Microsoft Entra ID vs Thales SafeNet Trusted Access comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Microsoft and Thales are both solutions in the Single Sign-On (SSO) category. Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.6, while Thales is ranked #19. Microsoft holds a 8.4% mindshare in SSO, compared to Thales’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Thales users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 11, 2024

Microsoft Entra ID and Thales SafeNet Trusted Access are both popular solutions for identity and access management. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access is often preferred for its advanced features, while Microsoft Entra ID scores higher in pricing and support.

Features: Microsoft Entra ID offers robust integration capabilities, comprehensive access policies, and reliable customer support. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access is praised for its advanced security features, flexible authentication methods, and superior feature set.

Room for Improvement: Users feel Microsoft Entra ID could improve in areas such as detailed reporting, role management, and enhancing its documentation. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access users mention a need for a more intuitive management console, better user interface, and simplified configuration options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Entra ID is reported to have a straightforward deployment process and reliable customer support. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access also provides efficient deployment but is noted for superior customer service quality.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Entra ID is generally considered more cost-effective, offering a better perceived ROI among users. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access, while more expensive, is seen as worth the investment due to its feature set. Users are happier with Microsoft Entra ID's pricing but acknowledge Thales offers good value for its price.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Entra ID vs. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access Report (Updated: October 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID vs. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

October 2026

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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

Cisco Duo

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Single Sign-On (SSO) category, the mindshare of Cisco Duo is 3.2%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Entra ID is 8.4%, down from 16.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Thales SafeNet Trusted Access is 1.8%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Single Sign-On (SSO) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Entra ID	8.4%
Cisco Duo	3.2%
Thales SafeNet Trusted Access	1.8%
Other	86.6%

Single Sign-On (SSO)

Featured Reviews

Charles Slaustas

Information Technology Contractor at Insight global

Supports seamless authentication for users across multiple organizations and personal portals

The features I use in Cisco Duo include Duo Pushes to confirm my identity to the device, and eventually as MFA security was increased, I actually had to use exchange passcodes. Sometimes, I have to go into the site and get into Cisco Duo to retrieve the passcode, and many of them have been two-factor, where the sites send a passcode that I have to enter into Cisco Duo. It has been more of the latter. I have not seen issues with lagging or crashing on Cisco Duo's end; it was usually on the client end, often because someone set up a bad upgrade or there were connection issues with the Cisco Duo cloud through the administrative site.

Read full review

Stafin Jacob

Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Practice Lead at Invoke

Identity has become our central gatekeeper and has provided secure single sign-on for all users

Microsoft Entra ID can improve by focusing more on new passwordless methods and becoming a primary adopter. One feature we would like to see is the ability to have security questions for password resets. I know the current capability is phasing out, so we do not have an alternative method yet. Customers who already use security questions require a smoother transition for that capability to be available. My experience with the deployment has had some challenges, particularly around the Microsoft MFA campaigns. The hardest part is moving users from a different MFA provider to the Microsoft MFA provider, as it ultimately depends on user activity. In large enterprises with numerous users across various geographies, this transition takes time. If there are ways to exert more control around that process, it would improve the situation.

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reviewer1719510

Regional Sales Manager at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Great validation and integrity features of the endpoint

Our primary use case of Safenet is for cybersecurity incidents, particularly for remote users. I'm the customer sales leader and a key account manager and we are customers of Thales. The validation and integrity features of the endpoint are great. Whether you're using a Mac OS or other operating…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Duo Security has helped remediate threats more quickly and offers security end to end."

"Cisco Duo has improved my operational efficiency and reduced costs in areas such as authentication, IT support, and security operations because many times it ends up coming down to the ease of use, especially for the third-party contractors we have."

"I feel that I am using a good product that not only secures my accounts but also will not be a headache to use."

"It is very easy. Having just wrapped up my tenure at Cisco, it was used day in and day out for security. It was always easy to log in and not have to worry about logging in multiple times."

"The best features Cisco Duo offers are better security, fast performance, and ease of use."

"Without Cisco Duo, that would be very tough because Cisco Duo is a one-stop-shop, especially with their console."

"The flexibility is the most valuable feature. We use it for the app on the phone. When we're at different locations, the phone is usually there, so we can use that. It has just been a very flexible option."

"Since implementing Cisco Duo, it has greatly improved our operational efficiency."

More Cisco Duo pros

"Microsoft Entra ID has provided my company with a centralized place to establish a source of truth for the attributes of our personnel."

"The most valuable feature is the factor identification; I find that it is a natural integration and it is just a natural step, and I do not need to do anything else."

"The most valuable features are the Conditional Access policies, SSPR, and MFA. Another good functionality is registering enterprise applications to provide access to external parties. These four features are precious and are the most used across different use cases for various clients and projects."

"The ability to grant access to other organizations is helpful."

"The features of Microsoft Entra ID such as token replay detection, attack-in-the-middle detection, and verified threat actor IP protection have all had an impact on defending against these threats, with the last one being particularly significant."

"It helps us with maintaining enterprise identities."

"It definitely has improved our security posture, certainly from providing that second factor of authentication, and it enhanced our end user experience quite a bit by giving them self-service password reset and a single sign-on experience instead of having to remember multiple usernames and passwords for different systems."

"Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has improved our customers' security posture. Multi-factor authentication has two layers of authentication, which helps in case you input your credentials into a phishing website and then it has access to your credentials. So if they use your credentials, then you have proof on your phone that was sent to the end user."

More Microsoft Entra ID pros

"The solution is simple to use."

"The interface is easy to use."

"The validation and integrity features of the endpoint are great."

"I recommend this solution because it protects information."

"Right now, we only have a small use case for the product, however, it has performed well."

Cons

"The customer service is okay. However, the response time could be faster."

"I am not certain how Cisco Duo has helped me evolve in my IAM strategy from simple authentication to a more comprehensive identity security platform."

"Cisco Duo can be improved, but additional features that should be included in the next release are not my area of responsibility."

"I faced a significant issue about a year back when I tried to integrate Cisco Duo with Citrix NetScaler and enable MFA for Citrix NetScaler integration."

"The pain point for us at one point was the Duo Authentication Proxy since we're on-premises and not in the cloud. We had to have a proxy machine that's in our DMZ to talk to Duo for us. The configuration of that was a little complicated."

"Sometimes, it's a little harder for customers to adopt."

"When discussing areas for improvement in Cisco Duo, especially for Secure Access, I noted that the licensing structure could be better and more user-friendly."

"What I dislike about Cisco Duo is that anything that Cisco Duo lacks, we can do through Microsoft, which is a workaround because we're integrated with Microsoft, and that was the first thing I did."

More Cisco Duo cons

"Private access and internet access should be available in a less expensive licensing model."

"Azure Active Directory could be made easier to use."

"I faced difficulties from Micorosft's end and during the transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID. Sometimes, some of Microsoft's documentation could be a little outdated."

"Azure Active Directory could improve the two-factor authentication."

"Their support needs improvement. The UI can also be better. The menu options are very confusing at times."

"The subscription costs are quite high, so that area needs consideration."

"To improve Microsoft Entra ID, it should be made simpler because there is a lot of stuff to do in the platform, which could be reduced to fewer buttons."

"We have experienced some downtime because of the use of the data centers."

More Microsoft Entra ID cons

"SafeNet's reporting and monitoring features could be improved."

"The scalability may not be there."

"I'd like to see more networking features, such as the ability to integrate network monitoring solutions and authenticate the app users."

"There's a dependency on Microsoft Azure."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Its price is reasonable. It is not highly expensive."

"I am not aware of the pricing. There are two departments, and I don't have any information about them."

"The pricing was a lot more than what we were paying for our previous solution."

"Overall, the pricing is fair. Customers can wrap it into their Enterprise Agreement, making it easier for them to solve their issues."

"I haven't seen it in a while, but it's at par with everything else licensing-wise."

"You pay per user when using this solution and the pricing is fair."

"I rate the product pricing a seven out of ten."

"The pricing is pretty competitive. It's pretty cheap. Anybody can adopt it."

More Cisco Duo pricing and cost advice

"The solution can be cheaper."

"Our customers are looking for advanced features and processes for it to be cost-effective for their organizations. They see it as an overpriced product. They are enjoying using Azure Active Directory, but they are looking for better prices."

"The P1 version costs $6 per user per month."

"The solution has three types of tiers: E1 has very basic features. You get limited stuff in E2 and cannot have Office 360 associated with it. E3 is on the costly side and has all the features."

"For you to make use of some of the security features, you need to upgrade your licenses. If it is possible, could they just make some features free? For instance, for the Condition Access policy, you need to set that up and be on Azure AD P2 licensing. So if they could make it free or reduce the licensing for small businesses, that would be cool, as I believe security is for everyone."

"Azure Active Directory is more expensive than Google, but the capabilities they provide are superior."

"As a nonprofit, we have A5 licenses for nonprofits in education, so we at least have some reduced costs."

"From a pricing standpoint, with all the services that we get, we are okay. I do not see a problem with the pricing structure. We are getting our money's worth."

More Microsoft Entra ID pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Outsourcing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

11%

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	66
Midsize Enterprise	29
Large Enterprise	93

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	91
Midsize Enterprise	42
Large Enterprise	162

No data available

Questions from the Community

How does Duo Security compare with Microsoft Authenticator?

We switched to Duo Security for identity verification. We’d been using a competitor but got the chance to evaluate Du...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Duo Security?

Regarding the pricing, what actually happened was that we got the product purchased through our HQ, so the costing as...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Duo Security?

I do not have a straight answer for how Cisco Duo can be improved at this time. With the implementation that we are g...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Active Directory?

I primarily use Microsoft Entra ID's free tier, so I have not faced any issues with pricing; I hope this free tie...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Azure Active Directory?

To improve Microsoft Entra ID, I believe it should be openable with third-party applications to use Microsoft Authent...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Azure Active Directory?

My main use case for Microsoft Entra ID is the authentication of M365, Azure, and third-party applications like Sales...

See all answers

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Comparisons

Fortinet FortiAuthenticator vs Cisco Duo

Compared 6% of the time

Okta Platform vs Cisco Duo

Compared 4% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Cisco Duo

Compared 3% of the time

Auth0 Platform vs Cisco Duo

Compared 3% of the time

Yubico YubiKey vs Cisco Duo

Compared 2% of the time

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Google Cloud Identity vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 23% of the time

Okta Platform vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 5% of the time

SailPoint Identity Security Cloud vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 3% of the time

Ping Identity Platform vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 2% of the time

Auth0 Platform vs Microsoft Entra ID

Compared 1% of the time

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Okta Platform vs Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Compared 14% of the time

FEITIAN Identity and Access Management vs Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Compared 5% of the time

OneLogin by One Identity vs Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Compared 5% of the time

Ping Identity Platform vs Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Compared 4% of the time

IBM Security Verify Access vs Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Compared 2% of the time

More Thales SafeNet Trusted Access Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Duo

November 2026

Download Cisco Duo product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID

October 2026

Download Microsoft Entra ID product report

Buyer's Guide

Single Sign-On (SSO)

November 2026

Download Thales SafeNet Trusted Access product report

Also Known As

Duo Security

Azure AD, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Authenticator

SafeNet Trusted Access, Gemalto SafeNet Trusted Access

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

Cisco

Microsoft

Demo not available

Thales

Overview

Cisco Duo is a cloud-based identity security platform safeguarding critical resources for any user and device worldwide. Known for its ease of use, Duo offers seamless protection across multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.

Cisco Duo is designed to secure access with identity-first protection and provides extensive visibility throughout an organization's identity ecosystem. Offering multi-factor authentication, Duo facilitates easy integration and management, allowing teams to protect data effectively on VPNs, applications, and networks. Its single-pane management improves security processes while enhancing trust, making it suitable for diverse IT infrastructures.

What are the key features of Cisco Duo?

Multi-factor Authentication: Strengthens user verification with multiple methods.
Push Notifications: Simplifies authentication with quick approvals.
Single Sign-On: Enhances convenience by allowing one set of credentials.
VPN Access: Secures remote connections with reliable authentication.
User Activity Visibility: Offers comprehensive insights into access patterns.

Which benefits and ROI should users consider?

Quick Deployment: Facilitates rapid integration within existing systems.
Effective Management: Streamlines IT operations with centralized control.
Regulatory Compliance: Aids in meeting industry standards for data protection.
Enhanced Trust: Strengthens security posture across networks.
User-friendly Approach: Simplifies authentication for non-technical users.

In industries like education and finance, Cisco Duo is widely employed to secure multi-factor authentication across platforms such as email, databases, and servers. Its integration capabilities with Microsoft 365, Active Directory, and VPNs like AnyConnect are instrumental in verifying user identities using mobile apps or OTPs, catering effectively to both remote and on-premise environments.

Cisco

Microsoft Entra ID offers advanced identity management capabilities, ensuring security and efficiency with features like single sign-on and multifactor authentication.

Designed for hybrid environments, Microsoft Entra ID provides seamless synchronization between on-premises Active Directory and Azure Active Directory, enhancing security with multifactor authentication and conditional access. By integrating with a broad spectrum of cloud services, it supports user authentication and mobile device management, facilitating streamlined application registration and secure API access.

What are the most notable features of Microsoft Entra ID?

Robust Security Measures: Implements strong security protocols to protect identities.
Single Sign-On: Enables users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials.
Conditional Access Policies: Provides a framework to control access based on predefined conditions.
Third-Party Integration: Ensures compatibility with external applications for comprehensive use.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Improved Security Posture: Enhances protection against unauthorized access through advanced security features.
Simplified Onboarding: Streamlines the process of integrating new users and systems.
Operational Efficiency: Reduces identity and access management workload, boosting productivity.

In finance and healthcare, Microsoft Entra ID plays a crucial role in managing access to sensitive information while maintaining compliance with industry regulations. Retail and manufacturing sectors leverage its capabilities for secure supply chain operations and partner collaboration.

Microsoft

Thales SafeNet Trusted Access provides a flexible and secure solution for managing identities and access policies. It streamlines identity management across multiple platforms, enhancing security and compliance.

Thales SafeNet Trusted Access offers comprehensive identity and access management supporting complex IT environments. It simplifies authentication processes and enforces security policies through a cloud-based platform that integrates with existing systems. This ensures users enjoy a seamless authentication experience while maintaining the required security posture, essential in today's cybersecurity landscape.

What are the key features of Thales SafeNet Trusted Access?

Single Sign-On: Simplifies user access by allowing single credential use across resources.
Multi-Factor Authentication: Enhances security with multiple authentication methods.
Access Management: Provides detailed control over who can access sensitive systems.
Cloud Integration: Easily integrates with cloud services for streamlined operations.

What benefits and ROI should users expect?

Increased Security: Reduces risk through enhanced identity verification methods.
Operational Efficiency: Minimizes overhead by automating access management tasks.
Compliance Support: Assists in meeting regulatory requirements with detailed reporting tools.
Scalability: Adaptable to growing or changing IT needs without significant cost increases.

In industries like finance and healthcare, Thales SafeNet Trusted Access helps secure sensitive data through stringent identity verification mechanisms. Retailers use it to manage access across digital channels, while educational institutions benefit from its streamlined access for students and staff. This versatility demonstrates its effectiveness in diverse technology ecosystems.

Thales

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Microsoft Entre ID is trusted by companies of all sizes and industries including Walmart, Zscaler, Uniper, Amtrak, monday.com, and more.

IBM, Western Union, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Novartis, and AT&T.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Entra ID vs. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

October 2026

Free Report: Microsoft Entra ID vs. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Entra ID vs. Thales SafeNet Trusted Access and other solutions. Updated: October 2026.

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