

Okta Platform and Microsoft Active Directory compete in identity and access management. Okta has an edge for cloud-based deployments with strong multi-factor authentication, while Microsoft Active Directory is favored for on-premises setups and group policy management.
Features: Okta offers extensive integration with numerous applications, simplified automated provisioning and deprovisioning, and strong multi-factor authentication. It stands out with its ease of use and comprehensive federation capabilities. Microsoft Active Directory excels at managing group policies, provides stable integration within the Windows ecosystem, and ensures file server and user security.
Room for Improvement: Okta could improve in user provisioning, API integration, and pricing flexibility for smaller businesses. Suggestions also include enhancing lifecycle management and multi-factor authentication integration. Microsoft Active Directory could advance in cloud synchronization, improve security filtering, and simplify configuration and integration processes. Interface and scalability are other areas for potential growth.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Okta is strong in cloud-based deployments, adaptable for various environments, with highly rated customer service. Microsoft Active Directory is robust for on-premises deployments, less flexible in cloud settings, with appreciated customer support, though sometimes less responsive than Okta's.
Pricing and ROI: Okta's pricing is steep, especially for small businesses, but justified for large organizations with operational efficiency and enhanced security benefits. Microsoft Active Directory, bundled with Windows Server purchases, offers a cost-effective solution for enterprises within the Microsoft ecosystem, with steady ROI through robust stability and minimal additional license costs.
The solution is really time-saving since I don't need to create users in each server or system manually, and user access control is streamlined.
We have our dashboard to log in via Okta Workforce Identity.
It has saved approximately 50 to 80 percent of our time.
Support documents are available on the internet in every language.
If you purchase retail, the support will be more difficult because they will assess the priority or rating from the customer.
Sometimes support takes long to engage and resolve, extending over weeks or even months.
They are very supportive; they just open a ticket, and they support us very professionally.
We had an issue a couple of years ago that was swiftly resolved by the support team, showing their efficiency.
We had an issue with the Okta Workforce Identity dashboard once in 2023 when we had an outage, but it recovered in a few minutes.
Microsoft Active Directory scales effectively; I don't foresee any issues with that at all.
The scalability part of Okta Customer Identity is fine, there is no blocker and we can upgrade whenever we need.
If you meet the installation requirements from Microsoft, it will be very stable.
With multiple domain controllers, stability is ensured.
I've been working with Microsoft Active Directory for over 3 years, and we've had no problems.
Okta Workforce Identity is a stable product.
There are no doubts regarding the stability of Okta Customer Identity.
Exporting and verifying group memberships require command line scripts, which isn't simple.
There are some features that need improvements in terms of ease of use and frequency of updates.
Sometimes, it can be overly complicated, and when you apply Group Policy in an Active Directory environment, sometimes those settings apply and sometimes they don't.
If there was a fingerprint option, then only the person who has already added their fingerprint on their mobile phone could access it.
Since we started using it in 2019, we have observed numerous enhancements to increase security.
Integration with Active Directory servers, Cisco routers, and switches is not currently available.
For the cloud solution in our region, the pricing of Microsoft Active Directory is very high.
I consider Microsoft Active Directory expensive because if you buy this thing bundled with the Windows Directory Server, you get five user licenses for about a thousand euros, or a little bit less than this.
The pricing, setup cost, and licensing with Microsoft Active Directory is straightforward; you just buy the server and then have to buy the user CALs.
Despite the cost, it's cheaper than the potential financial loss from a security breach.
Okta Customer Identity is considered cheaper compared to other tools in the market, such as IBM and CyberArk products.
The price of Okta Customer Identity is acceptable.
To assess the impact of Microsoft Active Directory's centralized domain management on security protocols and access permissions, Microsoft Active Directory itself has constraints with security because when we have a solution such as SSO or Single Sign-On, which makes it easier for users to log in, some parts have security openings.
One valuable feature is the centralized creation of IDs.
I can control all the devices in my domain by just changing the group policies in one place.
One of its most valuable features is its easy integration with various applications through its extensive application directory, offering hundreds or thousands of applications ready to configure.
It offers around eight thousand five hundred out-of-the-box connectors, providing an edge over other tools.
For the end user, it is beneficial as they do not have to remember a password or keep the password on a post-it for different applications; they just authenticate once to access several services and service providers.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Okta Workforce Identity | 8.1% |
| Microsoft Active Directory | 3.0% |
| Other | 88.9% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 20 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 20 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 35 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 21 |
| Large Enterprise | 44 |
Active Directory stores information about objects on the network and makes this information easy for administrators and users to find and use. Active Directory uses a structured data store as the basis for a logical, hierarchical organization of directory information.
This data store, also known as the directory, contains information about Active Directory objects. These objects typically include shared resources such as servers, volumes, printers, and the network user and computer accounts.
Security is integrated with Active Directory through logon authentication and access control to objects in the directory. With a single network logon, administrators can manage directory data and organization throughout their network, and authorized network users can access resources anywhere on the network. Policy-based administration eases the management of even the most complex network.
Okta Platform provides comprehensive identity and access management, featuring Active Directory Sync, user management, and app auto-provisioning. It ensures security through single sign-on and adaptive multi-factor authentication.
Okta Platform offers advanced integration capabilities, allowing seamless connection with in-house and cloud applications. Security features are robust, incorporating multi-factor authentication and SSO to prevent unauthorized access. Users benefit from its ease of use and the ability to integrate and manage numerous applications effectively. While generally praised, users note areas for improvement, such as high costs and complex setups. Better integrations with on-premises systems and third-party tools are desired along with enhanced error logging and reporting features.
What are Okta's key features?Companies across industries implement Okta to secure user authentication and streamline onboarding processes. It supports access management for both on-premises and cloud applications, synchronizing directories and facilitating SaaS services. Organizations benefit from reduced credential management complexity and improved IT infrastructure compliance.
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