{"id":17819,"date":"2023-06-16T09:13:25","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T13:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jumpcloud.com\/?p=17819"},"modified":"2024-11-08T17:48:46","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T22:48:46","slug":"azure-ad-okta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/azure-ad-okta","title":{"rendered":"Azure AD vs Okta: An In-Depth Analysis of IAM Providers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
As more IT organizations shift their identity and access management (IAM) infrastructure to the cloud,<\/a> the competition for SaaS identity management<\/a> solutions is intensifying. And with so many options, many admins are left overwhelmed with how to compare the different solutions. But choosing the right IAM provider is critical to organizational security and compliance, and for ensuring an efficient and scalable user experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the web application single sign-on (SSO)<\/a> landscape, admins are often comparing Azure Active Directory<\/a> (Azure AD or AAD) and Okta. Interestingly, while both compete in the Identity-as-a-Service<\/a> (IDaaS) or web app SSO market, they both also heavily rely on Microsoft Active Directory<\/a> to function at a high-level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While they may be competitors in web app SSO and multi-factor authentication<\/a> (MFA or 2FA), they\u2019re largely different beyond this similarity. Ultimately, both are separate tools that serve different needs for IT administrators. And while Azure AD and Okta may be two of the most popular IAM solutions, that doesn\u2019t mean that either is the best choice for your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we\u2019ll compare two top IAM solutions; Okta, and Azure Active Directory, before offering a new third solution: JumpCloud + Google Workspace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Okta, which went public in 2017, was one of the first cloud-based web application SSO solutions on the market. Web app SSO solutions, commonly referred to as first generation Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) platforms, are popular due to the wide use of web applications such as Slack, GitHub, Salesforce, and thousands of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okta is a widely recognized IAM solution that offers several features and benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These features and benefits make Okta a popular choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive and flexible IAM solution that enhances security, improves user experience, and simplifies access management processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While many IAM platforms can be a fit for more general identity and access use cases, there are a few specific situations in which Okta excels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that these are just a few use cases specific to Okta. There are, of course, many other situations in which Okta can be a good fit for your environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While Okta is a popular IAM solution, it also has certain limitations that organizations should consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your specific use case, you may find that Okta\u2019s downsides don\u2019t justify the steep learning curve, high cost, and continued reliance on Active Directory that Okta requires. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is the user authentication infrastructure for Azure, Microsoft\u2019s cloud computing service that competes with AWS and GCP, Microsoft 365, and web single sign-on solutions. While many IT organizations assume Azure AD is the cloud-based directory services<\/a> replacement for Active Directory, this is not the case. With Azure AD, Active Directory is still hosted on-premises<\/a>, while AAD Azure AD is the user management system for cloud and web applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Azure AD was custom-built for Microsoft, by Microsoft, and allows organizations in Microsoft-based environments to extend their capabilities to the cloud. Here are some key features and benefits of Azure AD:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Azure Active Directory has a variety of features and capabilities, it\u2019s important to note that it has one major drawback: it is not platform-agnostic, and requires the support of an on-prem Active Directory instance, and for your organization to further integrate within the Microsoft ecosystem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While many IAM platforms can be a fit for more general identity and access use cases, there are a few specific situations in which Azure AD excels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, this isn\u2019t an exhaustive list of all use cases for Azure AD. Do your own research to compare your company\u2019s needs to Azure AD\u2019s capabilities to determine if it fits your specific use case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While Azure AD provides decent user experience for those who already have an on-prem Active Directory and are deeply entrenched in the Microsoft environment, it\u2019s not without its own unique challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re committed to remaining in the Microsoft user environment long-term, these drawbacks may not be deal breakers for you. But if your company is planning to scale at any time in the future, you may discover that you need the flexibility of a platform-agnostic solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, many businesses are diversifying their operating systems and platforms. These modern organizations want to make remote work happen wherever in the world their employees are located, and on whichever operating system they prefer. For flexible, secure organizational needs like these, JumpCloud + Google Workspace is the ideal solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOkta: Features, Benefits, and Considerations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Features and Benefits of Okta <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Use Cases for Okta <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Limitations of Okta<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Azure AD: Features, Benefits, and Considerations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Features and Benefits of Azure AD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Use Cases for Azure AD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Limitations of Azure AD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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JumpCloud + Google Workspace: Features, Benefits and Considerations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n