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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)
16th
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
6.9
Number of Reviews
71
Ranking in other categories
User Provisioning Software (2nd), Identity Management (IM) (1st), SaaS Management Platforms (2nd), Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category, the mindshare of AWS Directory Service is 1.5%, down from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SailPoint Identity Security Cloud is 11.3%, up from 9.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
 

Featured Reviews

MassimilianoCollavo - PeerSpot reviewer
Integrates well with other tools, particularly through single sign-on
I've been working with AWS Directory Service as part of a broader solution for moving our infrastructure to a hybrid cloud model. Initially, the goal was to replicate our on-premises server to the cloud and then eventually shut down the on-premises server entirely. My work with AWS Directory Service is focused on migrating to the cloud and finding a suitable document management system that allows for online editing, document sharing, and workflow management. I rate it an eight out of ten.
Kaustubh Partha - PeerSpot reviewer
Empower users with robust IT security and seamless approval workflows
I raise requests on SailPoint, for example, if there is any server-related access needed. I use it more as an end-user, like raising simple tickets for identity access management SailPoint is more focused on IT security. I find that the approvals that flow through SailPoint are much better than…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of AWS Directory Service is cost-cutting features."
"The most valuable feature is ease of use."
"The support is very good. I would rate the technical support as a nine out of ten."
"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."
"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."
"We like the fact that it's got such great redundancy."
"Two-step authentication is very useful and important."
"SailPoint IdentityIQ has more enriched out-of-box connectors than the others."
"We are happy with the SailPoint IdentityIQ’s stability."
"This solution is easy to configure."
"The access certification feature is valuable."
"I like IdentityIQ's granular attachment management and certification customization features."
"The level of customization for data imports and role modeling, because it helps to integrate faster, support easier and let it reuse the organization role structure."
"The solution’s stability and performance are good."
"The solution is stable and reliable."
 

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."
"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."
"To get CloudWatch to monitor your memory and storage, you have to do some configuration within your server, which sometimes results in errors."
"I've encountered challenges, particularly with Amazon WorkDocs, which is being deprecated. This has made it necessary to find an alternative document management solution that can handle editing, sharing, and workflow management for documents like Word files and PDFs."
"Some of the security protocols are difficult to understand."
"Currently, there is no option to integrate our on-premises Cisco AWS Directory Service, requiring some manual configuration. If AWS Active Directory Service provided additional domain controller functionalities, like other on-premises Active Directory, it would be very helpful."
"I would like to see better integration with other business solutions."
"Accessing the data needs improvement."
"They should lower the price and technical support should be better."
"It tends to be more expensive, but at the end of the day, it works."
"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."
"There is a need for further enhancements, specifically in the multifactor authentication capabilities."
"SailPoint IdentityIQ has a primitive AI engine."
"SailPoint lacks some features like privileged account management and access management features found in products like Okta."
"There's a lot of customization required to improve the user experience."
"One needs to understand that SailPoint is into full-fledged IAM practice with a long-term vision, and customers will get a quick ROI with best practices implementation."
 

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."
"The product is expensive. I rate its pricing an eight out of ten."
"The licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"The product is expensive. People need to opt for a licensing plan for one year or three years."
"They are expensive."
"It is affordable licensing."
"SailPoint IdentityIQ is too expensive for small and medium companies. It is an expensive product."
"You are able to get discounts if you plan to use the tool for the long-term i.e. discounts for 5+ years of usage."
"You do pay one price for the license but that price depends on what you choose to include as far as the optional modules go."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Healthcare Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
7%
Financial Services Firm
17%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Insurance Company
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about AWS Directory Service?
The most valuable feature of AWS Directory Service is cost-cutting features.
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...
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: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.