Azure AD vs Okta – What’s the Difference ? (Pros and Cons)
Azure AD vs Okta – What’s the Difference ? (Pros and Cons). An identity management software is an essential tool that ensures a secured and protected security setup for developers, businesses and individuals. This means only people with verified identities can have access to files and confidential data through multiple layers of verification mechanisms and protocols.
Microsoft Azure Active Directory and Okta are two access and identity management software’s. They provide effortless security infrastructure so that users can work on their projects without worrying about system security and verification protocols.
Okta was the first name in the identity and access management sector. Okta is now a company that focuses on identity management. After Okta, Microsoft introduced Azure. Azure also provides identity and access management services, but it is a part of a large Microsoft ecosystem.
Let’s start Azure AD vs Okta – What’s the Difference ?.
What is Azure AD
Azure AD handles multiple logins from different devices with the same name and logins. All the employees of an enterprise need to use some of the Azure services. The application has created considerable ease for large enterprises because it is quite a job to manage the logins and usernames of all the employees of an organization.
Azure AD is a cloud based identity and access management solution. It can synch on-premise and helps your employees to get access to internal resources. For instance, any cloud app that has evolved for your company. Azure AD also helps to acquire permission to thousands of SaaS applications and other external resources like Microsoft 365.
Pros of Azure AD
- Conditional Access
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Azure AD offers Customized password protection.
- Single sign SSO on for several users
Azure AD helps you create a single login credential for multiple users. The employees can get access to several apps by using these credentials. It also allows you to terminate the login permission of the old employees. And to onboard the new employees.
- High availability
Azure AD has a high evaluability. It is a multi tier cloud based service that delivers up to 99.95% service level agreement. This high perceptive of SLA is unachievable for most Businesses.
- Data security
Security of Azure AD is our favorite topic to talk about. Azure AD has robust cyber security control. And it works on the standard security requirements: detect, access, diagnose, stabilize and close. Azure ensures user-friendly services and increased protection such as app password requirements and multi factor authentication to avoid data stealing.
- Available worldwide
You and your employers can use the Azure AD from the farthest reach. It has 28 different data centers globally. The worldwide access of the applications allows users to access the application from all over the world.
- Multiple device and platform functionality
Azure AD is compatible with multiple platforms and devices. It allows real-time communication and helps to increase productivity.
- Considerably reduces the risk.
Managing large enterprises is no less than a nightmare because the more robust the enterprises, the more are the chances of data stealing. Azure AD came into the picture to solve this problem forever. Azure AD instantly detects unusual user behavior and gives a “just in time” report. Administrative access to Microsoft and different authority level administration ensure that resources are safe.
Cons of Azure AD
- Azure AD moves your business from the data center to the cloud. And it requires it to be efficiently managed and maintained. Proper patching and server monitoring are crucial.
- Azure AD requires the expertise to ensure all the parts are moving together efficiently.
What is Okta
Okta is an identity as a service app category application. It helps to create a single login for multiple users. One can connect an app of any language or every stack with the Okta. And it will design a custom login process for your users.
Okta is famous for its user friendly interference, SSO integration, various directory types and extensive reporting. The substantial advantage of Okta is; that it grants access to the administration to decide how they want to deliver the login access to the users.
Okta Cloud Identity is a top pick for SSO solutions and it provides an easy path to maintaining a robust network integration.
Pros of Okta
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)-MFA adds an extra step to the login process using information separate from your login credentials. Okta MFA options include the answer to a security question, a one time password (OTP).
- Easy LDAP integration
- Provides secure remote work
Okta provides a secure working environment for all of its users. The identity management of the Okta allows smooth and easy identity management and protects all online operations. The administration can decide how much access they want to give to their users.
- Helps to combat fraud
The companies that operate virtually become victims of fraudulent activities. Okta came to reduce or stop these activities. Identity management is a strong integration of Okta. It ensures that all the applicants have an efficient means of accessing confidential information. Identity management also monitors the users and reports if they notice suspicious activities.
- Easy to use
There is no need for premises MFA servers, the application is user friendly and it is a way easy to use for both the users and the administrators.
- Easy and faster office 365 deployment
Office 365 is one of the most complex cloud based applications, yet most organizations use it for documentation. That is why the documentation is the most time taking process. For those who want to cut this time-consuming process, you need to install Okta. Okta is compatible with the web application and office app. And it shortens the deployment time.
- Adaptive security
Okta understands that the security system of the application needs modifications, according to changing circumstances. Okta has MFA integration that allows the dynamic policy changes and sets up identification and verification that responds promptly to users and device locations, behavior, unusual login, and another context.
- Smoother login access
Okta works like magic; all of your workers will get access to all the applications with a single sign on and username. This app is super easy to use. And it allows you to kick out all the members who leave the organization.
- Mobile password manager app
Okta’s password manager mobile app lets users access their SSO dashboards on the go
- Password less authentication
- Pricing
Okta gives the best price for your money. Its price has not been increasing for quite a time now, whereas the competitive price has increased its pricing several times.
Cons of Okta
- Okta is a reliable application. But once the service is broken, the restoration process is a little painful and time-consuming.
- Okta provides several customized options for the managers, but there are few options for the users.
- Some users have reported that they did not get the appropriate response from the customer service. Or they received late assistance.
Next with Azure AD vs Okta – What’s the Difference ? is time to look compare both Cloud Identity tools.
Azure AD vs Okta - What's the Difference
Okta and Azure AD is the Microsoft integration. Both the applications provide a safe solution to add authentication and authorization services to your applications. Although the functions of both applications are the same, they are quite different from each other. Let’s compare some major differences between both service providers.
Report of Actionable Events
Azure AD Reports
Azure AD provides two types of details. General user details, details of which users have added and which users have left the team. And account status report; to see the users who have never logged on to suspend their logins.
Okta Reports
Okta provides the report of actionable events. Okta uses three report categories; usage, security, and system log queries. It filters the report on basis of time, date and location on the map to provide the most authentic information about the actionable event.
Single Sign On, Azure Ad vs Okta
Azure AD SSO
Users can get access by logging in to the app or via the window Azure portal. After logging in, a window pops up containing the multiple menu options. You can choose from the available app; administrators can select authentication based apps available on-premise or in the cloud. Administrators also decide on the numerous authentication levels of the users.
Okta SSO
In Okta, users can access a personal dashboard by clicking on a specific link. It allows you to add apps, create new categories and view notifications. Oktas allows the administrators to set different permission levels according to the job titles, rank and department.
Multi Factor Authentication
Azure AD MFA
Azure AD uses the MFA to ensure security and grant permission to reset the self service password. For verification and security, Azure AD’s MFA security includes the free Microsoft authenticator app, or one can do verification through code, calls and texts.
Okta MFA
Okta MFA incorporates the best identity management software. And in conjunction, they create two factor security authentication (2FA). To ensure security Okta sometimes requires login information other than login credentials. It can be an answer to a security question with a one time password. Okta also uses biometric systems such as fingerprint and facial recognition, which is a pretty impressive feature.
Browser Extension
Azure AD Browser Extension
After logging in, the users will get access to the portal. At the dashboard, the user can add the companion browser apps for a smooth workflow. But Azure AD is compatible only with several chrome extensions.
Okta Browser Extension
Okta browser extension is everything you need. The users get access to the SSO dashboard after logging in. And that is where the magic begins. Okta allows users to add the extension that they like the most. And it is compatible with all major browsers.
Password Privacy
Azure AD vs Okta Password Privacy
Okta uses passwordless authentication. And use emails, personal identity verification, and smart cards for the logins. While Azure AD provides a customized list of the password, to prevent the employee from using confidential data and information. Both passwords type provides considerable security.
Active Directory
Azure AD vs Okta
Azure AD helps its users get rid of their on premises active directory. Getting out from a premises active directory is not possible with Okta because it is not a full replacement. Although Azure AD is not the same as traditional AD, the fundamental features are the same. Azure AD has several benefits in the cloud system.
Pricing Policy
Azure AD vs Okta Pricing Policy
Microsoft Azure Active Directory and Okta Identity Cloud both offer free versions and premium tools on a per user basis. The subscription fee will depend on the number of active registered users.
Without any doubt, Azure AD provides the best cloud-based services, but its price is three times higher than Okta. Azure AD gives a monthly membership at $6, while the Okta delivers a monthly membership of only $2.
We recommend our readers to go for the yearly subscriptions because they are the most cost effective.
Thank you for your time with the article Azure AD vs Okta – What’s the Difference ? Let’s conclude.
Azure AD Monitoring Reporting Tool InfraSOS
- Create compliant Active Directory by using our Reporting Tool and
- Office 365 Reports.
- InfraSOS is available on Prem AD / Azure AD / Office 365
- It is a SaaS Reporting Solution.
- Improve the Security & Health of your Active Directory by finding:
- A)the true last login time for users? B)users who haven’t logged on in the last 30 days. C)who’s password have expired. D) or maybe you need a report on locked out users ?
- Many more reports on your AD (over 200 reports).
- Azure AD / Office 365 Reports.
- Active Directory Logon Reports.
- Active Directory Password Reports.
- Active Directory GPO Reports.
Azure AD vs Okta - What's the Difference Conclusion
Well! It seems like there is a draw between the Azure AD and Okta. Because both service providers deliver efficient services. Okta has got the fame because of its pre configured integration, yet Azure has everything that a large enterprise needs. Okta and Azure’s AD has built a robust identity management program that incorporates SSO and MFA functionality. Both Okta and Azure lets you create custom integration of several applications. But in the near future, Okta might win the competition because of its strong cross platform functionality and narrow focus on the IAM.
What we think is the free version of Microsoft Azure Active Directory is a good choice as it has more basic identity management tools for small businesses. but if you are a large business then Okta Identity Cloud allows for unlimited connections and integrations with third party apps.
But there is no substitute for the Azure AD if your company is operating on the Windows server network infrastructure.
