Identity and access management solutions are cybersecurity tools that give organizations more control over how identities are created, used and maintained within networks.
A good IAM platform includes multiple forms of authentication and ways to access accounts, important features like conditional access and privileged access, and integrations with third-party applications.
If you’re unsure how to proceed, work with a managed service provider (MSP). They’ll handle IAM implementation and maintenance for your organization.
Identity and Access Management Solutions: Overview
What each solution is best at:
- Microsoft Entra ID – Best option for businesses of all sizes. It’s affordable and includes key IAM features businesses need.
- Okta – Best option for businesses who need identity protection for employees, customers or AI agents as well as protection for both on-premises applications and cloud-based applications.
- AccessOwl – Best option for access and lifecycle management.
- Cakewalk – Best option for access and lifecycle management for humans and AI agents. Also includes self-service access for employees.
- Corma – Most affordable IAM solution with a heavy focus on IT automation. Includes a free tier.
What is Identity and Access Management?
Identity and access management (IAM) is a security framework that controls how digital identities are created for an organization and what each identity has access to within an organization.
To put it simply, it ensures users are only able to access accounts, applications and files they’re allowed access to.
Common IAM practices include:
- Creating user roles
- Creating access levels with a different set of privileges for each
- Assigning an access level to each user role
- Maintaining and revoking access as needed
- Ensuring compliance with ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and other rules and regulations (this practice is known as “identity governance”)
Why Use an IAM Platform?
Your organization is likely already using basic IAM practices in your organization, such as enforcing strong passwords, enabling native multifactor authentication (MFA) options in the apps you use, configuring permission settings on a per-app basis, and creating and deleting user accounts as needed.
An IAM platform gives you a more efficient way to maintain identities and privileges while also expanding what IAM looks like for your organization.
This enhances security by preventing entry-level employees and contractors from accessing sensitive files or admin-level privileges.
Plus, it also helps IT staff discover cases of unauthorized access quicker thanks to access logs.
Features to look for in an IAM solution include:
- Role-based access control (RBAC) – Assigns a different set of privileges based on a user’s role. Great for quick onboarding and offboarding
- Conditional access – Automated defense system that determines how to handle access attempts. It can allow access, block access based on certain risk factors or force the user to complete an action (such as MFA). Great for enforcing zero-trust policies
- Privileged access – A special level of access that’s based on a time limit or approval
- Multifactor authentication (MFA) – Enables a broader list of verification methods than what’s typically available for apps
- Single sign-on (SSO) – Allows users to sign in once in order to access all applications
- Identity and access governance – Creating and maintaining identities, managing access levels and permissions, and ensuring compliance with rules and regulations, such as HIPAA
- Access management – A simple dashboard that lets you see what each user has access to and what role they’ve been assigned.
- Lifecycle management – Onboarding new employees and contractors by giving them access and permissions automatically based on user roles and other qualifications. Plus, offboarding by revoking access when employees and contractors leave your organization
- Event logging – Detailed logs that record when users access applications, files and other resources
- Integration with other identity tools – This feature is typically covered under SSO, but if you already use an identity tool, such as a password manager, make sure it integrates with the IAM solution you’re most interested in
- Reports – Usage reports that show statistics like which applications have the most sign-in errors and what leads to sign-in errors
1. Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID is an identity and access management platform that gives organizations multiple avenues for providing access to devices and applications.
For admins, Entra ID provides a single dashboard for managing all identities within an organization. For your employees, the platform offers single sign-in for quicker access.
It’s an affordable platform overall and offers every core feature businesses need to protect themselves from cases of unauthorized access.
This includes a feature called Microsoft Entra ID Protection. This is a detection system that scans sign-in attempts for known risks and requires risky users to pass additional authentication methods or face manual review.
Key Features
- Protects users, devices, applications, multicloud environments and more
- Conditional access
- Privileged access
- Zero-trust access
- Multiple authentication options, including MFA, SSO and passwordless authentication
- One dashboard for managing all identities and access to applications
- Microsoft Entra ID Protection
- Integrations with pre-existing security solutions
- Made to be compatible with Microsoft Security Copilot (AI)
- Reports, statistics and access logs
Note: Microsoft does offer identity governance, but it’s sold as a separate add-on license for $84/user per year (works out to $7/user per month). It’s also included in a bundle known as Microsoft Entra Suite, which costs $144/user per year (works out to $12/user per month). A license for Microsoft Entra ID Governance also includes lifecycle workflows for onboarding and offboarding.
Pricing
Plans start at $84/user per year (works out to $7/user per month).
However, it should be noted that Entra ID is included with certain products, such as certain editions of Microsoft 365 (Business Premium, E3, E5 and E7).
2. Okta
Okta is an IAM platform that offers identity security for employees, customers and AI agents.
It offers multiple forms of authentication and even secures access to things like APIs and servers.
It’s most suitable for businesses who need to secure access across multiple platforms, particularly local applications and the cloud.
Key Features
- Protects user accounts, applications, devices, customers and AI agents
- Multiple authentication methods, including adaptive MFA, SSO and passwordless authentication
- Privileged access
- Conditional access
- Zero trust access
- API access
- Secure partner access
- Server access
- Access governance
- Access gateway for on-premises and cloud-based apps
- Workflow automations, including lifecycle workflows for onboarding and offboarding
- Universal directory for managing identities across multiple apps
- Identity threat protection
- Statistics and reports
Pricing
Plans start at $72/user per year (works out to $6/user per month). A 30-day free trial is available.
However, Okta requires a $1,500-minimum annual contract.
3. AccessOwl
AccessOwl is a simple IAM solution that specializes in access management, especially onboarding and offboarding.
It integrates with dozens of HR platforms, makes it easy to receive and approve access requests, and lets you set up onboarding templates that grant access based on user roles automatically.
It integrates with over 400 SaaS apps designed for business, including Slack, Microsoft 365, Notion and Google Workspace.
Enterprise plans come with threat detection and remediation and custom integrations.
Key Features
- Lifecycle management
- Access governance
- Onboarding templates
- Access requests and approvals
- Access reviews
- Vendor management
Pricing
Plans start at $54/user per year (works out to $4.50/user per month). Monthly plans are also available with prices starting at $5/user per month.
A $250/month minimum is required on all plans regardless of pricing tier or if you pay monthly or annually.
4. Cakewalk
Cakewalk is a simple IAM solution that specializes in access and lifecycle management for humans and AI, including revoking access to an employee’s AI agents when that employee’s own access is revoked in the offboarding cycle.
One of its more unique features is self-service access for employees. Employees can request access to a particular app, and the automated system will either grant or block access or send the request in for review based on the employee’s access level.
It has over 700 integrations for HR and other business-related platforms.
Key Features
- Lifecycle management
- Access governance
- Customizable workflows
- Access reviews
- Access audits
- Employee self-service access
- Access management for AI agents
Pricing
Cakewalk doesn’t list its prices on its website. Request a custom quote from the company’s sales team.
5. Corma
Corma is another simple IAM solution that focuses on lifecycle management and identity governance. It’s designed to integrate with an existing identity provider, such as Entra ID or Okta.
Corma specializes in identity governance at its core, but different pricing tiers expand the platform’s offering to include features like access reviews, self-service access for employees, and automated onboarding and offboarding.
Corma also doubles as an IT automation platform and offers shadow IT detection.
Key Features
- Lifecycle management
- Identity governance
- Integrates with an identity provider
- SSO connection
- Shadow IT detection
- Employee self service
- Access reviews
- Automated provisioning
- IT workflow builder
Pricing
Free tier available. Premium plans start at €36/user per year (works out to €3/user per month).
Honorable Mentions
Suitable identity and access management solutions that were cut for the sake of simplicity:
- MiniOrange – Most suitable for IAM
- Stitchflow – Most suitable for automated lifecycle management
- Google Cloud Identity – Most suitable for SSO
Plus, IAM solutions that are reliable but are mostly intended for larger businesses:
- IBM Verify
- SailPoint
- Idira
- One Identity
- Oracle
- Ping Identity
Google Identity and Access Management is also available, but it’s designed to work exclusively with Google Cloud.
