AWS Directory Service and AWS IAM Identity Center are competitors in the field of identity and access management. AWS IAM Identity Center seems to have an advantage due to its more comprehensive feature set, justifying a higher cost.
Features: AWS Directory Service is particularly effective in integrating with existing Active Directory environments, simplifying AWS resource management. It provides essential directory capabilities and supports various AWS services. AWS IAM Identity Center offers advanced access management features, single sign-on, and central identity management. It includes role-based permissions and templates, enabling structured access management across AWS accounts, and enhancing identity management and custom access solutions.
Room for Improvement: AWS Directory Service could enhance ease of integration with non-Windows environments, improve its user interface for better navigation, and provide more automation features to reduce manual configurations. AWS IAM Identity Center could expand its compatibility with third-party applications, improve its documentation for better user understanding, and lower its initial setup complexity for small to medium enterprises.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AWS IAM Identity Center offers an intuitive setup experience with extensive support, allowing for seamless integration within AWS environments. It emphasizes personalized customer service, enhancing user satisfaction. AWS Directory Service, while efficient in simpler scenarios, generally requires more configuration for complex setups, potentially necessitating additional customer support.
Pricing and ROI: AWS Directory Service typically presents lower initial setup costs, attracting businesses with budget constraints. It offers a cost-effective solution for basic directory services. AWS IAM Identity Center, with its comprehensive capabilities, may deliver stronger long-term ROI due to its advanced management features and integration benefits within expansive AWS environments. Despite higher upfront expenses, its broad feature set often warrants the investment.
AWS Directory Service lets you run Microsoft Active Directory (AD) as a managed service. AWS Directory Service for Microsoft Active Directory, also referred to as AWS Managed Microsoft AD, is powered by Windows Server 2012 R2. When you select and launch this directory type, it is created as a highly available pair of domain controllers connected to your virtual private cloud (VPC). The domain controllers run in different Availability Zones in a region of your choice. Host monitoring and recovery, data replication, snapshots, and software updates are automatically configured and managed for you.
AWS IAM Identity Center is the recommended service for managing your workforce's access to AWS applications or your multiple AWS accounts (or both). It is a flexible solution that can be used to connect your existing identity source or help you create users in AWS. IAM Identity Center can be used alongside your existing AWS account access configurations.
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