Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers List for SSO (Pros and Cons)

Top 10 Best SAML Providers List for SSO (Pros and Cons).  Well the Single Sign On (SSO) is SaaS essential tool. What it does it is authenticating users with ease which leads to companies saving development time. In this post, we have shortlisted the Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers for SSO to authenticate users securely and easily:

The core objective of SSO is to make identification processes easier, so users feel unrestrained and secure when signing into multiple servers, portals, databases and applications. 

Let’s proceed to Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers List for SSO (Pros and Cons) 

What is SSO (Single Sign On) Software?

SSO Software, an acronym for Single Sign On Software. An authentication tool that uses a single set of credentials, such as MFA (multi factor authentication) or username and password to sign into various databases or applications. It is a Federated Identity Management structure, also sometimes referred to as identity federation

Furthermore, this also reduces the manual work of IT developers and admins as it offers centralized access management. SSO software is often packed with innovative features such as an intuitive dashboard, directory integration, remote access via mobile apps, cloud applications and so on. 

For the SSO tool to work, mostly it requires open standard authentication protocols to define how identity providers (IdPs) and service providers (SPs) will exchange authentication information provided. So the SSO is used with multiple authentication protocols such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), RADIUS, Kerberos, OpenID Connect, and more.

How does SSO Software work?

Before we get into the top 10 best SSO solutions, let us first understand how an SSO solution works. As users log into the application, the SSO tool will learn all applications that use the same SSO tool. There is no SSO cookie when the user logs in for the first time. As a user utilizes one of the pre determined login processes, the tool creates an SSO cookie with an expiry date. It is then used later on to log into other applications with ease.

For software to qualify as an SSO, it must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Allows users to sign into multiple databases, servers, or applications via a single portal.
  • Provide secure and unrestrained access to data and applications.
  • Feature centralized authentication servers for applications
  • Integrate login access into business centric applications.

Interestingly SSO solutions can be offered in various forms, some run on the cloud, some On Prem, and some combine both. 

Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers for SSO

1. Okta Identity Cloud

Okta is one of the popular cloud solutions that allow SSO vendors to easily access cloud and on site applications via any device, from anywhere at any time with the use of robust security policies. Able to directly integrate with 4000+ applications and also existing directories and identity solutions a company uses. Primarily integrates every service that offers SAML.

Secondly Okta is a well integrated platform that can be easily implemented across organizations, even at a large scale. An open source, industry leading SSO solution that is easy to use, highly flexible, and uses 2FA (two factor authentication) for robust security.

Pros of Okta

  • Easy to use.
  • Various MFA providers come integrated into Okta.
  • Allows easy white labelling.
  • Detailed documentation.
  • Role based access control.

Cons of Okta

  • UI could be better.
  • Scaling up adds extra costs.
  • Learning curve required.

Also Read 

Okta WordPress SSO

2. OneLogin

OneLogin is an open source SSO provider, commonly used for quick access to cloud based applications. Greatly simplifies identity management with single click access whilst enforcing robust security. Users can log into on prem and cloud applications via any device. Additionally it removes employees from Active Directory if they happen to change or quit their roles in real time and disables their access right away.

With OneLogin, you can quickly onboard or off board employees, manage application access, and provide easy access to end users for all applications via any device. Moreover, you can even expand your on prem security policies to the cloud in no time. 

Also with OneLogin it significantly eliminates complex integration, lengthy provisioning, on boarding and off boarding processes, manual provisioning, and Shadow IT.

Pros of OneLogin

  • Robust privacy and security policies.
  • Excellent functionality with multiple custom connectors.
  • Session management architecture needs reauthentication after a certain period of inactivity.
  • Desktop SSO and Mobile SSO.
  • Easy to use and deploy.

Cons of OneLogin

  • Loading time can be sluggish sometimes
  • Average API support
  • Limited customization.

3. JumpCloud

JumpCloud is an open directory platform that offers unified device management and access control with SSO as its core feature. This cloud based solution provides SAML integrations with over 700 popular applications and automated SCIM provisioning/deprovisioning and JIT (Just in Time) provisioning. 

Basically JumpCloud manages Mac, Linux, and Windows users with robust access control across applications, networks and servers, both in the cloud and on premises. With the unified console, one can manage employee identities and their devices whilst enforcing Zero Trust principles.

Pros of JumpCloud

  • Cross platform management for users and devices.
  • Easy to use for IT admins as well as end users.
  • Great customer support.
  • Supports MFA (multi factor authentication).

Cons of JumpCloud

  • UI could be better.
  • Steep pricing.

4. Ping Identity

Next on the list of Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers List for SSO is Ping Identity. Considered one of the best SSO providers. Great especially for large scale enterprises as it is able to expand from hundreds to millions of users. The main highlight of Ping Identity is that it comprises MFA (Multi Factor Authentication). 

Ping Identity features robust security, amazing end user experience, directory integration, and so much more. It is an intelligent identity platform that offers various cloud deployment offerings such as SSO solution, IDaaS (Identity as a service), containerized software, etc.

It supports integration with variety of platforms, protocols, and applications with pre built adapters and provisioners.

Pros of Ping Identity

  • Solid customer support.
  • Requires nominal training to use.
  • Enterprise ready with multiple pre built integrations.

Cons of Ping Identity

  • Onboarding with PingID could be much smoother.
  • Complex troubleshooting.
  • End users may find it buggy sometimes

5. CyberArk Identity

Previously known as Idaptive, CyberArk Identity offers powerful identity security for your cloud, on premises and mobile infrastructures. Comprises Next Gen Access which offers unified SSO, adaptive MFA (Multi Factor Authentication), EMM (Enterprise Mobility Management) and UBA (User Behaviour Analytics).  All in a single integrated tool.

Moreover, it also features Zero Trust Policy and Lifecycle Management Services to automatically create accounts, manages roles, routes application requests and revoke access permissions, as and when needed. IT admins can provision end users across applications from a single console.

As a result CyberArk is a perfect solution for SMEs (small to medium enterprises), as it significantly protects your infrastructure from falling prey to compromised login credentials. 

Pros of CyberArk Identity

  • Cross platform management.
  • Solid customer support.
  • Intuitive UI and Biometric Authentication with CyberArk Alero.

Cons of CyberArk Identity

  • Can be buggy sometimes
  • Application configuration can be a bit complex.

6. Microsoft Azure AD (Active Directory) 

Another tool on our list of Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers List for SSO is Azure AD . All inclusive, universal platforms to secure and manage identities. Well integrated platform that offers robust security for access management across devices, applications, and data. Altogether with SSO features it also does virtual machine deployment, remote storage, and other services.

It provides secure adaptive access with support for Conditional Access policies and MFA. Besides, the Single Sign On delivers a seamless user experience. Through a single console, you can connect all external and internal users to any device or application. 

Further, it greatly simplifies Identity Governance with access reviews, access packages, and automated provisioning. 

Pros of Microsoft Azure AD

  • SSO simplifies application access.
  • Single dashboard provides full visibility and control across all environments
  • Identity Governance enforces security policies to provide access to right people to right resources, only when needed

Cons of Microsoft Azure AD

  • Beginners may find it a bit complicated to use.
  • Truly designed for enterprises that adopt a cloud only infrastructure.
  • Initial setup can be lengthy.

7. Auth0

Launched in 2013, Auth0 is a product unit under Okta. One of the reliable SaaS solutions to take a modern approach to application authentication and identity management. With Auth0, IT admins can connect any application and define its integrations and external identity providers to be used. 

Highly customizable platform that is fairly flexible and straightforward. Featuring SSO, Auth0 provides a seamless customer experience as it leverages MFA, robust security policies, rich user profiling, social login integrations, facilitated transactions, and more. Overall, it is easy to use and implement.

Pros of Auth0

  • Easy to configure and set up.
  • Intuitive UI.
  • Highly customizable and full featured.
  • Security with OAuth 2.0 authentication protocol and AuthO analytics. 
  • Hooks and Rules are two great features to expand authentication workflow.

Cons of Auth0

  • Poor support.
  • Not ideal for large scale use.
  • High priced.
  • Admins must have basic knowledge of JSON.

8. Frontegg

Frontegg is an ‘all in one’ user management platform featuring authentication, authorization and analytics to unified admin portal. It is mainly targeted toward modern B2B SaaS applications.

Besides Frontegg covers fundamental authentication workflows along with advanced functionalities such as enterprise SSO, social login integrations, MFA, password less authentication, advanced security policies, multi tenancy, API token management and self service admin portal for end users, and so much more.

The interfaces of Frontegg are suitably embedded as a UI layer into your application to act as a customer facing management UI for end users. Plus, it also powers your backend as it supports a rich set of SDKs in different frameworks and languages.

As a result Frontegg is an Enterprise ready platform featuring integration with SAML and OIDC protocols, a Social SSO, a fully embeddable Login Box and so much more.

One of the biggest benefits of using Frontegg is that, all integrations added by developers reflects directly to the end users without the need to turn to customer support for adaption.

Pros of Frontegg

  • Easy SSO integration.
  • Customer facing, customizable UI.
  • Ideal for B2B SaaS applications.
  • Self service admin portal for end users.
  • Solid support.
  • Intuitive UI.
  • Supports multi tenancy and MFA.
  • Good SDK and REST API support.

Cons of Frontegg

  • Limited customization.
  • UI could be better.
  • Limited social login integrations.

9. WorkOS

Just launched in 2018, and WorkOS is already well liked by many enterprises and IT developers. The all in one solution boasts Enterprise SSO and supports all OIDC and SAML providers right out of the box.

As well as being packed with MFA, OAuth, modern APIs, email magic links for password less authentication, modern SDKs, and support for 20+ enterprise services with a unified integration point. Moreover, it easily syncs with various enterprise employee directories to offer smooth user lifecycle management. 

Pros of WorkOS

  • Enterprise SSO. 
  • Strong integrations.
  • Faster onboarding.
  • SCIM provisioning with Okta, Azure, ADFS, etc.
  • HRIS integration with Rippling, Bamboo, etc.
  • Directory Sync.
  • Customizable to match your brand’s feel.
  • Good documentation.

Cons of WorkOS

  • Relatively new, hence lacks advanced capabilities.
  • Limited customization.

10. SecureAuth

Last but not the least, SecureAuth is an authentication provider with an optimal cloud based SSO offering. Equally it offers good administration features along with powerful analytics to derive actionable insights that users can leverage to enhance their SaaS products. 

For instance SecureAuth can be deployed on premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. Secures and manages access to data, systems and applications at scale, anywhere around the globe. Offers well integrated adaptive authentication with robust security

Pros of SecureAuth

  • Good security policies.
  • Supports legacy systems.
  • Zero Trust initiatives.
  • Adaptive risk analytics.

Cons of SecureAuth

  • Average support.
  • Small community.

Thank you for reading Top 10 Best SAML Providers List for SSO (Pros and Cons). 

Top 10 Best SAML Providers List for SSO (Pros and Cons) Conclusion

In this top 10 best SAML providers list post, we explained about each providers with advantages and disadvantages. With this, we wrap up our Top 10 Best SAML Identity Providers List for SSO. Intuitive SSO solutions can help enterprises focus on innovation and other business centric efforts, as it significantly reduces the access management work of IT admins and developers.

These solutions are feature rich, secure, robust, and versatile to help you allow easy access to end users across all devices, applications, and servers with minimal friction. These innovative tools have a unified console from which you can manage all roles and parameters. Pick wisely, as per your business application needs!

Check our Single Sign On content here.

Avatar for Hitesh Jethva
Hitesh Jethva

I am a fan of open source technology and have more than 10 years of experience working with Linux and Open Source technologies. I am one of the Linux technical writers for Cloud Infrastructure Services.

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