Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for authentication in a multi-cloud cellular service. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, at a controller of a local site within the multi-cloud cellular service, a network connection request from a device, the cloud-based authentication component being a central network component configured to store device credentials and network policies for authenticating devices connecting to the multi-cloud cellular service across all sites associated with the multi-cloud cellular service. In one aspect, the method also includes locally authenticating, by the controller, the device using stored credential information obtained from the cloud-based authentication component prior to losing the connectivity to the cloud-based authentication component.