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AWS Directory Service vs SailPoint Identity Security Cloud comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 2, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

AWS Directory Service
Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
18th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
15
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SailPoint Identity Security...
Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
72
Ranking in other categories
User Provisioning Software (2nd), Identity Management (IM) (1st), SaaS Management Platforms (1st), Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) (1st), AI IT Support (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category, the mindshare of AWS Directory Service is 1.2%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SailPoint Identity Security Cloud is 9.0%, down from 10.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
SailPoint Identity Security Cloud9.0%
AWS Directory Service1.2%
Other89.8%
Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
 

Featured Reviews

MM
Lead AWS Data Engineer at Fission Labs
Centralized data repository integration supports data governance and improves security
AWS Directory Service offers important features for accessing different data modules through Cognito and web browsers. It supports data warehousing and analytics services for building a secure data lake for data ingestion, processing, governance, storage, and management activities. Its close integration with other AWS services and support for network protocols enhances its value.
ND
Principle at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
User access management excels but needs enhancements with integration capabilities
I was aware of that because I used to manage these solutions earlier on, but it was purchased by the Procurement team, so I was not involved in any of those.There are certain details I may not be able to disclose currently, but we can speak in general about a number of products and tools that are ongoing. I have not been using access management controls here, so I don't have the latest features or details or hands-on experience in that space. I cannot share all the details about the improvements in security operations since we were exploring some products, but I'm familiar with Saviynt as I was one of their partners for other solutions, and currently, I cannot disclose a lot of performance related to my current roles.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The AD Connector is very good and easy to implement."
"The most valuable feature is ease of use."
"We can provide specific access to people based on what they need from our accounts."
"The most valuable feature is that because it's all in the cloud, you don't need to manage the infrastructure."
"Two-step authentication is very useful and important."
"The most valuable feature of AWS Directory Service is cost-cutting features."
"AWS handles everything on the backend requiring minimal legwork from our team. We only require a dedicated database administrator while depending on Amazon for RDS."
"Provides good performance and availability."
"Access certification and provisioning are two of the solutions most valuable features."
"The most powerful feature of the solution is its platform-based approach. Unlike other solutions, this tool offers a high level of customization. It is an open and flexible platform, allowing users to tailor it to their needs. This ability to customize and adapt the solution to individual requirements makes the solution stand out as a powerful product."
"The compliance features are the most valuable features."
"What I like most about SailPoint IdentityIQ is that it's simple to use and easy to configure and deploy."
"It provides a lot of out-of-the-box functionalities. You don't have to do too much custom development like other solutions such as Microsoft or NetIQ. It also has a lot of out-of-the-box connectors for different sources, directories, databases, etc. Its cloud version is working very well, and its pricing is okay. Its value for money is fine for most of the customers. It is also very flexible. They have frequent new releases and patches for fixing errors and things like that."
"The governance features, such as certification and provisioning, are the most beneficial for enhancing security."
"Provides functionalities for various stages, such as joiner, mover, and leaver"
"The solution's most valuable feature is its integration with Slack for the notification of access requests."
 

Cons

"Our only complaint is that you cannot integrate your Exchange server. Or, if you are planning to install an Exchange server on your Amazon EC2 instance, then you need to configure Active Directory on EC2 instance. We would like for this limitation to be lifted."
"AWS could improve the number of regions. Azure has passed them. The ned more consistency, as far as the Northeast is concerned."
"We had a problem with the schema uploading and setting up the directory when we are migrating our users from on-premises to cloud infrastructure."
"Accessing the data needs improvement."
"The AWS Directory Service should be easier to integrate."
"Currently, there is no option to integrate our on-premises Cisco AWS Directory Service, requiring some manual configuration."
"AWS Directory Service needs to improve processing."
"To get CloudWatch to monitor your memory and storage, you have to do some configuration within your server, which sometimes results in errors."
"The UI needs to be more user friendly. More concentration on historical policy violations would be great. In terms of new features, I would like to see artificial intelligence and machine language added."
"The mover process for this solution could be improved."
"It allowed to implement the automated processes when a new employee is hired. It allows to have a main central process for new hires."
"Needs to focus on automation wherein provisioning of work can be improved and access certification should be automated without the intervention from a manager for approval."
"Additional details during account aggregation failures to help quick troubleshooting."
"We have had a lot of service breaks because of the lack of support."
"It tends to be more expensive, but at the end of the day, it works."
"Scalability is hard, especially when you are doing it in real time."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay an annual subscription fee."
"AWS' pricing is fair, and costs can be cut if you look carefully at when you're using it."
"The pricing depends because with AWS there are two types of directory objects: 30,000 and 500,000. It varies. AWS provides the pricing calculators so we can get an estimate from there as per the company requirement of how many users and objects that we need to create. So we can go to that portal, put in the data, and get the quotation. There are no extra licensing fees. It's all included."
"The pricing is reasonable."
"SailPoint is expensive compared to its competitors. It's one of the most expensive products, so I'd rate it as one out of five, cost-wise."
"Its price is okay. It provides good value for money. It is subscription-based. You can go for a one-year or three-year subscription."
"They are expensive."
"It is a costly solution. Its cost, for sure, should be reduced."
"The product is expensive. People need to opt for a licensing plan for one year or three years."
"The licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"The product is expensive. I rate its pricing an eight out of ten."
"It's all competitive. Initially, the prices look a bit higher, but once it gets into a competitive situation, they meet the market. I'd rate it an eight out of ten in terms of pricing. It tends to be more expensive, but it works."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Performing Arts
11%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
9%
Healthcare Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business6
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business21
Midsize Enterprise8
Large Enterprise42
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for AWS Directory Service?
The pricing is very good because it is low and there is no management cost. You do not need to hire any system administrator to manage your Active Directory.
What needs improvement with AWS Directory Service?
Accessing the data needs improvement. Additionally, integration and compatibility with other AWS ( /products/amazon-aws-reviews ) services, network open LDAP, support for on-premise and cloud envir...
What advice do you have for others considering AWS Directory Service?
I would rate AWS Directory Service nine out of ten. Users need to be aware of how the system works locally to adapt easily to the integration and setup.
How does Sailpoint IdentityIQ compare with CyberArk PAM?
We evaluated Sailpoint IdentityIQ before ultimately choosing CyberArk. Sailpoint Identity Platform is a solution to manage risks in cloud enterprise environments. It automates and streamlines the m...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SailPoint IdentityIQ?
The product is expensive. People need to opt for a licensing plan for one year or three years.
What advice do you have for others considering SailPoint IdentityIQ?
You can use SailPoint Atlas to take identity security to the next level. In SailPoint IIQ, writing a custom connector using the open source framework is a good option.
 

Also Known As

AWS Managed Microsoft AD
IdentityIQ, IdentityNow, Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management, Intello
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Expedia, Intuit, Royal Dutch Shell, Brooks Brothers
Adobe, AXA Technology Services, Cuna Mutual Group, Equifax, ING Direct, Orrstown Bank, Rockwell Automation, SallieMae, Spirit Aerosystems, TEL
Find out what your peers are saying about AWS Directory Service vs. SailPoint Identity Security Cloud and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
880,481 professionals have used our research since 2012.