

Find out in this report how the two Microsoft Security Suite solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
It has led to cost savings as well as time savings because I can use a single solution for all applications.
Companies can leverage it for setting up external identities without needing to develop their own solutions.
In terms of return on investment, prior to using this product, our company managed our own mail server with all internal authentication happening on premises, resulting in a ROI in the thousands every year.
Purview can do a quick scan, and it doesn't use human resources, so it gets time to do things that we need humans to focus on.
The E5 license comes with different solutions like data discovery classification, CASB, DLP solutions, and Defender for Cloud.
The cost of data loss and your data going to a competitor is potentially massive.
Companies without a Microsoft license for Entra ID or Azure portal cannot add Azure AD B2C, creating logistical issues for some of my clients who are unable to evaluate the platform.
The support for business applications, infrastructure support, and Entra has been mostly positive with highly skilled technicians.
The documentation is very thorough, reducing the need for support.
Sometimes, I get a fast and knowledgeable response, while other times, I've experienced delays and received no resolution.
It's hard to be an ambassador for a product when you know it will be hard to get support.
After our issues are reported, it takes a long time to find a resolution.
This is one of EID's weak points compared to Azure AD B2C, which offers customizable authentication options, including attribute and password combinations.
End-user workloads experience increased latency in a cloud environment compared to on-premises resources.
Microsoft Entra External ID is quite scalable, and I would rate its scalability between eight and nine out of ten.
It can be scaled across different departments organization-wide very quickly and easily.
It can handle large collections of data without issues.
Scalability can be improved by reducing these intervals.
I'd rate the stability of the Microsoft Entra External ID as a 10.
The stability of this solution is very good.
I have not encountered any stability issues with Microsoft Entra External ID.
Once implemented, I haven't had issues with its consistency.
The product is stable, and whatever it does, it does better than any other thing.
Since identity is where everything is based, if that goes down, you're screwed.
This is particularly challenging during enterprise agreement renewals, as it's difficult for customers to review costs leading to lengthy negotiations.
Enhanced customizable login options and the ability to use attribute password logins are critical features that are required for Microsoft Entra External ID to gain dominance in the authentication market.
I would like to see a more detailed alert system that provides a summary of why alerts are generated, who is generating them, and the reasons behind it.
Effectiveness in Microsoft Purview Information Protection means enforcing the policy and making sure it works consistently across non-Microsoft products as well.
A lot of functionality in Microsoft Purview Information Protection is not exposed in an API officially yet, which has made a lot of implementation work difficult because we have to do click ops instead of DevOps.
Having a roadmap or updates about new releases would be helpful for demonstrating to clients.
Regarding pricing, the cost seems high for single sign-on, especially for external applications like Oracle.
Microsoft's pricing is complex and difficult to fathom due to a range of different licensing options.
The cost can be a factor for Microsoft Entra External ID, but in general, it offers a scalable and efficient solution compared to deploying individual solutions.
I talked to people who had compared it to other products on the market, and they're spending five figures to get started.
The E5 license covers most of the solutions for different technologies, so that way, it is good and more affordable compared to any other solution.
Our focus is on helping customers maximize their software investment.
It is crucial for hybrid environments, especially for integrating existing on-site infrastructures with cloud-based Active Directory, such as in Office 365 implementations.
EID unifies workforce users with external business partners, which is a very strong feature.
The detailed monitoring and reporting in Microsoft Entra External ID support compliance efforts effectively.
Microsoft Copilot is an advantage because it's enterprise-grade AI.
It's paramount to have a single solution for information protection.
Regardless of the education, the employee might share the information anyway, so the AI shouldn't be the first point of failure. It should be a human making good decisions.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Purview Information Protection | 2.4% |
| Microsoft Entra External ID | 1.8% |
| Other | 95.8% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 9 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 6 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 5 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 4 |
| Large Enterprise | 15 |
Microsoft Entra External ID provides streamlined identity management with features like Active Directory integration, multi-factor authentication, and centralized user management, supporting both B2C and B2E needs. It's designed to enhance security while simplifying access management across applications.
Microsoft Entra External ID enhances identity management by offering easy setup, robust monitoring, and centralized user management. It supports compliance with comprehensive reporting and integrates seamlessly with Azure. While it facilitates cross-company collaboration, user lifecycle management, and B2B guest access, users note the need for improved technical support, faster synchronization speeds, and more customizable interfaces. Integration with open-source software, legacy tools, and ERP systems is advised along with a more predictable pricing model and improved federated login security. Current licensing complexity and the need for more user-friendly interfaces are areas for development.
What are the most important features?In sectors like IT, finance, and healthcare, Microsoft Entra External ID is utilized for managing complex access needs and compliance requirements, supporting projects involving Active Directory, Microsoft Teams, and cloud-based infrastructures. These industries leverage its capabilities for managing identities and improving secure collaboration while ensuring alignment with existing on-premises systems.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection offers sensitivity labels, automated classification, and encryption to protect data across platforms while integrating with M365, Azure, and AWS to prevent unauthorized access and enhance data governance.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection supports compliance with regulatory standards through features like data loss prevention and intuitive DLP rules. It integrates with multiple platforms such as M365, Azure, and AWS for extensive data protection. The platform helps manage sensitive data through automated labeling and effective policy deployment. While there are areas needing improvement like third-party integration, API support, and policy enforcement consistency, Purview remains a powerful tool for businesses to assess data usage and reduce unauthorized access.
What are the key features of Microsoft Purview Information Protection?Companies across various industries implement Microsoft Purview Information Protection to apply sensitivity labels to emails and cloud content like OneDrive and SharePoint. It's utilized for data classification, loss prevention, and governance. Microsoft partners use it for SAP integration and compliance assessments, while consultants focus on protecting and managing data efficiently for clients centered around Microsoft solutions.
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