Moving from license plates to badges: the Gateway Authorization Proxy
Key Points
- Per-domain JWT identity cookies
- Hosted PAC files with templates
- Open beta for clientless authorization
Summary
Cloudflare's Gateway Authorization Proxy adds per-user identity to proxy endpoints so unmanaged devices can be authorized and filtered without installing a client. It pairs per-domain signed JWT cookies and Cloudflare Access authentication with hosted PAC file support to give engineers per-user logging, policy control, and simple deployment for virtual desktops, M&A scenarios, and compliance-constrained endpoints.
Key Points
- What it is: an authorization layer in front of Gateway proxy endpoints that verifies users via Cloudflare Access before applying Gateway filtering.
- Identity tracking: issues per-domain signed JWT cookies after an initial redirect to Cloudflare Access; subsequent requests are authorized instantly and logged per user.
- Multi-IdP support: present one or multiple identity providers (e.g., Okta, Azure AD) to end users during login.
- PAC File Hosting: host PAC files on Cloudflare with starter templates and an AI assistant (Cloudy) to summarize PAC behavior; removes the need to self-host PAC files.
- Billing: seat-based billing model (same as Cloudflare One Client) — no new complex metrics.
- Recommended use cases: VDI environments, mergers & acquisitions, and regulated environments where installing a client is not possible.
- Where to get started: available in open beta; configure in the Dashboard under "Resolvers and Proxies."
- Roadmap: planned support for Kerberos, mTLS, and username/password authentication methods.
Implementation notes for engineers
- Initial visit to a domain triggers a redirect to Cloudflare Access to mint a domain-specific JWT cookie; ensure your IdP flows and session lifetimes are configured appropriately.
- Once the cookie is present, requests to the domain and its subdomains are authorized without further redirects.
- Use hosted PAC templates to quickly point browsers to the proxy; review generated PAC logic and integrate into enterprise browser/config management or DHCP/Group Policy as needed.
- For full control and best UX, continue to prefer the Cloudflare One Client where installable; use Authorization Proxy when clientless access is required.