Okta Workforce Identity vs Zscaler Private Access comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jul 31, 2023

We compared Okta Workforce Identity and Zscaler Private Access across several parameters based on our users' reviews. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below:

  • Ease of Deployment: Okta Workforce Identity's setup process can be either straightforward or complex, depending on the user. Zscaler Private Access's initial setup is generally described as straightforward and easy. However, some users find it complex, especially for first-time deployment.
  • Features: Okta Workforce Identity is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, ability to seamlessly integrate with other systems, and robust multi-factor authentication. Zscaler Private Access is praised for its reliable performance, regular cloud updates, effective web filtering capabilities, and ability to establish a secure connection without requiring a separate VPN agent.
  • Room for Improvement: Okta Workforce Identity could improve in password vaulting management, licensing and features clarity, user interface, and integration with major cloud providers. Zscaler Private Access could benefit from better notifications, improved interface and security, detailed reports on application crashes, and integration with a broader range of services.
  • Pricing: Okta Workforce Identity's setup cost is seen as pricey by most, although some reviewers find it justifiable. In contrast, the pricing for Zscaler Private Access fluctuates based on user count and desired features. Some reviewers perceive it as fair and satisfactory, while others deem it costly.
  • ROI: Okta Workforce Identity provides significant benefits in terms of time savings and simplified tasks, resulting in a favorable ROI. On the other hand, Zscaler Private Access has a comparatively lower rating in terms of ROI.
  • Service and Support: Okta Workforce Identity's customer service received mostly positive feedback, with users finding the support to be effective. However, there have been some instances of slow response times. Reviews for Zscaler Private Access show a range of experiences with technical support. Some customers have not required support, while others have rated it as highly responsive and amazing.

Comparison Results: Both platforms have straightforward initial setups. However, Okta may require more assistance. Okta is highly regarded for its ease of use, integration capabilities, and valuable features such as SSO and MFA. Some areas for improvement with Okta include better password management and UI. Zscaler is appreciated for its stability, regular cloud updates, and secure VPN solution. However, there are some improvement areas for Zscaler, including notifications, interface, and security. Okta's pricing is considered expensive but fair, while Zscaler's pricing varies. In terms of customer support, Okta receives positive feedback overall, while Zscaler's support has mixed reviews.

To learn more, read our detailed Okta Workforce Identity vs. Zscaler Private Access 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
"The feature that is most valuable to me is the automated user provisioning that we set up using Okta as a major part of that process.""The provisioning functionality has been the most valuable. This solution has good performance, fast integration and is very responsive.""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.""Okta Workforce Identity is easy to use and has a lot of components.""It is dependent on the evolution of your user base. It depends on usage per user, so the more sign-ins there are, the more expensive it becomes, so it works best for smaller companies from a financial perspective.""I find the provisioning features and the integration with other applications useful.""We can automate the process of adding users to Okta if they are activated in Active Directory, or if they are added to the database of applications or Active Directory in the last couple of days.""I like the tool's workflows, which is user-friendly. It can integrate with different applications. I particularly like that users are delighted to access their applications without the hassle of entering their username and password each time. It truly enhances user-friendliness."

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"I like the web filtering capabilities.""The most valuable feature is the manageability of the micro tunnels.""The most valuable features of Zscaler Private Access are reliability, scalability, and availability.""It is easy to use.""The most valuable feature of Zscaler Private Access is we do not have to connect to a VPN, it is seamless. It is more convenient for us because we use one agent to cover the internet and VPN access.""The most valuable features of Zscaler Private Access are its ability to integrate with multiple IDPs and application segmentation.""The Live Logs are a cool feature. We can directly identify issues and divert user traffic.""The user interface of Zscaler Private Access is excellent. With proper knowledge and expertise, one can efficiently handle intricate enterprise environments without feeling overwhelmed. This leads to exceptional productivity for managed service providers. The user experience is remarkably streamlined, enabling the management of even the most complex enterprise setups without any excessive complications."

More Zscaler Private Access Pros →

Cons
"In my country, there's a lot of stealing of mobile phones, and mobile phones are the authentication device through the Okta application. If someone should steal my mobile phone, which is very common in my country, he or she might have access to my company account. That's my concern.""Okta Workforce Identity could improve the way passwords are reset and how it interfaces with Microsoft.""It's not compatible with on-premises installations, unless you host it as a SaaS. We were not able to do that. For example, imagine a scenario where the cloud is not available. Then, Okta will not work for you. That use case will readily fail because it doesn't have an on-premises installation that you can use to authenticate or provide identity and access management. If you have a purely on-premises solution that is not connected to the internet, then this will not work. This is one area that can be improved.""It is challenging to obtain a comprehensive backup.""Application updates are lacking. Customer support needs to be improved.""The solution's user interface needs to be improved and made easy.""We still had to write several internal programs/scripts to complete the user-provisioning process. Okta does not have the ability to provision mailbox accounts for on-premise Exchange or in a hybrid O365 environment. The Group Push function from Okta to AD did not work reliably in our environment.""They also have single sign-on (SSO). When we bought Okta Workforce Identity a year and a half ago, I was also looking at SSO, but not much documentation was available for SSO. The documentation for SSO should be a little more robust for somebody who is implementing it for the first time."

More Okta Workforce Identity Cons →

"The pricing for Private Access seems to be on the expensive side, and I believe they should consider making it more competitive with other solutions.""It's an expensive solution.""It would be better if the Zscaler Private Access team made it easier for people to find subscriptions on the portal, mainly information on what my customers subscribed to or the type of licenses purchased.""To enhance their offering, it is advisable for them to focus on strengthening the foundation of their architecture. Additionally, they should consider integrating a broader range of services that go beyond what managed service providers typically offer independently.""Setup is a bit complex because there are many steps that need to be taken before onboarding and activating the solution.""We'd like to have two-factor authentication that is quite simple.""Zscaler Private Access could improve by improving external access. If external parties want to access locally to my company's services, we need to onboard them into our domain, otherwise, it doesn't work. Additionally, if their company also has Zscaler Private Access, then it doesn't work. They need to log in with our domain ID, not their company ID.""More on-prem infrastructure is required when Zscaler Private Access is to be implemented as a single point of entry."

More Zscaler Private Access Cons →

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 →

  • "Pricing for Zscaler Private Access is moderate. It's acceptable, though I can't give you the exact price currently. It's not too expensive, and on a scale of one to five, I would rate it a four out of five in terms of pricing."
  • "The cost is expensive. It depends on the number of users."
  • "My company is a Zscaler Private Access partner, so the customers pay for the license fees."
  • "The price is competitive."
  • "In terms of market positioning, I would describe Zscaler Private Access as offering optimal pricing. Based on our experience, Cato Networks tends to be slightly more expensive."
  • "Zscaler Private Access is extremely expensive."
  • "The solution is expensive."
  • "The technical support is good."
  • More Zscaler Private Access Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:They could provide collaboration with Microsoft for conditional access and other features. They could work on reducing bugs as well.
    Top Answer: We looked into Prisma Access before choosing Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). Palo Alto’s Prisma Access is a secure access service edge (SASE) designed to deliver network security in a… more »
    Top Answer:The most valuable features of Zscaler Private Access are reliability, scalability, and availability.
    Top Answer:Zscaler Private Access needs to improve its collaboration with applications without compromising security. The solution needs to improve native security, seamless protection, and user experience… more »
    Ranking
    6th
    out of 34 in ZTNA as a Service
    Views
    1,745
    Comparisons
    1,423
    Reviews
    21
    Average Words per Review
    499
    Rating
    8.2
    2nd
    out of 34 in ZTNA as a Service
    Views
    7,395
    Comparisons
    5,837
    Reviews
    16
    Average Words per Review
    414
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    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.

    Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) is a top ZTNA service solution that redefines private application access with advanced connectivity, segmentation, and security capabilities to protect your business from threats while providing a great user experience.

    Zscaler Private Access Features

    ZPA has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:


    • Risk-based policy engine: Continuously validate access policies based on user, device, content, and application risk posture with a powerful native policy engine to ensure only valid, authenticated users can access private applications.


    • Unified client and clientless access: Choose the optimal method of protection for your hybrid environment. Client-based access ensures managed users are protected even when they are off the corporate network through a lightweight agent, the Zscaler Client Connector. Clientless access provides unmanaged users with frictionless app access from any device and web browser, no client needed.


    • Browser access: Allow BYOD and third-party users to freely use their own devices to seamlessly and securely access internal apps leveraging any web browser, no client needed.


    • Disaster recovery: Uninterrupted access to mission-critical applications even during a black swan event with a customer-controlled business continuity solution creating the access path to critical private applications through ZPA Private Service Edge.


    Zscaler Private Access Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing ZPA. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:


    • Boost hybrid workforce productivity: Fast, seamless access to private apps whether you’re at home, in the office, or anywhere else.
    • Mitigate the risk of a data breach: Minimize the attack surface and lateral movement by making applications invisible to attackers while enforcing least-privileged access.


    • Stop the most advanced adversaries: First-of-its-kind private app protection minimizes the risk of compromised users and active attackers.


    • Extend zero trust across apps, workloads, and devices: Zscaler Private Access is a complete ZTNA platform that brings least-privileged access to private apps, workloads, and OT/IIoT devices.


    • Reduce operational complexity: The solution’s cloud-native platform eliminates legacy VPNs that are difficult to scale, manage, and configure.


    • Exceptional user experience: By providing consistently fast connectivity that doesn’t require logging in and out of VPN clients, remote users gain a faster, more secure access experience.



    Reviews from Real Users

    ZPA is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it is user-friendly, has good connectivity, and has other helpful features such as web filtering.

    Senthilkumar B., Technical Consultant at a tech vendor, shares what he finds most valuable about the solution. “[It is] user-friendly, easy to customize, and simple to implement.”

    “Its connectivity as a VPN is its most valuable feature,” says Harjinder S., Sr. Architect at a tech vendor.

    Another PeerSpot user, Ben A., Cloud Architect Azure at Thales, mentions “The integration with cloud providers, like Azure or GCP, is easy. The Live Logs are a cool feature. We can directly identify issues and divert user traffic.

    Inderjeet S., Administrator at a tech vendor, says, “[The solution has] “good web filtering and good internet security notifications with a nice interface.” He also adds, “There aren’t too many bugs, and it is easy to debug when necessary. There are good Outlook features available. The scalability has been good.”

    Sample Customers
    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.
    NOV, Growmark, Paychex, MAN Energy Solutions
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company23%
    Manufacturing Company17%
    Comms Service Provider10%
    Healthcare Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government7%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company43%
    Financial Services Firm14%
    Comms Service Provider14%
    Outsourcing Company14%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    Government8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise43%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise62%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise9%
    Large Enterprise64%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business21%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise66%
    Buyer's Guide
    Okta Workforce Identity vs. Zscaler Private Access
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Okta Workforce Identity vs. Zscaler Private Access and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Okta Workforce Identity is ranked 6th in ZTNA as a Service with 54 reviews while Zscaler Private Access is ranked 2nd in ZTNA as a Service with 21 reviews. Okta Workforce Identity is rated 8.4, while Zscaler Private Access is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Okta Workforce Identity writes "Extremely easy to work with, simple to set up, and reasonably priced ". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Zscaler Private Access writes "A VPN alternative that delivers a zero trust model". Okta Workforce Identity is most compared with Google Cloud Identity, Microsoft Entra ID, SailPoint IdentityIQ and Saviynt, whereas Zscaler Private Access is most compared with Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, Axis Security, Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client, OpenVPN Access Server and Netskope Private Access. See our Okta Workforce Identity vs. Zscaler Private Access report.

    See our list of best ZTNA as a Service vendors.

    We monitor all ZTNA as a Service 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.