IAM software platforms make it faster and easier for employees to securely access the data and applications they require to execute their duties. These packages ensure an enterprise that only authorized employees are accessing the correct information. For example, while a human resources staffer needs access to an employee’s personal information, the marketing team doesn’t need the same files. IAM tools provide effective role-based access to keep an organization’s resources safe and out of the hands of intruders. These tools generally perform two functions: They confirm that the user, device, or application is who they say they are by cross-referencing the credentials they provide against what the system has on file. Then, once those credentials are confirmed, the software only provides the necessary level of access, instead of giving the individual access to everything within a network. Here are ZDNet’s top picks of the leading providers of identity access management software in 2022.
Gartner recognized Okta as a leader in its Magic Quadrant for Access Management 2020 for the fourth year in a row. Gartner analysts described Okta as “one of the most mature and advanced AM tools in the market to meet both internal and external user access management use case’s needs.” Okta enables organizations to secure and manage their extended enterprise, whether on-premises or in a private, public or hybrid cloud. With more than 6,000 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta claims that its customers can securely adopt the technologies they need to fulfil their missions. Okta provides SSO (single sign-on), MFA (multi-factor authentication) and a universal directory, which gives a SecOps team a single place to manage all user identities. The platform offers several different factors for their MFA, meaning users are not limited to phone or email authentication. Okta also provides zero trust access management for infrastructure, enabling more control over user permissions. It also automatically secures APIs on the backend. PROS
Intuitive to deploy and integrate other applications as use cases require.SSO process keeps employees from having to remember multiple passwords.Extensive feature menu.
CONS
Pricing might be steep for small businesses.It can be hard to find login information that’s no longer active.
The software assigns permissions automatically based on a user’s role, affording less chance of error than manual assignments. It also can provide access tokens to give users temporary access they might need. The versatile Auth0 platform handles API authorization to ensure that users only connect to safe applications. The platform offers monthly pricing. PROS
Provides templates in several programming languages.The unusual freemium option can be deployed for up to 7,000 users.
CONS
Options few and far between available for customizationFew tools for corporate governance
The platform combines multi-factor authentication with single sign-on options to provide an intuitive and secure sign-on experience for each user. It also includes an analytics engine to help SecOps teams detect (and predict) anomalies in user behavior that could signal that a phony identity has compromised the system. Thanks to its vast feature set, Ping Identity also can help enforce business rules for authorization and authentication through customizable policy tracking. PROS
One of the most innovative companies in this space, new features always in the pipeline.Highly attentive and responsive support team.Easy to implement and good interoperability with other applications.
CONS
Quality comes at a cost: One of the more expensive platforms in the market.
Azure’s Identity Management enables an enterprise to automatically classify and label data to make it easier to assign access rights based on user roles. It also lets users track suspicious activity on shared data and applications, so admins know exactly who is accessing each file and when they’re doing it. PROS
Thanks to a familiar MS interface, this is relatively easy to deploy and use.Secures data and applications and limits access in only a few steps.Provides reliable remote access for identity management.
CONS
Application updates often can be slow to implement.Sometimes requires expert maintenance and management from Microsoft, which could be cost-prohibitive for small businesses.
The HR department controls the user identities, allowing a company to adjust them as the employee lifecycle changes or ends easily. Users even have the option to implement certificate-based trust for remote employees, meaning they’ll never have to enter a password. PROS
Known for its strong customer support services.Analysts praise its intuitive usability and granular access control.
CONS
The Chrome plugin has been problematic.Event logs occasionally miss important actions.
CyberArk Workforce Identity offers both MFA and SSO to help employees log into applications easily and securely; it automates onboarding/offboarding processes to lighten the load on HR and IT teams. The company, formerly known as Idaptive, features a frictionless sign-on process that helps prevent shadow IT from flourishing among employees looking for quicker ways to log into the resources they need. The multi-factor process is supported by analytics functionality, making it faster to spot anomalies that could lead to security breaches. PROS
Users can extend the protection to endpoints to ensure that only approved devices are connecting to a network.Features integrations for more than 150 applications.Known for its responsive and highly professional user support.
CONS
Custom reporting doesn’t always accept SQL inputs as designed.The user interface can make navigation difficult.
ForgeRock is designed to support large numbers of identities, making it optimal for enterprise companies. ForgeRock provides three individual environments (development, testing, and production) for the cost of a single license for cloud deployments. Users don’t have to pay extra to license additional tenancies. ForgeRock also provides the necessary DevOps tools for developers. Pricing is handled per identity registered. PROS
Supports legacy systems while still offering modern solutions.Simple integration path for Java-based applications.Has the ability to add customized components into modules.
CONS
The user interface can sometimes be difficult to navigate.
JumpCloud also provides reporting and analytics that log user activity, allowing a SecOps team to view and log access attempts that might show that an identity has been compromised. It even offers remote management for security admins. PROS
Free platform for up to 10 users and 10 devices.Easy to install and add users.Wide breadth of features.
CONS
Enterprise pricing is per user.Reporting requires an API
The platform is highly scalable. Oracle enables organizations to set their own rules and policies for access, so they have complete control over their data and applications at all times. It also offers SSO for any integrated application from any type of device, including mobile phones and tablets. One of the platform’s key features is its real-time fraud prevention process to protect against compromised credentials and keep business resources secure. PROS
Capable of handling large volumes of data traffic.Reliable user provisioning.
CONS
Requires customization to access many features; professional services can be expensive.Can represent a steep learning curve for staff members.
IBM also provides user lifecycle management and compliance to make it easy for HR departments to create new identities as they hire new employees and remove identities when employees leave. PROS
Centralizes and automates profile management and authentication.Known for its feature-rich platform.
CONS
The tricky and difficult learning curve, according to some users.Licensing and pricing structure can be complicated to enact.
These packages ensure an enterprise that only authorized employees are accessing the correct information. They do the grunge work that humans don’t do well; they also keep track of an employee’s history in the system and predict if and when they might make a log-in error. Real-time fraud prevention using AI protects against compromised credentials and keeps business resources secure. It also lets users track suspicious activity on shared data and applications, so admins know exactly who is accessing each file and when they’re doing it.
