Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ASP.NET Identity VS Shibboleth

Compare ASP.NET Identity VS Shibboleth and see what are their differences

ASP.NET Identity logo ASP.NET Identity

ASP.NET Identity is a membership-based software system designed for the authentication and authorization of the users via building an ASP.NET application.

Shibboleth logo Shibboleth

standards based, open source software for web single sign-on across or within organizational...
  • ASP.NET Identity Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-07
  • Shibboleth Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-27

ASP.NET Identity features and specs

  • Integrated with ASP.NET Framework
    ASP.NET Identity is seamlessly integrated into the ASP.NET framework, making it easier to implement authentication and authorization in ASP.NET applications.
  • Supports Multiple Authentication Methods
    It supports various authentication methods, including two-factor authentication, social logins (such as Facebook, Google), and traditional username/password combinations.
  • Customizable
    Developers have the flexibility to customize the identity system according to their needs, for example, by extending user information and roles.
  • Role and Claim-based Authorization
    ASP.NET Identity supports role-based and claims-based authorization, allowing for fine-grained access control.
  • Entity Framework Integration
    Built with Entity Framework, making it easy to persist identity data in a database and leverage Entity Framework's capabilities for ORM.
  • Ease of Use
    Designed to be straightforward to set up and use, with many features working out of the box with minimal configuration.

Possible disadvantages of ASP.NET Identity

  • Complexity for Small Applications
    For small applications with simple authentication needs, ASP.NET Identity might be overly complex and result in unnecessary overhead.
  • Database Dependency
    The default setup requires a database to store user and role information, which may not be suitable for applications where a database-less solution is preferred.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a learning curve for newcomers to fully understand its architecture and how to implement advanced features.
  • Performance Overhead
    The flexible and feature-rich design of ASP.NET Identity might introduce performance overhead, especially if not properly optimized.
  • Migration Challenges
    Migrating existing applications from older identity systems to ASP.NET Identity can be challenging and time-consuming.

Shibboleth features and specs

  • Open Source
    Shibboleth is an open-source identity provider, which means it is free to use and has a community-driven development approach. This can lead to more transparency and adaptability for organizations.
  • Interoperability
    Shibboleth supports various protocols such as SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language), allowing for seamless integration with many identity and access management systems and services.
  • Scalability
    Designed to handle large numbers of users and complex federated identity deployments, Shibboleth can scale to meet the needs of large organizations or academic institutions.
  • Federated Identity Management
    Shibboleth enables the sharing of identity information across different organizations, which is particularly beneficial for educational institutions and research organizations that collaborate frequently.
  • Community Support
    A strong user community provides substantial support, documentation, and shared experiences, which can aid in troubleshooting and optimizing deployments.

Possible disadvantages of Shibboleth

  • Complex Configuration
    The initial setup and configuration of Shibboleth can be complex and may require a steep learning curve, especially for those not familiar with identity and access management concepts.
  • Resource Intensive
    Due to its comprehensive feature set and capabilities, Shibboleth may require more resources (such as server capacity and administrative effort) compared to simpler solutions.
  • Limited User Interface
    Shibboleth is primarily back-end software and lacks a modern, user-friendly interface, which can make administration and management more challenging for less technical users.
  • Dependency on Community
    Being open-source and community-driven, updates and feature enhancements depend on community contributions, which may not be as predictable or frequent as with commercial products.
  • Niche Use Case
    Shibboleth is primarily targeted towards academic institutions and research communities, which might make it less appealing or overkill for smaller organizations or those outside these sectors.

ASP.NET Identity videos

Understand ASP.NET Identity Core

Shibboleth videos

Shibboleth Review

More videos:

  • Review - Shibboleth - Testimonials from Dalton, GA
  • Review - Bower's Game Corner #515: Shibboleth Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ASP.NET Identity and Shibboleth)
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0
Identity Provider
0 0%
100% 100
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
Identity And Access Management

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ASP.NET Identity and Shibboleth, you can also consider the following products

DotNetOpenAuth - DotNetOpenAuth is a free-to-use compiled library that comes with the real support to your site visitor to login with the help of openIDs via getting control of the ASP.NET control onto the page.

Keycloak - Open Source Identity and Access Management for modern Applications and Services.

ASP.NET SAML - ASP.NET SAML is an open-source authentication utility that has been used for exchanging authentication and authorization data between the channels.

CAS - Apereo CAS - Enterprise Single Sign On for the Web

BugMeNot - BugMeNot is a free Internet service that provides usernames and passwords to allow users to bypass the registration process for websites.

DbProtect - Trustwave DbProtect is a highly scalable database security platform that helps organizations secure their relational databases and big data stores, both on premises and in the cloud.