Zyxel Networks has released Nebula 20.10, an update to its cloud-based network management platform that adds identity federation, passwordless access, expanded topology visibility and tools designed to reduce repetitive work for managed service providers (MSPs) and IT teams.
Announced on September 1, the release is aimed at MSPs and mid-sized businesses managing growing numbers of users, sites and network devices with limited technical resources. Zyxel said the update is intended to simplify access management, troubleshooting and hardware replacement across distributed environments.
The launch extends Zyxel Networks’ work around cloud-managed networking and security. TNGlobal previously covered how the company has been applying artificial intelligence and machine learning across its Nebula platform and network security products.
Identity federation and passwordless access
A central addition in Nebula 20.10 is the Nebula Identity Federation Service, or NID FS. The feature allows administrators to connect the Nebula Control Center with third-party identity providers including Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace and Okta.
Through this integration, employees can use existing workplace credentials to access company WiFi and VPN services rather than maintaining separate accounts for network access. Zyxel said the capability can also be used in multi-tenant environments, such as shared offices, where users from different organizations connect to the same wireless network using their respective company credentials.
The release also expands centralized identity management for MSPs and internal IT teams. Multiple identity providers can be federated through Nebula, while access policies can be deployed across an organization or branch site. According to Zyxel, this is intended to reduce repeated configuration work and the administrative overhead associated with maintaining accounts as employees join, leave or change roles.
Nebula 20.10 additionally introduces Passkey login for credentials created through the Nebula Cloud Authentication Server. Passkeys provide passwordless authentication and are designed to reduce reliance on passwords, including the support burden created by password reset requests. Zyxel also positions the feature as a way to strengthen protection against credential-phishing attacks.
More visibility for troubleshooting
The update adds new tools intended to give administrators a clearer view of network environments and speed up fault investigation.
Nebula’s network topology function, which provides a visual map of how devices are physically connected, can now display additional configuration information including virtual local area network, or VLAN, segmentation and link aggregation. This gives administrators more context when checking configurations or tracing the source of a network issue.
For MSPs managing several customer environments, Nebula 20.10 also introduces centralized event logs. The feature allows service providers to review events across multiple organizations and sites from one location instead of navigating through each customer environment separately.
The combination is intended to reduce the time spent switching between views and manually piecing together network information, particularly for service providers supporting multiple sites and customers.
One-click device replacement
Zyxel has also added a one-click device replacement workflow for hardware upgrades and replacements. Administrators can disconnect an existing device and connect a replacement, with the associated configuration and licenses transferred automatically.
The process is designed to avoid rebuilding a device configuration from scratch when equipment is replaced. For organizations with remote or branch locations, automating the transfer can also reduce the amount of technical intervention required at the site and help shorten network downtime during a replacement.
Hardware replacement can otherwise involve several administrative steps, including registering the new device, recreating settings and transferring licensing. By consolidating those steps into a single workflow, Zyxel is positioning Nebula 20.10 as a way for smaller IT teams and MSPs to manage routine operational work more efficiently.
Supporting MSP and IT workloads
Inchen Lin, AVP of Zyxel Networks’ Intelligence Cloud Center, said IT teams are increasingly being asked to support more users, locations and services without corresponding increases in resources.
“IT teams today are expected to support more users, sites and services without additional resources,” Lin said. “Nebula has matured alongside our customers over the past ten years, shaped by the real challenges faced by businesses and MSPs.”
Lin said the 20.10 release continues that development by reducing repetitive work and allowing technical teams to focus on higher-priority tasks.
The update arrives as cloud-managed network platforms take on a broader operational role beyond basic device configuration. Identity management, security policies, topology information, event monitoring and lifecycle tasks are increasingly being brought into centralized management systems, particularly for organizations operating multiple sites.
Some features in Nebula 20.10 require a Nebula Pro Pack or MSP Pack license, according to Zyxel Networks. The company has not indicated that all of the newly announced capabilities are available across every licensing tier.