Microsoft Entra ID vs Symantec Advanced Authentication comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Entra ID and Symantec Advanced Authentication based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Cisco, Fortinet and others in Authentication Systems.
To learn more, read our detailed Authentication Systems Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Coming from a traditional on-premises Active Directory infrastructure, it is purely a SaaS platform. It is global. It is evergreen. It is always evolving. It is core to the Microsoft Ecosystem.""It is pretty good in terms of stability.""The ability to grant access to other organizations is helpful.""It offers features that improve our security posture such as multifactor authentication, which is the second layer of protection that is used when we log into the cloud.""Single sign-on provides flexibility and helps because users don't want to remember so many passwords when logging in. It's a major feature. Once you log in, you have access to all the applications. It also enables us to provide backend access controls to our users, especially when it comes to groups, as we are trying to normalize things.""The solution is free to use and you can use it for every service.""The single sign-on of the solution is the most valuable aspect.""Overall the solution functions very well, such as the ability to access it from the cloud."

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"One of the most valuable features of this solution is that it's a strong authentication solution that's able to integrate with applications.""One of the most valuable aspects is its remarkable stability.""It tells us exactly what we want in terms of authentication to various applications and provides protection for users who access them.""Rules on Risk Authentication are very good."

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Cons
"It would be an improvement if Authenticator made it easier to recover the app if you reboot your cellphone and lose access.""Azure AD needs to be more in sync. The synchronization can be time-consuming.""The price has room for improvement.""In terms of connecting the web application, there is technology for single sign-on. When we use it, the solution opens very slowly. It might be a bandwidth issue, and some content will not work on that portal.""Everything should be in one package. There are so many different packages. They need to provide guidance because there are so many features and we don't know how to implement them in our organization.""The only improvement would be for everything to be instant in terms of applying changes and propagating them to systems.""It doesn't function the same way as an Active Directory inside of an infrastructure, that is, a physical infrastructure. In the cloud, it is all flat. That's one of the disadvantages.""I haven't had any issues with the product."

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"We have seen quite a few issues with bugginess. It is indeed pretty buggy and we have had to install some fixes.""This solution could be improved with risk-based authentication. I think that this product has everything that most customers are looking for, but modern technology has people looking for security tools with risk-based authentication, which they have a separate tool for. If they could integrate this, it would improve Symantec Advanced Authentication. They have to look at what's newly trending and how things are moving forward, and then adapt and adopt those features. Symantec's technical support should also be improved, in terms of response time.""Advanced Authentication talks about the Device ID. But how the device ID is captured, I want to know more about that.""Urgent improvement is necessary to ensure that support responses are faster and more effective, aligning with the demands of MFA implementation."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The licensing cost is a bit prohibitive."
  • "The licensing is really not clear unless you are a premium client."
  • "Licensing is easy."
  • "It is a really nice tool and we have a license for the more complex model."
  • "It is not too expensive."
  • "It's really affordable."
  • "I do not have experience with pricing."
  • "Licensing fees are paid on a monthly basis and the cost depends on the number of users."
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  • "There are eventually going to be implementation costs. Sometimes you're required to have custom code developments there, so that has to be part of the implementation price."
  • "The price is reasonable."
  • More Symantec Advanced Authentication Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:We switched to Duo Security for identity verification. We’d been using a competitor but got the chance to evaluate Duo for 30 days, and we could not be happier Duo Security is easy to configure and… more »
    Top Answer:It is very simple. The Active Directory functions are very easy for us. Its integration with anything is very easy. We can easily do third-party multifactor authentication.
    Top Answer:One of the most valuable aspects is its remarkable stability.
    Top Answer:There has been a need for aggressive development to modernize the product and align it with contemporary security requirements. While the rebranding has been a step forward, further enhancements are… more »
    Ranking
    1st
    Views
    21,541
    Comparisons
    15,601
    Reviews
    92
    Average Words per Review
    865
    Rating
    8.7
    19th
    Views
    327
    Comparisons
    201
    Reviews
    1
    Average Words per Review
    770
    Rating
    7.0
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Azure AD, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Authenticator
    CA Advanced Authentication, CA Strong Authentication, CA Risk Authentication, Arcot WebFort, Arcot RiskFort
    Learn More
    Interactive Demo
    Overview

    Microsoft Entra ID, previously known as Azure AD (Active Directory), is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) solution. Designed to help organizations of all sizes manage user identities and create an intelligent security perimeter around their cloud and on-premise resources. Microsoft Entra ID or Azure AD is integral to the Microsoft 365 and Azure ecosystems. It provides a robust set of capabilities to manage users and groups and secure access to applications in a centralized, streamlined manner.

    Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) is a login system, morphing into a sophisticated identity and access management (IAM) solution for the modern, hybrid workplace. Imagine a single vault for all your digital keys – that's the essence of Entra ID's identity management. It acts as a central repository for user identities, encompassing usernames, passwords, and even additional attributes like department or employee role.

    These capabilities enabled simplified administration using a unified platform for adding, modifying, and deleting user accounts. Users no longer need to remember login credentials for a plethora of applications. Entra ID streamlines access by using the same identity across various cloud services and on-premises resources (if integrated). Centralized identity management allows for stricter enforcement of security policies and password complexity requirements across the organization.

    Authentication sits at the heart of the solution, ensuring only authorized users gain access to sensitive resources. It employs a multi-pronged approach:

    • Password Authentication: The traditional method of username and password is still supported, but Entra ID encourages stronger authentication methods.
    • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of security, MFA requires users to verify their identity beyond just a password – through a code sent to their phone, fingerprint recognition, or a security key.
    • Single Sign-On (SSO): This user-friendly feature eliminates the need to enter credentials repeatedly. Users sign in once to Entra ID and gain seamless access to all authorized applications, boosting productivity.
    • Conditional Access Policies: Providing granular control over how and when users can access resources. Based on conditions like user role, location, device state, and the application being accessed, Conditional Access policies help ensure that only the right people under the right conditions can access sensitive resources.
    • Seamless Integration: Seamless integration with thousands of SaaS applications, Microsoft 365, and on-premises applications via Application Proxy or third-party identity bridges.
    • Advanced Security Reports and Alerts: Sophisticated security monitoring, reporting tools, and automated alerts. These features enable to identify potential security issues, such as atypical behavior or attempted identity attacks, allowing for swift remediation actions.

    For organizations with on-premises infrastructure, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) offers hybrid identity options. This allows for a smooth integration between on-premises Active Directory and Entra ID, providing a consistent identity for users across both environments. It enables organizations to leverage their existing investments in on-premises infrastructure while taking advantage of cloud scalability and flexibility.

    In conclusion, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) is a comprehensive IAM solution that addresses the complex challenges of managing and securing identities in a cloud-centric world. Its blend of ease of use, security, and integration capabilities makes it an essential component of modern IT infrastructure, supporting both operational efficiency and strategic business objectives.

    Additional links:

        CA Advanced Authentication provides a secure, user-convenient and cost-effective way to protect online and mobile applications. The solution consists of two components:  CA Risk Authentication allows the enterprise to silently and transparently collect data and assess risk based on device identification, location and user behavior, among other factors, and CA Strong Authentication provides a wide variety of software-based, two-factor authentication credentials and technology to make passwords more secure.  Together they enable an intelligent, layered security approach to protect user identities and organizational data.

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        Sample Customers
        Microsoft Entre ID is trusted by companies of all sizes and industries including Walmart, Zscaler, Uniper, Amtrak, monday.com, and more.
        Global bank, Large Filipino Bank and SK Infosec
        Top Industries
        REVIEWERS
        Financial Services Firm14%
        Computer Software Company14%
        Non Profit5%
        Educational Organization5%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Educational Organization25%
        Computer Software Company12%
        Financial Services Firm9%
        Government6%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Financial Services Firm25%
        Real Estate/Law Firm13%
        Comms Service Provider13%
        Computer Software Company11%
        Company Size
        REVIEWERS
        Small Business33%
        Midsize Enterprise14%
        Large Enterprise53%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business18%
        Midsize Enterprise34%
        Large Enterprise48%
        REVIEWERS
        Small Business22%
        Large Enterprise78%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business26%
        Midsize Enterprise6%
        Large Enterprise68%
        Buyer's Guide
        Authentication Systems
        March 2024
        Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Cisco, Fortinet and others in Authentication Systems. Updated: March 2024.
        765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

        Microsoft Entra ID is ranked 1st in Authentication Systems with 190 reviews while Symantec Advanced Authentication is ranked 19th in Authentication Systems with 9 reviews. Microsoft Entra ID is rated 8.6, while Symantec Advanced Authentication is rated 7.8. The top reviewer of Microsoft Entra ID writes "Allows users to authenticate from home and has excellent integrations in a simple, stable solution". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Symantec Advanced Authentication writes "Ensures robust security features and ease of deployment, although it may lack some of the more modern authentication options ". Microsoft Entra ID is most compared with Microsoft Intune, Google Cloud Identity, Yubico YubiKey, Cisco Duo and CyberArk Privileged Access Manager, whereas Symantec Advanced Authentication is most compared with OneSpan DIGIPASS, Thales Authenticators and Symantec VIP Access Manager.

        See our list of best Authentication Systems vendors.

        We monitor all Authentication Systems reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.