For those who follow advancements in networking or the evolution of Linux, the name WireGuard sparks excitement and curiosity. For others less familiar with technical intricacies, WireGuard may still be a novel term.

WireGuard represents a fresh approach to VPN technology. After years of challenges with OpenVPN and IPSec, WireGuard was initiated as a project to create a new and improved VPN protocol, emphasizing simplicity, auditability, and security.

WireGuard has been integrated into the Linux 5.6 kernel as of its v1.0 release. This integration ensures that every updated Linux distribution now includes a highly efficient and secure VPN networking tool. This means that WireGuard may become a standard component of many enterprise server, desktop, cloud, and IoT systems.

Despite its integration into Linux operating systems, WireGuard is far from a watered-down solution—it represents a significant advancement in simplicity and security over IPSec. Linus Torvalds, the founder of Linux, praised it as a “work of art,” especially when compared to the complexities of OpenVPN and IPSec.

WireGuard’s utility stretches across various platforms, supporting everything from IoT devices to supercomputers, with compatibility for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.

Released in March 2017, WireGuard’s adoption has experienced growth, mostly among consumers. Consumer adoption can be attributed to several factors.

First, WireGuard’s commitment to open-source and its availability as a free product make it accessible to everyone. Its native availability in Linux with free agents also available for other operating systems, means it is a widely available way for anyone to establish secure VPN connections.

Second, WireGuard’s performance sets it apart from more traditional approaches. Its simple architecture and more modern cryptography protocols result in significantly faster connection speeds and lower latency, making it ideal for latency-sensitive applications such as gaming and video streaming.

Despite its wide availability, WireGuard’s adoption in the enterprise sector has been slower. This can be primarily attributed to Wireguard’s limited management features. Enterprise environments typically require advanced capabilities such as centralized control, user authentication, logging, and monitoring. While WireGuard’s minimalist design favors simplicity, it lacks these enterprise features out of the box.

Organizations considering WireGuard for an enterprise environment often find themselves needing to implement additional tools to compensate for the protocol’s shortcomings. This can involve trying to integrate WireGuard with existing network management platforms, bolting on untested third-party add-ons, or developing custom scripts. The additional effort and complexity associated with these workarounds can deter enterprises from adopting WireGuard.

WireGuard and Trustgrid

Trustgrid solves the problem of deploying Wireguard in an enterprise setting. Trustgrid is architected to connect centralized applications to remote systems, creating networks with integrated deployment, management, and support capabilities. 

Trustgrid addresses the limitations within WireGuard’s native capabilities — specifically around its lack of user authentication beyond device/key authentication, its simplistic ACL enforcement, absence of session controls like time-to-live, and lack of detailed reporting on user activity and associated traffic.

Having deployed over 4000 endpoints, Trustgrid supports WireGuard to enhance its enterprise capabilities with features such as:

• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) through WireGuard for secure remote connectivity
• Unified Management: A single-pane-of-glass view of all endpoints, WireGuard and others
• Automated Configuration: Streamlined updates and configuration across all endpoints
• Key Management: Efficient distribution and management of all public keys
• Enhanced Monitoring: Real-time monitoring of all traffic across hybrid cloud environments
• Compliance: Tools to build SOC 2 Type II compliant networks using WireGuard endpoints
• Advanced Networking: Sophisticated NAT options to build virtual networks
• Detailed Logging: Comprehensive logs of access and status changes for connected endpoints.

By integrating WireGuard, Trustgrid provides a robust solution for securely connecting and managing hybrid cloud environments at scale. Pairing with Trustgrid makes WireGuard not only a cost-effective method to ensure connectivity across hybrid environments but also an effective solution for remote user access.

Conclusion

As WireGuard continues to evolve, more customers are looking at Trustgrid to enable its adoption within the enterprise sector. By addressing the gaps in native WireGuard features and enhancing its capabilities within our platform, Trustgrid provides enterprise-ready tools for seamless configuration, monitoring, and automation, reducing the operational burden on IT teams. 

Combining the native and user-friendly capabilities of WireGuard with the scalable architecture and dedicated support team of Trustgrid makes WireGuard another feasible option for organizations seeking a comprehensive VPN solution.

* “WireGuard” and the “WireGuard” logo are registered trademarks of Jason A. Donenfeld.