Systems and methods are provided for authentication chaining and firewall optimization in a micro branch deployment comprising a plurality of chained access points (APs) and a gateway AP. A topology of the micro branch deployment may be determined through enhanced hierarchical beaconing. Based on the determined topology, an authentication chain is developed through which a client device associated to an AP of the plurality of chained APs may be authenticated and granted access to the AP. Upon authentication of the client device, firewall optimization is performed to implement access control rules only at the AP to which the client device is associated.