API	API responds correctly
42	Session with Web Portal	Start session via browser	Session created
43	Session with CLI Tool	Start session via command line	Session created
44	Session with Mobile App	Start session via mobile app	Session created
45	Session with Desktop Client	Start session via desktop client	Session created
46	Session with VPN Gateway	Start session through gateway	Session routed correctly
47	Session with Certificate Revocation	Use revoked certificate	Session denied
48	Session with Token Revocation	Use revoked token	Session denied
49	Session with OS Detection	Restrict session by OS type	Access granted/denied
50	Session with User Behavior Analysis	Detect abnormal session behavior	Session flagged or terminated

SSL VPN Feature : Endpoint Security Checks

Endpoint Security Checks - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Antivirus Check	Verify if antivirus is installed and up-to-date	Access granted if antivirus is valid
2	Firewall Status	Check if firewall is enabled	Access granted if firewall is active
3	OS Version Check	Ensure OS version meets minimum requirement	Access granted if OS is compliant
4	Patch Level Verification	Check for latest security patches	Access granted if patches are up-to-date
5	Disk Encryption Check	Verify if disk encryption is enabled	Access granted if encryption is active
6	Admin Rights Check	Ensure user does not have admin rights	Access granted if user is standard
7	Endpoint Certificate Validation	Check for valid endpoint certificate	Access granted if certificate is valid
8	MAC Address Whitelisting	Verify MAC address against whitelist	Access granted if MAC is whitelisted
9	Device ID Check	Validate device ID against known list	Access granted if device ID is recognized
10	Registry Key Check	Check for specific registry keys	Access granted if keys are present
11	Running Processes Check	Scan for blacklisted processes	Access denied if blacklisted process found
12	Installed Applications Check	Verify presence of required applications	Access granted if apps are installed
13	VPN Client Version	Ensure VPN client is up-to-date	Access granted if version is current
14	Browser Version Check	Check if browser version is supported	Access granted if browser is compliant
15	USB Device Check	Detect unauthorized USB devices	Access denied if unauthorized USB found
16	Screen Lock Policy	Verify screen lock timeout settings	Access granted if policy is enforced
17	Antispyware Check	Ensure antispyware is active	Access granted if antispyware is running
18	Mobile Device Management	Check MDM enrollment status	Access granted if device is enrolled
19	Rooted/Jailbroken Device Check	Detect rooted or jailbroken devices	Access denied if device is compromised
20	Time Synchronization	Verify system time is synchronized	Access granted if time is accurate
21	Network Adapter Check	Ensure only approved adapters are active	Access granted if adapters are valid
22	VPN Tunnel Integrity	Check for tunnel encryption and integrity	Access granted if tunnel is secure
23	DNS Configuration	Verify DNS settings are correct	Access granted if DNS is compliant
24	Proxy Settings Check	Ensure proxy settings are correct	Access granted if proxy is configured
25	Host File Integrity	Check for unauthorized host file changes	Access granted if host file is clean
26	System Uptime Check	Verify system uptime is within limits	Access granted if uptime is acceptable
27	Log File Review	Check for suspicious log entries	Access denied if anomalies are found
28	Security Software Running	Ensure security software is running	Access granted if software is active
29	VPN Split Tunneling	Check if split tunneling is disabled	Access granted if disabled
30	Endpoint Health Score	Calculate overall endpoint health	Access granted if score is above threshold
31	User Authentication Method	Verify strong authentication method	Access granted if method is secure
32	Certificate Revocation Check	Ensure certificate is not revoked	Access denied if certificate is revoked
33	Device Location Check	Verify device location via IP	Access granted if location is allowed
34	Network Speed Test	Check if network speed meets minimum	Access granted if speed is sufficient
35	VPN Session Timeout	Verify session timeout policy	Session ends after timeout
36	Multiple Login Detection	Detect concurrent logins	Access denied if multiple logins detected
37	Endpoint Backup Status	Check if endpoint has recent backup	Access granted if backup is recent
38	Security Policy Compliance	Verify compliance with security policy	Access granted if compliant
39	Device Ownership Check	Ensure device is company-owned	Access granted if ownership is verified
40	Endpoint Isolation	Isolate non-compliant endpoints	Endpoint is quarantined
41	VPN Client Integrity	Verify integrity of VPN client software	Access granted if integrity is intact
42	Endpoint Tagging	Check for correct endpoint tags	Access granted if tags are valid
43	Remote Desktop Detection	Detect active remote desktop sessions	Access denied if session is active
44	Virtual Machine Detection	Detect if endpoint is a VM	Access granted if VM is allowed
45	Cloud Storage Access	Check for unauthorized cloud storage	Access denied if unauthorized access found
46	Endpoint Reboot Status	Verify recent reboot	Access granted if rebooted recently
47	Security Patch Rollback	Detect rollback of security patches	Access denied if rollback detected
48	Endpoint Disk Space	Check for sufficient disk space	Access granted if space is sufficient
49	Endpoint CPU Load	Verify CPU load is within limits	Access granted if load is acceptable
50	Endpoint Memory Usage	Check memory usage levels	Access granted if usage is within limits

SSL VPN Feature : Logging and Auditing

Logging and Auditing - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Login Event Logging	Log successful user login events	Login events recorded with timestamp and user ID
2	Failed Login Attempt	Log failed login attempts	Failed attempts recorded with reason
3	Session Start Logging	Log VPN session start	Session start time and user recorded
4	Session End Logging	Log VPN session termination	Session end time and duration recorded
5	Audit Log Access	Track access to audit logs	Access events recorded with user and timestamp
6	Configuration Change Logging	Log changes to VPN configuration	Change details and user recorded
7	Policy Update Logging	Log updates to security policies	Policy changes recorded with timestamp
8	User Role Change	Log changes to user roles	Role changes recorded with old and new roles
9	Certificate Expiry Logging	Log certificate expiration events	Expiry date and affected users recorded
10	Authentication Method Change	Log changes in authentication method	Change recorded with method details
11	IP Address Logging	Log IP addresses used for login	IP address recorded per session
12	Device ID Logging	Log device identifiers used for access	Device ID recorded with session
13	Concurrent Session Logging	Log multiple sessions per user	Concurrent sessions recorded
14	Log Retention Policy	Verify log retention duration	Logs retained as per policy
15	Log Archiving	Check log archiving mechanism	Logs archived periodically
16	Log Integrity Check	Verify logs are tamper-proof	Integrity validation passed
17	Log Encryption	Ensure logs are encrypted	Logs stored in encrypted format
18	Log Backup	Verify log backup process	Logs backed up successfully
19	Log Restoration	Restore logs from backup	Logs restored without corruption
20	Log Format Validation	Check log format consistency	Logs follow defined format
21	Log Timestamp Accuracy	Verify timestamp accuracy	Timestamps match system time
22	Log Filtering	Filter logs by user, date, event	Filtered logs displayed correctly
23	Log Search Functionality	Search logs for specific events	Search returns correct results
24	Log Export	Export logs to external file	Logs exported in CSV/JSON format
25	Log Size Monitoring	Monitor log file size	Alerts triggered on size threshold
26	Log Rotation	Verify log rotation mechanism	Old logs archived, new logs created
27	Audit Trail Completeness	Ensure complete audit trail	All events recorded without gaps
28	Admin Activity Logging	Log admin actions	Admin actions recorded with details
29	User Activity Logging	Log user actions	User actions recorded per session
30	System Event Logging	Log system-level events	System events recorded with severity
31	Security Event Logging	Log security-related events	Security events recorded with priority
32	Log Access Control	Restrict access to logs	Only authorized users can access logs
33	Log Viewing Interface	Verify log viewing UI	Logs displayed with filters and pagination
34	Log Alerting	Trigger alerts on critical events	Alerts sent on defined conditions
35	Log Synchronization	Sync logs across servers	Logs synchronized without loss
36	Log Compression	Compress old logs	Logs compressed to save space
37	Log Purging	Purge old logs as per policy	Logs deleted after retention period
38	Log Access Audit	Audit who accessed logs	Access events recorded with user ID
39	Log Anomaly Detection	Detect anomalies in logs	Anomalies flagged for review
40	Log Dashboard	Display logs in dashboard	Dashboard shows real-time log data
41	Log API Access	Access logs via API	API returns correct log data
42	Log Correlation	Correlate logs across systems	Events linked across logs
43	Log Timezone Handling	Handle timezone differences	Timestamps adjusted correctly
44	Log Redundancy	Ensure redundant log storage	Logs stored in multiple locations
45	Log Review Workflow	Define workflow for log review	Review steps followed and recorded
46	Log Escalation	Escalate critical log events	Escalation triggered as per policy
47	Log Categorization	Categorize logs by type	Logs grouped by event type
48	Log Severity Levels	Assign severity to logs	Severity levels applied correctly
49	Log Notification	Notify users on log events	Notifications sent on defined triggers
50	Log Compliance Check	Ensure logs meet compliance	Logs validated against standards

SSL VPN Feature : Split Tunneling

Split Tunneling - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Enable Split Tunneling	Enable split tunneling in VPN client settings	Only specified traffic goes through VPN
2	Disable Split Tunneling	Disable split tunneling in VPN client	All traffic routes through VPN
3	Add Local Subnet	Add local subnet to split tunnel list	Local subnet traffic bypasses VPN
4	Add Public IP	Add public IP to split tunnel list	Traffic to public IP bypasses VPN
5	DNS Resolution Test	Check DNS resolution with split tunneling	DNS queries resolve correctly
6	Access Internal Resource	Access internal server via VPN	Internal resource is reachable
7	Access Internet Resource	Access public website with split tunneling	Website loads via local internet
8	Traffic Monitoring	Monitor traffic routes	Split traffic follows defined rules
9	Policy Enforcement	Apply split tunneling policy from server	Client follows server policy
10	Bypass VPN for Streaming	Exclude streaming services from VPN	Streaming traffic uses local internet
11	VPN Only for Corporate Apps	Route only corporate apps via VPN	Only corporate apps use VPN tunnel
12	Split Tunnel with Proxy	Use proxy with split tunneling	Proxy traffic routes correctly
13	Split Tunnel with Firewall	Test firewall rules with split tunneling	Firewall enforces rules correctly
14	Split Tunnel with Antivirus	Check antivirus behavior with split tunnel	Antivirus scans both traffic paths
15	Split Tunnel with IPv6	Enable IPv6 and test split tunnel	IPv6 traffic routes as configured
16	Split Tunnel with Dual Stack	Use IPv4 and IPv6 together	Both protocols route correctly
17	Split Tunnel with DNS Leak	Check for DNS leaks	No DNS leaks occur
18	Split Tunnel with VPN Kill Switch	Enable kill switch	Traffic blocked if VPN drops
19	Split Tunnel with Mobile Hotspot	Use mobile hotspot	Split tunnel works on hotspot
20	Split Tunnel with Wi-Fi	Connect via Wi-Fi	Split tunnel functions correctly
21	Split Tunnel with Ethernet	Connect via Ethernet	Split tunnel functions correctly
22	Split Tunnel with Roaming	Roam between networks	Split tunnel adapts to new network
23	Split Tunnel with Multiple Interfaces	Use Wi-Fi and Ethernet	Traffic splits per configuration
24	Split Tunnel with VPN Reconnect	Reconnect VPN	Split tunnel resumes correctly
25	Split Tunnel with VPN Failover	Failover to backup VPN	Split tunnel continues on failover
26	Split Tunnel with Load Balancer	Use load balancer	Traffic balances as configured
27	Split Tunnel with Cloud Apps	Access cloud apps	Cloud apps route via VPN or local
28	Split Tunnel with SaaS	Use SaaS apps	SaaS traffic routes as configured
29	Split Tunnel with VoIP	Use VoIP app	VoIP traffic routes correctly
30	Split Tunnel with Video Conferencing	Use Zoom/Teams	Video traffic routes as configured
31	Split Tunnel with File Transfer	Transfer files	File transfer uses correct path
32	Split Tunnel with Email	Use email client	Email traffic routes correctly
33	Split Tunnel with VPN Logs	Check logs	Logs show split tunnel activity
34	Split Tunnel with Audit Trail	Audit split tunnel usage	Audit logs are complete
35	Split Tunnel with Compliance	Check compliance	Split tunnel meets policy
36	Split Tunnel with Endpoint Security	Run endpoint checks	Security checks pass
37	Split Tunnel with MDM	Use MDM-managed device	Split tunnel policy enforced
38	Split Tunnel with BYOD	Use personal device	Split tunnel applies correctly
39	Split Tunnel with MAC Filtering	Apply MAC filter	Only allowed devices use split tunnel
40	Split Tunnel with Geo-blocking	Access geo-blocked content	Traffic routes via local IP
41	Split Tunnel with VPN Gateway	Use specific gateway	Traffic routes via selected gateway
42	Split Tunnel with DNS Split	Use split DNS	Internal and external DNS resolve correctly
43	Split Tunnel with App Whitelisting	Whitelist apps	Only whitelisted apps use VPN
44	Split Tunnel with App Blacklisting	Blacklist apps	Blacklisted apps bypass VPN
45	Split Tunnel with OS Updates	Download OS updates	Updates use local internet
46	Split Tunnel with Antivirus Updates	Update antivirus	Updates bypass VPN
47	Split Tunnel with Backup	Run cloud backup	Backup uses local internet
48	Split Tunnel with Remote Desktop	Use RDP	RDP traffic routes via VPN
49	Split Tunnel with SSH	Use SSH client	SSH traffic routes via VPN
50	Split Tunnel with FTP	Use FTP client	FTP traffic routes as configured

SSL VPN Feature : High Availability & Failover

High Availability & Failover - Testcases

#	Test Case	Description	Expected Result
1	Primary Node Availability	Verify primary node is active and serving traffic	Primary node handles all VPN sessions
2	Secondary Node Standby	Ensure secondary node is in standby mode	Secondary node is ready but not active
3	Failover Trigger	Simulate primary node failure	Secondary node takes over VPN sessions
4	Failback to Primary	Restore primary node and check failback	Primary node resumes control
5	Session Persistence	Maintain session during failover	User session remains active
6	Configuration Sync	Check config sync between nodes	Both nodes have identical configuration
7	Heartbeat Monitoring	Verify heartbeat signals between nodes	Heartbeat is received at regular intervals
8	Split Brain Prevention	Simulate network split	Only one node becomes active
9	Load Balancing	Distribute sessions across nodes	Sessions are balanced between nodes
10	Manual Failover	Trigger manual failover	Secondary node becomes active
11	Automatic Failover	Simulate failure and observe auto failover	Failover occurs without manual intervention
12	Failover Time	Measure time taken for failover	Failover completes within defined SLA
13	Log Synchronization	Check if logs are synced	Logs are identical on both nodes
14	Certificate Sync	Verify SSL certificates are synced	Certificates are identical
15	User Authentication Continuity	Authenticate user during failover	Authentication succeeds
16	VPN Tunnel Continuity	Maintain tunnel during failover	Tunnel remains active
17	DNS Failover	Check DNS resolution during failover	DNS resolves to active node
18	Monitoring Alerts	Check alerts on failover	Alerts are generated and logged
19	HA Status Dashboard	Verify HA status on dashboard	Correct status displayed
20	Network Interface Failover	Simulate NIC failure	Failover to backup NIC
21	Power Failure Simulation	Simulate power loss on primary	Secondary takes over
22	High Load Failover	Overload primary node	Secondary handles excess load
23	HA Configuration Backup	Backup HA configuration	Backup completes successfully
24	HA Configuration Restore	Restore HA configuration	Restore completes successfully
25	Session Logging During Failover	Check session logs	Logs show uninterrupted session
26	Admin Access During Failover	Access admin UI during failover	Admin UI remains accessible
27	HA Role Switchover	Switch roles between nodes	Roles switch successfully
28	Cluster Node Join	Add new node to cluster	Node joins and syncs
29	Cluster Node Leave	Remove node from cluster	Node leaves without disruption
30	HA License Validation	Check license on both nodes	Valid license on both
31	HA Mode Change	Switch between active-active and active-passive	Mode changes successfully
32	HA Log Review	Review HA logs	Logs show HA events
33	HA Email Notification	Check email alerts	Email sent on failover
34	HA SNMP Trap	Check SNMP trap on failover	Trap sent to monitoring system
35	HA API Access	Access HA status via API	API returns correct status
36	HA CLI Access	Access HA via CLI	CLI shows correct HA state
37	HA Upgrade Process	Upgrade firmware in HA	Upgrade completes without disruption
38	HA Downgrade Process	Downgrade firmware in HA	Downgrade completes safely
39	HA Time Sync	Check time sync between nodes	Time is synchronized
40	HA Certificate Renewal	Renew certificate on one node	Renewal syncs to other node
41	HA Session Timeout	Check session timeout during failover	Timeouts are handled gracefully
42	HA VPN Profile Sync	Sync VPN profiles	Profiles are identical
43	HA User Group Sync	Sync user groups	Groups are identical
44	HA Policy Sync	Sync access policies	Policies are identical
45	HA Route Table Sync	Sync routing tables	Routes are consistent
46	HA NAT Table Sync	Sync NAT configurations	NAT rules are identical
47	HA Firewall Rule Sync	Sync firewall rules	Rules are consistent
48	HA Log Rotation	Check log rotation in HA	Logs rotate without loss
49	HA Resource Monitoring	Monitor CPU/memory on both nodes	Resources are within limits
50	HA Recovery from Crash	Crash one node and recover	Node recovers and rejoins cluster

Reference links

Reference links