Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

privacyIDEA VS Azure Multi-Factor Authentication

Compare privacyIDEA VS Azure Multi-Factor Authentication and see what are their differences

privacyIDEA logo privacyIDEA

privacyIDEA is an enterprise ready, open-source multi factor authentication system.

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication logo Azure Multi-Factor Authentication

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication helps safeguard access to data and applications while meeting user demand for a simple sign-in process.
  • privacyIDEA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07
  • Azure Multi-Factor Authentication Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-19

privacyIDEA features and specs

  • Open Source
    privacyIDEA is an open-source solution, which means it is free to use and allows organizations to customize it according to their specific needs without licensing fees.
  • Versatile Authentication Methods
    It supports a wide range of authentication methods such as OTP, U2F, and FIDO2, providing flexibility to meet diverse security requirements.
  • Scalability
    privacyIDEA is designed to scale with your organization, making it suitable for both small businesses and large enterprises.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The solution can be integrated with various systems and services like LDAP, Active Directory, and RADIUS, enhancing its utility in complex IT environments.
  • Community Support
    Being open-source, it has a community that contributes to its development, offering resources and collective problem-solving.

Possible disadvantages of privacyIDEA

  • Complexity
    The flexibility and wide range of features can result in a steep learning curve, potentially causing implementation and management complexity for new users.
  • Community-Based Support
    While community support is a benefit, it might not be as reliable or immediate as professional customer support offered by commercial solutions.
  • Limited Documentation
    As with many open-source projects, the documentation can be less comprehensive or outdated, posing challenges in deployment and troubleshooting.
  • Resource Intensive
    Proper implementation and management might require dedicated IT resources, which could be burdensome for small organizations without a specialized IT team.

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Azure MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Flexible Authentication Options
    It supports various authentication methods such as phone calls, text messages, app notifications, and hardware tokens, providing flexibility for users.
  • Integration with Microsoft Services
    Seamless integration with other Microsoft services and Azure Active Directory ensures a cohesive security solution across different Microsoft platforms.
  • Compliance Support
    Helps organizations meet compliance requirements by providing an additional layer of security that is often mandated by regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.
  • User-friendly
    Designed to be straightforward for end-users, reducing the friction typically associated with multi-factor authentication processes.
  • Conditional Access Policies
    Enables the configuration of conditional access policies to enforce MFA for specific scenarios, balancing security needs and user convenience.

Possible disadvantages of Azure Multi-Factor Authentication

  • Cost
    While some features are available for free, comprehensive usage of Azure MFA can incur additional costs depending on the Azure AD licensing model.
  • Setup Complexity
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for organizations without a dedicated IT team.
  • Reliance on Internet Connectivity
    Most verification methods require an internet connection, which can be a drawback in environments with unstable or unreliable internet access.
  • Potential User Resistance
    Some users may find the authentication process cumbersome or may resist changes to the login process, requiring additional user education and support.
  • Dependency on External Devices
    Authentication methods like text messages or app notifications depend on users having access to their mobile devices, which can be problematic if a device is lost or stolen.
  • Integration Challenges with Non-Microsoft Services
    While Azure MFA integrates well with Microsoft services, integration with third-party or non-Microsoft applications may require additional configuration and support.

privacyIDEA videos

privacyIDEA extended attribute mapping

More videos:

  • Review - Enroll 2FA to thousands of users with privacyIDEA Automating processes with privacyIDEA
  • Review - Using specific U2F devices like Yubikey or Hyperfido with privacyIDEA

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication videos

How to register for Azure Multi-Factor Authentication

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to privacyIDEA and Azure Multi-Factor Authentication)
Identity And Access Management
Two Factor Authentication
Authentication
13 13%
87% 87
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Azure Multi-Factor Authentication should be more popular than privacyIDEA. It has been mentiond 2 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.

privacyIDEA mentions (1)

  • 2fa recommendations
    You might want to take a look at our open source solution privacyIDEA or go with anything else. Take care, to not enter a vendor lock in. Source: over 3 years ago

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication mentions (2)

  • MFA for Outlook Online on cell phone
    This is the answer, more detail: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/authentication/concept-mfa-howitworks. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What do you do if you lost your phone with Microsoft Authenticator?
    Make sure that you back-up the active app-configuration, this way you have an easier way to recover; make sure you are allowed to verify using more than an authenticator, more here. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing privacyIDEA and Azure Multi-Factor Authentication, you can also consider the following products

Google Authenticator - Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.

Microsoft Authenticator - One app to quickly and securely verify your identity online, for all of your accounts.

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

Okta Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication - Multi-factor authentication is becoming the standard. Secure your apps and VPN with strong MFA for adaptive, risk-based authentication.

Duo Security - Duo Security provides cloud-based two-factor authentication. Duo’s technology can be deployed to protect users, data, and applications from breaches, credential theft, and account takeover.

Rublon - Rublon enables your workforce to securely access your organization's networks, servers and applications via easy-to-use multi-factor authentication. Protect cloud apps, VPNs, servers, workstations, internal as well as on-premise apps.