F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Okta Workforce Identity comparison

Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) and Okta Workforce Identity based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Access Management solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Okta Workforce Identity 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
"Stickiness is the most valuable feature of the product.""F5 BIG-IP APM is relatively easy to use.""The solution is stable and reliable.""This is a product that is easy to install and integrate, and it is simple to use.""The product allows us to create customized portals for your users.""The performance of the solution is valuable.""Our customers have never complained about the stability""We have seen a return on investment from F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager. It provided access at a time when we didn't have it."

More F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) Pros →

"The most valuable aspects of the solution are the integration with external websites one-factor authentication.""What I found most valuable in Okta Workforce Identity is that it worked together with VMware Workspace One, so there was this device check at the same time. My company used the trusted device method that enabled you to define that only the trusted devices including the Workspace One agent were able to access the applications directly without an additional authentication step.""Okta integrates well with other solutions. Once you have integrated an application into Okta and onboarded a user, they will be onboarded for just-in-time provisioning.""The product’s most valuable feature is multifactor authentication.""The most valuable features of Okta Workforce Identity are SSO, MFA, and beneficial feature sets.""The provisioning functionality has been the most valuable. This solution has good performance, fast integration and is very responsive.""Its simplicity and its integration with various vendor-agnostic platforms are the most valuable features.""It's easy to use and straightforward."

More Okta Workforce Identity Pros →

Cons
"The solution’s GUI looks very old.""The operational deployment is not great.""The solution is quite costly.""We do not have knowledgeable support teams locally.""The initial setup was complex.""F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager has room for improvement in integration with other products.""Integrating identity providers and single sign-on solutions can simplify user authentication and access control.""The price of this product can be improved."

More F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) Cons →

"The solution’s policies are difficult to understand due to the policy methods. They use authentication. The solution’s workflow is also difficult and not very active. They need to have proper documentation on it. In the next release, I would like to see the workflows being more digestible.""The guest user access could be improved.""You can't hide the device when you're checking logs.""Okta Workforce Identity can improve by having more features in governance.""We've not had any problems with Okta.""It would be pricing, which is a tough one because it goes against Microsoft. A lot of companies say they're a Microsoft partner, and they get all their software for free. Okta is like a luxury product, and it's not the most affordable one. I would say if they could work on pricing, it would help. Other than that, they've done great strides in developing a product that is really good. The companies that do see the value tend to invest in it.""Its pricing needs improvement.""UD attribute mapping, Okta group rules, and dynamic usage could use improvement. It also needs more in-depth functionality and features to integrate with RADIUS solutions."

More Okta Workforce Identity Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Recently, they have simplified the licensing"
  • "The product is very expensive."
  • "The tool is a little bit expensive."
  • More F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "It could be a bit too pricey for small companies. Okta Workforce Identity can add a lot of benefits, but smaller companies may not have a lot of applications that need to be managed by Okta Workforce Identity. In larger organizations, there are more departments, applications, and users to manage. Okta Workforce Identity adds a bit more value to those bigger organizations. In addition to standard licensing fees, there are also additional costs for things"
  • "License is around US$20,000 annually."
  • "I believe it competes well. The pricing is pretty competitive. I know that Microsoft also provides something similar with its MFA and identity services."
  • "It is costly for large companies."
  • "The price of this product could be lower."
  • "It has a yearly subscription. As compared to its competitors, it is quite expensive. It also has a complex licensing model."
  • "The pricing is reasonable."
  • "This solution is costly. Pricing is decent if you have less users, but it significantly goes up the more users you have, with its cost not justified."
  • More Okta Workforce Identity Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Access Management solutions are best for your needs.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The most valuable feature is the virtual IP creation. It's our most frequently used feature.
    Top Answer:The tool is a little bit expensive. I rate the pricing a six out of ten.
    Top Answer:In my opinion, the GUI side needs some improvement based on my usage. Sometimes, it doesn't work as efficiently as the CLI side. Feature-wise, sometimes when I log in to the GUI and want to see the… more »
    Top Answer:They could provide collaboration with Microsoft for conditional access and other features. They could work on reducing bugs as well.
    Ranking
    9th
    out of 36 in Access Management
    Views
    1,400
    Comparisons
    1,169
    Reviews
    9
    Average Words per Review
    348
    Rating
    8.1
    3rd
    out of 36 in Access Management
    Views
    5,554
    Comparisons
    4,573
    Reviews
    21
    Average Words per Review
    499
    Rating
    8.2
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    F5 Access Policy Manager
    Learn More
    Overview

    F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is an access management proxy solution for managing global access to the enterprise networks, cloud providers, applications, and application programming interfaces (APIs). Through a single management interface, BIG-IP APM consolidates remote, mobile, network, virtual, and web access. 

    BIG-IP APM can also serve as a bridge between modern and classic authentication and authorization protocols and methods. For applications which are unable to support modern authentication and authorization protocols, like SAML and OAuth with OIDC, but which do support classic authentication methods, BIG-IP APM converts user credentials to the appropriate authentication standard supported by the application.

    BIG-IP APM Benefits:

    • Ease of use
    • Flexibility
    • Ability to integrate with other systems
    • Security features
    • Granular access control
    • Responsive and helpful support team

    BIG-IP APM Features:

    • Support for Identity Aware Proxy (IAP) enabling Zero Trust application access
    • Context-based authorization with dynamic L4/L7 ACLs
    • Integration with third-party MFA solutions
    • DTLS 2.0 mode for delivering and securing applications
    • SAML 2.0 identity federation support
    • Support for OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol
    • SSO support for classic authentication (Kerberos, header- based, etc.), credential caching, OAuth 2.0, SAML 2.0, and FIDO2 (U2F)
    • AAA server authentication and high-availability
    • Integration with leading IAM vendor products (Microsoft, Okta, Ping Identity)
    • BIG IP Edge Client and F5 Access integrate with VMware Horizon ONE (AirWatch), Microsoft Intune and IBM MaaS360
    • Risk-based access leveraging third-party UEBA and risk engines (HTTP Connector)

    Reviews from Real Users

    Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by BIG-IP APM users.

    Mahmmoud Rabie, Senior Site Reliability Engineer, writes that BIG-IP APM is "A highly stable solution for load balancing, but the initial setup is complex."

    Clyde LivingstonSenior Process Specialist at Telstra, says that BIG-IP APM is "Easy to use, useful access remotely, but lacking stability."

    Chris LamSenior Solution Consultant at Macroview Telecom Limited, states that BIG-IP APM is "Useful for remote access VPN and VPI integration with VMware.

    Okta Workforce Identity is a comprehensive identity and access management (IAM) solution designed to enhance security and streamline user experiences for businesses of all sizes. As a cloud-based platform, it offers a suite of tools that simplify user authentication, authorization, and management across a variety of applications and services.

    Core Features

    • Single Sign-On (SSO): Enables users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, enhancing convenience and reducing password fatigue.
    • Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Provides robust security by requiring additional verification factors, which can adapt based on the user's location, device, and behavior.
    • Lifecycle Management: Automates user account creation, updating, and deactivation, ensuring access rights are current and compliant with company policies.
    • Universal Directory: A centralized directory service that supports user and group management across various applications, simplifying administrative tasks.
    • API Access Management: Safeguards APIs by implementing policies that control how and when they can be accessed, which is crucial for protecting sensitive data.

    PeerSpot users often praise Okta Workforce Identity for its ease of use and robust security features. IT professionals appreciate the streamlined integration with numerous applications and the flexibility in configuring access policies. Business executives value the enhanced security posture and the ability to enforce compliance across their digital assets.

    For IT professionals, Okta Workforce Identity offers a scalable and efficient solution to manage user identities and access rights. The ability to automate routine tasks like user provisioning and deactivation significantly reduces administrative overhead, allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. Furthermore, the platform's comprehensive reporting capabilities aid in monitoring and auditing access, which is critical for maintaining security and compliance.

    Business executives will find that Okta Workforce Identity aligns with broader organizational goals of operational efficiency and risk management. Its intuitive user experience minimizes disruptions to workforce productivity, while advanced security features like adaptive MFA help mitigate the risk of data breaches. The platform's cloud-based nature ensures scalability and agility, enabling businesses to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and workforce dynamics.

    Okta Workforce Identity stands out as a versatile and secure IAM solution, adept at meeting the complex needs of modern enterprises. Its combination of user-friendly features and robust security measures makes it a top choice for organizations aiming to streamline their identity management processes while bolstering their cybersecurity defenses.

    Sample Customers
    City Bank, Ricacorp Properties, Miele, American Systems, Bangladesh Post Office
    FedEx, Zoom, Takeda, Lululemon Athletica, GrunHub, jetBlue, McKensson, Bain & Company, Engie, Peloton, Sonos, T-Mobile, Hewlett Packard, MGM Resorts, Ally Financial, Priceline, Albertsons, Itercom, Classy, FICO, Kensho, Live Nation, Drata, Rotary, and others.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider27%
    Media Company18%
    Computer Software Company18%
    Financial Services Firm18%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Government12%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company23%
    Manufacturing Company17%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    Healthcare Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government7%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business46%
    Large Enterprise54%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise70%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise43%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise62%
    Buyer's Guide
    F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Okta Workforce Identity
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Okta Workforce Identity and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is ranked 9th in Access Management with 12 reviews while Okta Workforce Identity is ranked 3rd in Access Management with 54 reviews. F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is rated 8.2, while Okta Workforce Identity is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) writes " Facilitates packet inspection, modification, and offloading and offers visibility and troubleshooting capabilities, allowing for pre-production server testing". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Okta Workforce Identity writes "Extremely easy to work with, simple to set up, and reasonably priced ". F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) is most compared with Citrix Gateway, CyberArk Privileged Access Manager, Microsoft Remote Desktop Services, Ivanti Connect Secure and Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service), whereas Okta Workforce Identity is most compared with Google Cloud Identity, Microsoft Entra ID, SailPoint IdentityIQ, Saviynt and Auth0. See our F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs. Okta Workforce Identity report.

    See our list of best Access Management vendors.

    We monitor all Access Management 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.