Microsoft Entra ID vs PingFederate comparison

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16,812 views|12,314 comparisons
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3,023 views|2,545 comparisons
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

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

Find out in this report how the two Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Entra ID vs. PingFederate 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
"Multi-factor authentication really secures our environments and gives us the flexibility to use location-based policies. Azure AD also gives us a lot of flexibility in our scope of integration.""This solution is less time-consuming. We don't have to hire as many resources to give permissions to a particular user or group for any application.""I like the way it communicates to the cloud.""The way the laptops are joined is valuable. We can take advantage of that in terms of being able to log in and do things. It is easier to change passwords or set things up.""The most valuable feature is that it is very easy to implement, you don't need a lot of effort to set up the solution. This is the most advantageous point, that you can do anything on Azure without taking too much time.""Azure Active Directory has useful policy assigning and management.""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.""It's definitely both stable and scalable."

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"PingFederate gives you granular control over the settings. There are many options for fine-tuning policies.""The most valuable feature is multifactor authentication.""It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."

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Cons
"I would like it to be easier to integrate third-party applications.""Allowing for more customization would be very useful. There is a limited metadata capability. When you look at a user, there are only six pieces of information you can see, but organizations are way more complex, so having that metadata available and being able to use that for dynamic user groups and other policies would be very helpful.""Be aware that it may not work perfectly globally yet. There are still glitches with the solution in Africa.""They should put the features of P1 and P2 into a single license.""Some systems do not integrate very well with Azure AD. We thought of going for Okta, but later on we were able to achieve it, but not the way we wanted. It was not as easy as we thought it would be. The integration was not very seamless.""I think there is room for improvement with actually discussing, and advertising Microsoft as a an authenticator. Many people just get confused and use Google, and I think if Microsoft would make more of an effort to penetrate the market, that would be key.""Sometimes, what one customer may like, another may not like it. We have had customers asking, "Why is Microsoft forcing us to do this?" For example, when you use Exchange Server on-premise, then you can customize it for your company and these customizations are unlimited. However, if you use Exchange Online or with Microsoft 365, then your ability to make modifications is limited. So, only the cloud versus is limited.""My only pain point in this solution is creating group membership for devices."

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"Currently, the main integration is SAML-based, but other integration methodologies need to be supported.""PingFederate's UI could be streamlined. They have recently made several improvements, but it's still too complex. It's a common complaint. The configuration should be simplified because the learning curve is too steep.""Notifications and monitoring are two areas with shortcomings in the solution that need improvement."

More PingFederate Cons →

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."
  • More Microsoft Entra ID Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    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:It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
    Top Answer:Notifications and monitoring are two areas with shortcomings in the solution that need improvement.
    Top Answer:In my company, we use PingFederate for federated connections and some ADC connections to arrange for single sign-on across our infrastructure and customers.
    Ranking
    1st
    Views
    16,812
    Comparisons
    12,314
    Reviews
    92
    Average Words per Review
    865
    Rating
    8.7
    10th
    Views
    3,023
    Comparisons
    2,545
    Reviews
    2
    Average Words per Review
    404
    Rating
    8.5
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Azure AD, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Authenticator
    Learn More
    Ping Identity
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    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:

        PingFederate is an enterprise federation server that enables user authentication and single sign-on. It serves as a global authentication authority that allows employees, customers and partners to securely access all the applications they need from any device. PingFederate easily integrates with applications across the enterprise, third-party authentication sources, diverse user directories and existing IAM systems, all while supporting current and past versions of identity standards like OAuth, OpenID Connect, SAML and WS-Federation. And it can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, so you can support today’s needs and future-proof your business for tomorrow’s requirements.

        Sample Customers
        Microsoft Entre ID is trusted by companies of all sizes and industries including Walmart, Zscaler, Uniper, Amtrak, monday.com, and more.
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        Top Industries
        REVIEWERS
        Financial Services Firm14%
        Computer Software Company14%
        Manufacturing Company5%
        Educational Organization5%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Educational Organization25%
        Computer Software Company12%
        Financial Services Firm9%
        Government6%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Financial Services Firm29%
        Computer Software Company10%
        Educational Organization10%
        Manufacturing Company7%
        Company Size
        REVIEWERS
        Small Business33%
        Midsize Enterprise14%
        Large Enterprise53%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business18%
        Midsize Enterprise34%
        Large Enterprise48%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business12%
        Midsize Enterprise15%
        Large Enterprise72%
        Buyer's Guide
        Microsoft Entra ID vs. PingFederate
        March 2024
        Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Entra ID vs. PingFederate and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
        765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

        Microsoft Entra ID is ranked 1st in Single Sign-On (SSO) with 190 reviews while PingFederate is ranked 10th in Single Sign-On (SSO) with 3 reviews. Microsoft Entra ID is rated 8.6, while PingFederate is rated 8.0. 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 PingFederate writes " A highly stable tool offering extremely helpful technical support to its users". Microsoft Entra ID is most compared with Microsoft Intune, Google Cloud Identity, Yubico YubiKey, Cisco Duo and Symantec VIP Access Manager, whereas PingFederate is most compared with PingID, Symantec Siteminder, Microsoft Active Directory, CyberArk Identity and Auth0. See our Microsoft Entra ID vs. PingFederate report.

        See our list of best Single Sign-On (SSO) vendors and best Authentication Systems vendors.

        We monitor all Single Sign-On (SSO) 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.