Global Secure Access Explained: Real-World Rollouts, Mistakes, and Best Practices

In this episode, I’m joined by Christopher Brumm from glueckkanja to discuss real-world experiences deploying Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access (GSA).We go beyond the docs to talk about actual customer rollouts, scaling challenges, retiring VPNs, and what teams often underestimate when moving to Zero Trust Network Access. Subscribe with your favorite podcast player or watch on YouTube 👇 About Christopher Brumm Christopher Brumm is a Cyber Security Architect at glueckkanja AG in Germany. With more than 15 years of experience in IT security, Chris brings deep expertise and hands-on knowledge across the Microsoft Security portfolio and beyond. His career journey spans from network and data center technologies to Active Directory and Entra ID, with a strong focus on identity security. As a Microsoft MVP and CISSP, Chris is an active voice in the security community, regularly speaking at events and sharing insights through blog posts on identity and security topics. His latest passion is Global Secure Access, where identity, security, and networking converge to deliver a holistic Zero Trust approach. * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbrumm 🔗 Related Links * Blog - https://chris-brumm.com 📗 Chapters 04:46 Proof of Concept vs Pilot 12:19 Deployment Strategy: The Blue Pill Approach 16:03 Solving Performance with Intelligent Local Access 17:49 Navigating Networking Challenges 25:14 The Hardest Part: Shutting Down Legacy VPNs 27:38 Handling External Access and BYOD 32:15 B2B Features and Tenant Switching 46:05 Why You Need the Microsoft 365 Profile 50:49 The Ultimate Admin Workstation Security Podcast Apps 🎙️ Entra.Chat - https://entra.chat 🎧 Apple Podcast → https://entra.chat/apple 📺 YouTube → https://entra.chat/youtube 📺 Spotify → https://entra.chat/spotify 🎧 Overcast → https://entra.chat/overcast 🎧 Pocketcast → https://entra.chat/pocketcast 🎧 Others → https://entra.chat/rss Merill’s socials 📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@merillx 👔 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/merill 🐤 Twitter → twitter.com/merill 🕺 TikTok → tiktok.com/@merillf 🦋 Bluesky → bsky.app/profile/merill.net 🐘 Mastodon → infosec.exchange/@merill 🧵 Threads → threads.net/@merillf 🤖 GitHub → github.com/merill Get full access to Entra.News - Your weekly dose of Microsoft Entra at entra.news/subscribe