Aspects described herein include a method of automated grouping of client devices for a user-defined network (UDN). The method includes receiving, from a client device an authentication request to join an access provider network. The authentication request includes a unique identifier of the client device for a federation-based network. The method further includes transmitting the unique identifier to a UDN cloud, transmitting the authentication request to an identity provider, and receiving, responsive to the identity provider authenticating the authentication request, a list of one or more UDNs from the UDN cloud that are associated with the unique identifier. The method further includes joining the client device with one or more other client devices present on the access provider network listing a same UDN.