How Can I Block Laptops from Connecting to Open Wi-Fi Networks?

If your users will use various Wi-Fi apps, it’s risky to enforce strict connectivity rules. Unless you really know what networks they will connect to, a blanket ban could cause more issues than it solves. Just force a solid VPN connection to ensure everything is encrypted and that they can work securely from anywhere.

Switching to an allow-list setup for your corporate SSIDs and blocking all open or ad hoc networks can work, but just a heads up—this can create headaches when users travel. You’ll have to keep updating the list as they connect to different public networks, which can overwhelm your helpdesk team. A better long-term strategy is enforcing a VPN to secure all outbound traffic, allowing users the freedom to connect while still maintaining security.

Joined networks with a common pre-shared key give no additional security compared to an open network. Even WPA3 has vulnerabilities, so be cautious about trying to enforce too many restrictions.

Blocking access to open networks can get complicated unless you issue hotspots to all employees. It’s smarter to improve device control, so you're more at ease with them using public Wi-Fi. Think about policies that enforce VPN use and DNS filtering to boost security while they're out and about.

You can set this up through Group Policy! Navigate to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Wireless Networks > Wireless Network Policy. But, honestly, if you're worried about security, implementing a VPN that stays on all the time, like OpenVPN, might be a better option. You could have it configured to connect automatically at startup.