Zyxel adds identity tools to Nebula cloud platform

Zyxel Networks has launched the Nebula 20.10 update for its cloud network management platform, adding identity tools, troubleshooting functions and device replacement features for IT teams and managed service providers.

The release is designed to reduce manual work in areas such as user access, fault finding and hardware swaps, as organisations manage larger networks across more sites with limited technical staff.

It introduces identity federation through the Nebula Identity Federation Service, allowing administrators to connect the Nebula Control Centre with Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace and Okta. This lets employees use existing workplace credentials to access company WiFi and VPN services instead of creating separate accounts.

In shared or multi-tenant settings, users from different organisations can also connect to the same WiFi service using their own company credentials. Managed service providers and internal IT teams can federate multiple identity providers through Nebula and apply access policies across an organisation or branch site in one step.

Passwordless sign-in has also been added through Passkey support for credentials created via the Nebula Cloud Authentication Server. This is intended to reduce password reset requests and strengthen protection against credential phishing.

Troubleshooting tools

The update also focuses on network visibility and diagnosis. Nebula now includes an updated real-time topology map that shows how devices are physically connected, alongside configuration details such as VLAN segmentation and link aggregation.

This is intended to help administrators confirm that a network is set up as intended and identify faults more quickly. For managed service providers handling several customers, the platform now also offers centralised event logs across multiple organisations and sites, removing the need to inspect each environment separately.

The release also adds one-click device replacement. An administrator can disconnect an existing device and connect a replacement, with configurations and licences transferring automatically to the new hardware.

The feature is intended to reduce downtime during upgrades or replacement work and avoid the need for a full reset when equipment is changed. That may be particularly relevant for smaller IT teams and service providers trying to avoid site visits for routine hardware tasks.

MSP focus

The update is aimed at managed service providers and mid-sized businesses, two customer groups that often manage growing numbers of users, branch locations and connected services without expanding headcount at the same pace. Zyxel presented the changes as a response to routine operational work that can affect efficiency and margins.

As networks become more distributed, access changes, account administration, troubleshooting and equipment replacement can consume significant staff time. Tools that centralise administration have become a growing area of competition among networking vendors seeking to appeal to service providers and internal IT departments.

Some functions in the new release require a Nebula Pro Pack or MSP Pack licence. That means not every customer using the platform will receive the full set of additions under a standard deployment.

Zyxel, which is headquartered in Taiwan, says it serves more than 1 million businesses across 150 markets. The company sells networking products and cloud-managed services for small and medium-sized businesses and edge networking environments.

A decade into Nebula's development, Zyxel is positioning the platform as a way to handle routine administration with fewer manual steps. The update reflects wider demand in the networking market for tools that combine access control, central monitoring and simpler lifecycle management in a single management console.

One of the main changes is the move towards identity-led access management, which has become more common as organisations try to align network access with central workplace login systems. Integrating WiFi and VPN authentication with established identity providers can reduce duplicate account creation and simplify offboarding when staff leave.

For service providers, the centralised event log feature addresses another longstanding issue: the need to move between customer environments to investigate incidents. Bringing those records together in one view may help technicians spot issues faster, especially when they oversee a large number of sites.

A similar logic applies to device replacement, where maintaining continuity of settings and licences can make a practical difference to outage times. In branch networks or smaller offices without resident IT staff, a simpler swap process can reduce disruption and support remote administration.

"IT teams today are expected to support more users, sites and services without additional resources," said Mr Gary Chen, ANZ Regional Head at Zyxel Networks.

"Nebula has matured alongside our customers over the past ten years, shaped by the real challenges faced by businesses and MSPs. Nebula 20.10 continues that journey by removing more of the repetitive work that slows technical teams down, so they can focus on the work that matters most," Chen said.