ADFS 3 Device Registration SSL SAN required with Workplace Join

I came across an interesting issue when deploying Workplace Join as part of a migration to ADFS 3. ADFS had been tested as working correctly with the Device Registration service initialized and enabled, but I could not register Windows devices.

After running the lab (which used different different host names!) and checking many settings I decided to go back to the beginning (always a good place to start) and review the Device Registration requirements listed on TechNet. Surprise, I had missed something really obvious in my clients choice of a wildcard SSL certificate - something I normally dig my heels in over.

Solution: You must add enterpriseregistration. (i.e. enterpriseregistration.noak.es where dan@noak.es is the UPN) to the certificate used for Device Registration as a SAN for each UPN suffix in use.

Straight from the horse's mouth, "AD FS must be configured with a server SSL certificate that includes the well-known Device Registration server names" and this is followed by an example, "enterpriseregistration.".

Ah, that explains it, but then somewhat confusingly TechNet states:

"You can satisfy this requirement in two ways. You can use a wildcard certificate that covers all of the possible names used at your company or you can add the additional names as subject alternative names."


Important: The first way above is not true, at least for now, either that or the Device Registration service is not implemented as designed with all devices in mind.