Microsoft Entra Socat: Secure Identity-Aware Tunnels
The culprit was Socat.
Microsoft Entra Socat acts as the secure bridge between your identity layer and the network transport it depends on. It is a versatile command-line utility that relays data between two sockets. With Socat integrated into Microsoft Entra’s access workflows, you can create encrypted, authenticated tunnels that enforce identity policies at the transport level.
Socat works as an endpoint-to-endpoint relay. It listens on one side, sends data to the other, and supports protocols that Microsoft Entra can validate against your identity provider. This makes it ideal for scenarios where you need secure forwarding of traffic between systems that require compliance with cloud identity and conditional access rules.
The power comes from pairing Socat’s simple syntax with Microsoft Entra’s controls. You can initiate a Socat command to bind a local port, encrypt the tunnel with TLS, and restrict usage to accounts that meet Entra security conditions. The result is a reliable, auditable link for services that cannot expose themselves directly to public networks.
Many developers use Microsoft Entra Socat to move data securely between virtual machines, containers, or cloud functions. It can also work as a temporary secure proxy without requiring a full VPN. This agility is critical for troubleshooting, migrations, and rapid deployment.
To set up Microsoft Entra Socat, install Socat on your environment, configure it with secure protocols (TCP over TLS, for example), and authenticate through Entra. Always choose encryption ciphers that meet your compliance requirements. Monitor logs via the Entra admin portal to confirm that all traffic aligns with policy.
The biggest advantage is control. You handle network security and identity in one flow. No separate point solutions. No unmanaged tunnels. Just a direct, policy-bound line from source to destination.
If you want to see Microsoft Entra Socat in action without a week of setup, launch it on hoop.dev and watch it run live in minutes.