Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AWS Directory Service VS Azure Active Directory for Developers

Compare AWS Directory Service VS Azure Active Directory for Developers and see what are their differences

AWS Directory Service logo AWS Directory Service

Directory Service from Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Azure Active Directory for Developers logo Azure Active Directory for Developers

Microsoft identity platform is an evolution of the Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) developer platform.
  • AWS Directory Service Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-02-07
  • Azure Active Directory for Developers Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-21

AWS Directory Service features and specs

  • Seamless Integration
    AWS Directory Service integrates smoothly with AWS services and applications, allowing for a centralized management of user directories and authentication.
  • Scalability
    The service is designed to scale automatically, accommodating increases in users and workloads without requiring manual intervention. This helps in managing growing organizations efficiently.
  • Managed Service
    Being a managed service, AWS Directory Service reduces the overhead associated with installing, patching, and maintaining directory infrastructure, thus freeing up resources for other tasks.
  • Security Features
    Offers multiple layers of security, including encryption at rest and in transit, integration with AWS IAM, and options for setting fine-grained access controls.
  • Multi-Region Deployment
    Supports deployment in multiple AWS Regions, which aids in business continuity and disaster recovery planning by enabling global, highly available applications.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Directory Service

  • Cost
    Depending on usage and configuration, costs can escalate, especially when deploying across multiple regions or utilizing high amounts of data storage.
  • Complexity for Small Organizations
    For smaller organizations or simpler use cases, setting up and managing AWS Directory Service may introduce unnecessary complexity compared to simpler authentication solutions.
  • Limited Customization
    While it provides ample features for many use cases, AWS Directory Service may lack specific customization options offered by more traditional, on-premises directory services.
  • Dependency on AWS Infrastructure
    Organizations heavily relying on AWS Directory Service may face challenges if they plan to migrate away from AWS due to tight integration with AWS infrastructure.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a learning curve when adapting to AWS Directory Service, especially those unfamiliar with Active Directory concepts or AWS management.

Azure Active Directory for Developers features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft Services
    Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) integrates seamlessly with Microsoft services, providing a unified identity platform for accessing Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, and other services.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Azure AD provides robust support for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, and web applications, making it a versatile choice for developers targeting multiple environments.
  • Scalability
    Azure AD can handle millions of users and billions of authentications per day, making it highly scalable for enterprise applications.
  • Security Features
    It offers advanced security features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access, and identity protection, helping developers enhance the security of their applications.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    Developers can implement single sign-on functionality, allowing users to access multiple applications with one set of credentials, improving user experience and security.
  • Comprehensive API Access
    Azure AD exposes a comprehensive set of APIs, enabling developers to integrate identity management and authentication features directly into their applications.
  • B2C and B2B Support
    Azure AD supports both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) identity solutions, offering flexibility in targeting different types of users and clients.

Possible disadvantages of Azure Active Directory for Developers

  • Complexity
    The wide range of features and capabilities can lead to complexity in configuration and management, requiring a learning curve for developers who are new to Azure AD.
  • Cost
    While there are free tiers, many advanced features require premium subscriptions, which can increase costs for organizations, particularly startups or smaller companies.
  • Limited Non-Microsoft Integration
    Integration with third-party, non-Microsoft services can be less straightforward compared to integration with Microsoft services, requiring additional configuration and effort.
  • Latency Concerns
    In some scenarios, particularly for globally distributed applications, latency can be an issue, potentially affecting the responsiveness of authentication and directory access.
  • Feature Overlap
    For organizations already using other identity management solutions, there may be feature overlap, which could lead to redundant systems and inefficient processes.

AWS Directory Service videos

AWS re:Invent 2015 | (SEC315) AWS Directory Service Deep Dive

More videos:

  • Review - AWS Directory Service: Configure and Administer Your AWS Managed Microsoft AD
  • Review - AWS Directory Service | Concept | Step By Step Configuration

Azure Active Directory for Developers videos

No Azure Active Directory for Developers videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AWS Directory Service and Azure Active Directory for Developers)
Identity And Access Management
Identity Provider
62 62%
38% 38
SSO
53 53%
47% 47
Monitoring Tools
45 45%
55% 55

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Azure Active Directory for Developers should be more popular than AWS Directory Service. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AWS Directory Service mentions (1)

Azure Active Directory for Developers mentions (6)

  • Is it possible to have an custom connector API for a login in Powerapps?
    2) having a custom connector and using it inside for accessing an API or any other services that require auth => possible. There are many ways how to authenticate users in this case. MS Identity platform . Source: over 3 years ago
  • Access Permissions for a SharePoint Site/List within a PowerApp?
    The catch is Authentication. You will have to handle it. MS Identity platform gives us quite a bit of choices so you can read here .MS Identity. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Performance Improvements in .NET 6
    Who is "them"? Microsoft? https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • SAML Is Insecure by Design
    Https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/ this is the correct link if you want to develop something with the identity platform, the other link is more or less admin documentation... - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
  • Blazor Webassembly App + Windows Authentication
    Microsoft Identity Platform, when you start a Blazor project in Visual Studio? Https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/develop/. Source: almost 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing AWS Directory Service and Azure Active Directory for Developers, you can also consider the following products

OneLogin - On-demand SSO, directory integration, user provisioning and more

Okta - Enterprise-grade identity management for all your apps, users & devices

JumpCloud - Cloud-based directory services. Alternative to Microsoft Active Directory.

Microsoft Azure Active Directory - Azure Active Directory is a comprehensive identity and access management cloud solution that provides a robust set of capabilities to manage users and groups and help secure access to applications including Microsoft online services like Office 365 …

Oracle Identity Manager - Oracle Identity Management enables oganizations to effectively manage the end-to-end lifecycle of user identities across all enterprise resources.

Auth0 - Auth0 is a program for people to get authentication and authorization services for their own business use.