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Microsoft Azure Active Directory VS ForgeRock

Compare Microsoft Azure Active Directory VS ForgeRock and see what are their differences

Microsoft Azure Active Directory logo 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 …

ForgeRock logo ForgeRock

ForgeRock creates identity relationship management solutions for the modern Web including public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, and enterprise and mobile environments.
  • Microsoft Azure Active Directory Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-06
  • ForgeRock Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

Microsoft Azure Active Directory features and specs

  • Scalability
    Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) can easily scale to accommodate both small businesses and large enterprises with millions of users, making it suitable for a range of organizational needs.
  • Integrations
    Azure AD integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services such as Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Windows 10, as well as many third-party applications, simplifying user management across platforms.
  • Security Features
    Azure AD provides robust security features like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Conditional Access, and Identity Protection, enhancing the security posture of an organization.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    Azure AD offers Single Sign-On capabilities, allowing users to log in once and gain access to multiple applications without needing to authenticate again.
  • Self-Service Password Reset
    Users can reset their own passwords, reducing the helpdesk workload and improving productivity and user satisfaction.
  • Monitoring and Reporting
    Azure AD includes comprehensive monitoring and reporting tools that help administrators keep track of user activities and potential security threats.
  • Support for Open Standards
    Azure AD supports open standards such as OAuth2, SAML, and OpenID Connect, allowing for flexible integrations with a variety of applications and services.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Azure Active Directory

  • Complexity
    Implementing and managing Azure AD can be complex, particularly for organizations without dedicated IT staff or prior experience with Microsoft's cloud ecosystem.
  • Cost
    While it offers a range of features, the cost of Azure AD can add up, particularly for premium features and large-scale implementations, making it potentially expensive for some organizations.
  • Learning Curve
    Administrators new to Azure AD may face a steep learning curve and require training to effectively use and manage the service.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    As a cloud-based service, Azure AD depends on stable internet connectivity. Any internet outage can disrupt access to applications and services.
  • Limited On-premises Integration
    While hybrid models are supported, integrating Azure AD with on-premises Active Directory can present challenges and may require additional setup and maintenance.
  • Feature Overlap
    Organizations using multiple Microsoft services might find some overlap in features, which can complicate administration and lead to redundant functionalities.
  • Customization Constraints
    Though Azure AD offers many out-of-the-box features, customizing beyond the provided options can be difficult and sometimes limited.

ForgeRock features and specs

  • Comprehensive Identity Management
    ForgeRock provides a wide range of identity and access management solutions including authentication, authorization, identity governance, and more. This makes it a one-stop solution for managing complex identity needs.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to scale efficiently, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises. It can handle millions of identities without compromising on performance.
  • Flexibility and Customization
    ForgeRock offers highly customizable and flexible solutions that can be tailored to meet specific requirements and integrate with a variety of existing systems.
  • Comprehensive Security Features
    ForgeRock includes advanced security features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), secure APIs, and compliance with regulatory standards, which enhance the security posture of an organization.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for administrators to manage identities and for users to interact with the system.

Possible disadvantages of ForgeRock

  • High Cost
    ForgeRock solutions can be quite expensive, which might be a barrier for smaller organizations or those with limited budgets.
  • Complexity in Implementation
    Due to its comprehensive feature set, the implementation process can be complex and time-consuming, requiring skilled professionals to properly set up and manage the system.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users or administrators may find the platform has a steep learning curve, which could require extensive training and time to become proficient.
  • Dependency on Professional Services
    Organizations may need to rely on ForgeRock’s professional services or third-party consultants for custom integration and implementation, which can add to the overall cost.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues in high-traffic environments, which could impact the user experience and system reliability.

Analysis of Microsoft Azure Active Directory

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Microsoft Azure Active Directory is a highly effective and reliable solution for managing user identities and access in the cloud. It is well-regarded for its strong security features, versatility, and integration capabilities, making it a solid choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive cloud identity and access management solution.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is considered a strong choice for cloud-based identity and access management services for several reasons. It provides robust security features, seamless integration with Microsoft products, support for a wide range of third-party applications, scalability, and comprehensive identity protection. Azure AD also offers multi-factor authentication, conditional access policies, and identity governance, which are crucial for maintaining secure user access and protecting organizational data. Additionally, the platform's flexibility and extensive documentation make it accessible for businesses of different sizes and technical capabilities.

Recommended for

  • Businesses using Microsoft products like Office 365 and Dynamics 365
  • Organizations requiring robust identity protection and access management
  • IT administrators seeking seamless integration with a wide range of third-party applications
  • Companies looking to enhance security through multi-factor authentication and conditional access
  • Enterprises that need scalable solutions to accommodate growth and complexity
  • Organizations aiming to simplify identity management across cloud and on-premises environments

Analysis of ForgeRock

Overall verdict

  • Overall, ForgeRock is regarded as a good choice for businesses seeking a robust and flexible IAM solution. Its strength lies in its scalability and comprehensive feature set, though it may be more complex and costly than simpler IAM options, especially for smaller businesses.

Why this product is good

  • ForgeRock is considered a strong option for organizations looking for comprehensive identity management solutions. It offers a wide range of features for identity and access management (IAM), including single sign-on, identity governance, and comprehensive API security. The platform is designed to be scalable, which makes it suitable for enterprises needing to manage millions of identities. ForgeRock also emphasizes user experience with robust authentication methods and convenient user interfaces.

Recommended for

    ForgeRock is particularly recommended for large enterprises and organizations in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government that require highly secure, reliable, and scalable identity management solutions. It's also a good fit for businesses that need to manage a large number of users and require advanced features like multi-factor authentication, user life cycle management, and comprehensive API security.

Microsoft Azure Active Directory videos

What is Azure Active Directory B2C? | Azure Active Directory

More videos:

  • Review - Advanced use cases with Azure Active Directory B2C | Azure Active Directory

ForgeRock videos

ForgeRock Training: Deploying the ForgeRock Identity Platform™ using DevOps Techniques Webinar

More videos:

  • Review - Configuring the ForgeRock Identity Platform™ in a DevOps Environment | ForgeRock | IT Training
  • Review - The ForgeRock Platform | What is ForgeRock Identity Gateway?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft Azure Active Directory and ForgeRock)
Identity And Access Management
Identity Provider
85 85%
15% 15
SSO
82 82%
18% 18
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft Azure Active Directory and ForgeRock

Microsoft Azure Active Directory Reviews

The Top 10 Single Sign-On Solutions For Business
Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is one of the most widely used Single Sign-On applications, enabling users to log into multiple accounts with their Office 365 user details. The platform is a cloud based identity and access management service, which allows employees to sign-in to Office 365, the Azure portal (Azure being Microsoft’s cloud application services) and...
10 Best Auth0 Alternatives and Similar Platforms
Administrators may also deploy the tool to map the user experience and manage authentication. Through APIs, Azure Active Directory may connect to a variety of third-party services, including Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and more.
Best Identity Management Software
Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a cloud-based identity and IAM solution that can manage users, printers and GPOs. Azure AD is used for employees and Azure AD B2B for guest users and external partners. AD B2C controls how you sign up, sign in and manage your profile when you use your applications.
The 6 Best Identity Access Management Tools
Microsoft Azure Active Directory – From the makers of the most used operating system platform, which means it can easily be implemented on most networks and integrates well with existing access control systems.
20 Identity Management Solutions You Should Know
With a single sign on, Microsoft Azure’s Active Directory allows users to access more than 2,800 SaaS apps, from Salesforce to Canvas — provided they’re cleared to access them, of course. Azure AD also lets IT personnel customize access to sensitive materials and outline conditional access protocols. (For example: “This user should have access to this app only while...
Source: builtin.com

ForgeRock Reviews

Best identity access management software 2022
ForgeRock is designed to support large numbers of identities, making it optimal for enterprise companies. ForgeRock provides three individual environments (development, testing, and production) for the cost of a single license for cloud deployments.
Source: www.zdnet.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microsoft Azure Active Directory seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 15 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.

Microsoft Azure Active Directory mentions (15)

  • AWS Users, Roles, and Identity Center Demystified
    Human users using Roles can leverage IAM Identity Center (formerly AWS SSO) which offers a pretty good experience, whether we're federating from Active Directory (a popular choice for enterprises) or managing users within Identity Center (fine for individuals or small team). We get an easy console sign-in experience and similarly frictionless command line access. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Stack Exchange Moderators Are Going On Strike
    The question is tagged Azure-Active-Directory, which is an IAM/IDP product. That provides plenty of context. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to choose the right API Gateway
    Because the configuration is a highly critical feature, we need to authenticate via an API key or by means of other auth methods. For example, most API Gateway providers such as Apache APISIX enabled token-based access to Admin API and they highly advise generating your own token and regularly changing it. Or Azure API Management relies on Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), which includes optional features such as... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Case Study: Connecting Azure AD SSO with AWS
    I will not explain too much about Azure AD. I'll recommend reading the documentation and the home page of the Azure AD. In short, Azure AD (Azure Active Directory) is a cloud-based identity and access management service. You can use the identity provided by Azure AD for connecting various applications or services, including AWS. If you want to learn more about Azure AD, please visit the documentation. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Around 83.4% of Fortune 500 have Azure Active Directory
    It is a directory with a lot of functionality. There's actually a number of products under the Azure AD name, including: * Azure AD, their employee/workforce solution. It's a directory, authentication and authorization system. Think Okta or AWS SSO. I imagine this is mostly what the survey was tracking. * Azure AD B2C, their CIAM solution. Think Auth0, Cognito or FusionAuth (disclosure, I'm a FusionAuth employee).... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

ForgeRock mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ForgeRock yet. Tracking of ForgeRock recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft Azure Active Directory and ForgeRock, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

Ping Identity - Ping Identity provides cloud-based, single sign-on and identity management solutions with their SAML SSO.

Amazon Cognito - Amazon Cognito lets you add user sign-up, sign-in, and access control to your web and mobile apps quickly and easily. It scales to millions of users and supports sign-in with social identity providers and enterprise identity providers via SAML 2.0.

Atlassian Crowd - Crowd is a single sign-on and user identity solution.