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Shibboleth VS Salesforce Identity

Compare Shibboleth VS Salesforce Identity and see what are their differences

Shibboleth logo Shibboleth

standards based, open source software for web single sign-on across or within organizational...

Salesforce Identity logo Salesforce Identity

Salesforce Identity streamlines the user access with a single login and helps to discover the power of a single, trusted identity for employees, partners, and customers.
  • Shibboleth Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-27
  • Salesforce Identity Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-16

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.

Salesforce Identity features and specs

  • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    Enables users to access multiple applications with a single set of login credentials, improving user convenience and reducing password fatigue.
  • Integrated Authentication
    Seamlessly integrates with existing Salesforce environment, providing a cohesive user experience and better security management.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    Enhanced security through the use of multiple authentication methods, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Centralized Identity Management
    Eases user management by centralizing identity and access control, reducing administrative overhead.
  • Social Sign-On
    Allows users to log in using their social media credentials, increasing login speed and potentially improving user engagement.
  • Compliance and Reporting
    Offers built-in tools for compliance with various industry standards and regulations, along with reporting capabilities for auditing and monitoring.

Possible disadvantages of Salesforce Identity

  • Cost
    Can be expensive, especially for small businesses or startups, due to subscription and implementation fees.
  • Complexity
    Implementation and customization might be complex and time-consuming, requiring specialized knowledge.
  • Dependency on Salesforce Ecosystem
    Tightly integrated with Salesforce, which might be a limitation for companies using a diverse set of platforms and looking for a more agnostic solution.
  • Learning Curve
    Users and administrators may experience a steep learning curve, requiring training and adaptation time.
  • Integration Challenges
    Integrating with non-Salesforce applications can be tricky and may require additional configuration or third-party tools.

Analysis of Salesforce Identity

Overall verdict

  • Salesforce Identity is a good choice for businesses that are heavily invested in the Salesforce ecosystem or those seeking a reliable and secure identity management solution. Its integration capabilities and robust security features make it a valuable tool for managing user identities across multiple platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Salesforce Identity is considered a robust identity and access management service that integrates well with Salesforce's ecosystem. It provides a seamless single sign-on (SSO) solution, enabling users to access multiple applications efficiently. With strong security features, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and detailed user management, it helps organizations enhance their security posture while simplifying user access. The platform facilitates easy user onboarding and offboarding, and it offers comprehensive analytics and monitoring tools to track user activities and ensure compliance.

Recommended for

    Salesforce Identity is recommended for medium to large enterprises that utilize Salesforce products and other cloud-based services. It is particularly suitable for organizations looking to streamline authentication processes across different business applications, enhance security, and simplify user management.

Shibboleth videos

Shibboleth Review

More videos:

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

Salesforce Identity videos

Salesforce Identity: One Customer, Many Touchpoints

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Shibboleth and Salesforce Identity)
Identity Provider
38 38%
62% 62
Identity And Access Management
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Authentication
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Shibboleth and Salesforce Identity, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Webroot - Webroot delivers multi-vector protection for endpoints and networks and threat intelligence services to protect businesses and individuals in a connected world.

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

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

Lastpass - LastPass is an online password manager and form filler that makes web browsing easier and more secure.