Microsoft kills DirectAccess, a Windows Server's remote connection feature. What should you do?

Another product enters the Microsoft Graveyard. Microsoft recently announced that it’s deprecating DirectAccess, an important feature on Windows Server that lets remote users connect to an organization’s network without the need for traditional Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections.

Why? Well, the Redmond tech giant said that it’s to make room for Always On VPN, as DirectAccess is deemed outdated. The former is a Windows Server feature that gives you easier & secure remote access, offers enhanced security measures, and supports both domain-joined and non-domain-joined devices.

Besides, Always On VPN also integrates with modern authentication methods like Azure AD and multi-factor authentication.

You can migrate to Always On VPN by planning the process, deploying new VPN infrastructure alongside DirectAccess, configuring client devices, and then decommissioning DirectAccess.

“Always On VPN is available in all Windows editions, and the platform features are available to third parties by way of UWP VPN plug-in support,” Microsoft says.

It’s not necessarily surprising, though. Microsoft has been telling users to migrate to Always On VPN for months, and it’s about now that the DirectAccess deprecation is announced and finalized.

There have been quite a handful of features which Microsoft had announced their deprecations.

Folks have bid their goodbyes for VBScript, a three-decades-old programming language, from Windows 10 and 11, as well as Wordpad from Windows 11 24H2 update, Windows Mixed Reality for AR, and more.