The 9 Best IAM Tools for Workforce, Privileged & Customer Access

Provisioning one user account shouldn't take three hours across multiple admin panels. But without the right IAM platform, manual coordination between IT, HR, and Finance for every access request creates exactly that bottleneck.

The right solution depends on what you're securing—workforce access, privileged credentials, or customer authentication—and how it connects with your existing systems.

This guide compares the nine best IAM tools, from workforce SSO tools like Okta and Microsoft Entra to specialized solutions like CyberArk and Auth0, showing you which platforms fit your team size, compliance requirements, and integration needs.

What Makes a Great IAM Tool?

You need an IAM platform that secures your systems without creating new bottlenecks. That means core security features that work, plus the flexibility to connect with your existing tech stack.

Your IAM should handle these security basics:

• Single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) mean your team logs in once instead of remembering 15 passwords, and attackers can't get in with stolen credentials
• Directory services that sync automatically, so when someone joins or leaves, you update one system instead of logging into 10 different admin panels
• Granular access controls for web applications and APIs let you decide who sees what without writing custom code for every app
• Automated user lifecycle management removes the 2-3 hours your IT team currently spends provisioning each new hire

Look for compliance certifications that match your industry:

• SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 prove you have real security controls when enterprise customers ask for them
• FedRAMP certification is required if you work with federal agencies—there's no way around it
• GDPR compliance keeps you out of trouble when you have employees or customers in Europe

Understand how pricing scales with your team:

• Per-user pricing works from 50 to 5,000 employees and makes your costs predictable each month
• Basic SSO costs $4-6 per user, but you'll miss features like location-based access
• Full governance features jump to $15+ per user, which adds up fast if you don't need them
• Enterprise platforms hide pricing until you're on a sales call, usually kicking in around 500-5,000 employees
• Feature tiers can double your bill when you realize the features you need are only available at higher levels

Prioritize platforms with strong integration capabilities:

• Pre-built integrations (like Okta's 7,000+) mean you connect to your tools in minutes instead of spending months building custom connections
• SCIM provisioning support automatically creates and removes user accounts across your entire stack when someone joins or leaves
• REST/GraphQL APIs and webhooks let you build custom workflows when the pre-built options don't fit
• Without clean APIs, you're stuck doing the manual coordination you're trying to eliminate

How Do the Best IAM Tools Compare?

The 9 Best IAM Tools

Here's a detailed breakdown of the top IAM platforms, starting with solutions that integrate directly with workflow automation tools.

1. Okta

Okta delivers enterprise SSO and identity management for 200-5,000+ employee organizations that need to connect a sprawling tech stack without custom API work.

Notable features:

• 7,000+ pre-built app integrations that work out of the box
• Drag-and-drop workflow automation so you can build processes without writing code
• Automated user lifecycle management that provisions new hires before day one

Integration capabilities:

Okta integrates with Siit to orchestrate workflows across your entire tech stack, automatically triggering provisioning, approvals, and device orders when identity changes happen. Also connects with major HRIS platforms like BambooHR and Workday, device management tools including Jamf and Intune, plus collaboration apps like Slack and Teams.

Drawbacks:

Pricing jumps significantly as you move up feature tiers, plus you'll need to budget for support costs on contracts over $200K annually, so calculate the total cost before committing, since advanced features like Adaptive MFA aren't included in base packages.

2. Microsoft Entra ID

Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) works best for organizations already running Microsoft 365 who want identity management included in their existing subscription.

Notable features:

• Conditional Access that checks location, device health, and user risk before granting access
• Privileged Identity Management (PIM) that gives admin rights only when needed, not permanently
• Included with Microsoft 365 E5 licenses, so there's no separate IAM bill

Integration capabilities:

Microsoft Entra integrates with Siit to automate workflows between Microsoft 365 and the rest of your tech stack, syncing identity changes across systems without manual updates. Built directly into the Microsoft ecosystem with native support for Teams, SharePoint, and Azure, plus connects with HRIS and third-party apps through SCIM provisioning.

Drawbacks:

The licensing structure gets confusing fast across different Microsoft tiers, and it delivers the best value when you're already using Microsoft 365, so if you're not heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, you'll find the platform falls short on features compared to dedicated IAM vendors like Okta or Ping.

3. JumpCloud

JumpCloud replaces Active Directory with a cloud-based directory for 50-1,000 employee teams who want to ditch on-premises infrastructure and manage devices remotely.

Notable features:

• Cloud directory that eliminates the need for on-premises Active Directory servers
• Cross-platform device management for macOS, Windows, and Linux from one console
• LDAP, RADIUS, and SAML support so legacy systems can still authenticate

Integration capabilities:

JumpCloud integrates with Siit to automate device compliance checks and access provisioning, syncing employee status across your tech stack without manual intervention. Also connects with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and major SaaS apps, plus supports LDAP and RADIUS for legacy systems that can't use modern protocols.

Drawbacks:

Reporting and customization options are limited compared to enterprise platforms, plus users report mixed experiences with support responsiveness, and per-user costs add up quickly as you grow beyond a few hundred employees.

4. Ping Identity

Ping Identity handles hybrid environments where you're running legacy on-premises systems alongside cloud applications and need everything to work together.

Notable features:

• Hybrid identity management across on-premises and cloud environments without forcing migration
• Adaptive authentication that adjusts security requirements based on login risk
• API security with short-lived tokens and automatic rotation for customer-facing applications

Integration capabilities:

Ping Identity connects with Active Directory, LDAP, and cloud directories through SAML and OAuth protocols, plus integrates with major SaaS apps so you can manage authentication across complex federation scenarios where different systems need to trust each other.

Drawbacks:

Setup gets complex when you're managing hybrid environments, plus pricing isn't transparent, so you'll need to contact sales, and it's generally not cost-effective until you hit 500+ employees, making it a tough sell for smaller organizations even if they have on-premises infrastructure.

5. CyberArk

CyberArk focuses on privileged access management for finance, healthcare, and regulated industries that need to lock down admin credentials and track every action.

Notable features:

• Privileged access vaulting that stores admin passwords and hands out temporary tokens instead of permanent credentials
• Session recording for all admin activities, so you have a complete audit trail
• Behavioral analytics that flag suspicious access patterns before they become breaches

Integration capabilities:

Cyberark connects with Active Directory, LDAP, and major IT service management platforms, plus integrates with Slack for real-time alerts when privileged access is requested or used, so your security team stays informed without constantly checking dashboards.

Drawbacks:

CyberArk costs significantly more than standard IAM solutions and requires dedicated resources to implement and maintain, plus it's built specifically for privileged access rather than general workforce identity, so you'll likely need another platform for everyday employee access management.

6. Duo Security

Duo Security delivers fast MFA deployment for teams that need phishing protection now without waiting months for a full IAM rollout.

Notable features:

• Fast MFA deployment that can go live in under a day for small teams
• Phishing-resistant authentication that stops credential theft attacks
• Simple API integration that connects with existing apps without rebuilding authentication

Integration capabilities:

Duo integrates with 100+ applications, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, VPNs, and on-premises systems through REST API and RADIUS protocols, making it easy to add MFA to your existing apps without rebuilding authentication flows.

Drawbacks:

Duo focuses specifically on MFA rather than comprehensive access management or identity governance, so you'll need another platform for provisioning, deprovisioning, and role management, plus the integration ecosystem is smaller than enterprise IAM competitors like Okta.

7. Auth0

Auth0 handles customer-facing authentication for app developers who need to launch login functionality in hours instead of building custom OAuth implementations.

Notable features:

• Pre-built login widgets that drop into your app and go live in hours
• Rules engine for custom authentication logic when standard flows don't fit your use case
• Social login integration with Google, Facebook, and other providers out of the box

Integration capabilities:

Auth0 supports major social identity providers and enterprise SSO connections, plus provides REST APIs, SDKs for multiple languages, and webhooks for custom integrations with your application stack, so you can build exactly the authentication flow your app needs.

Drawbacks:

Pricing scales with monthly active users, which can get expensive as your user base grows. Plus, the rules engine requires JavaScript knowledge for customization, and Auth0 works best for customer identity rather than workforce identity management, where other platforms fit better.

8. OneLogin

OneLogin delivers cloud-native SSO for 100-2,000 employee mid-market companies who need quick deployment without enterprise complexity.

Notable features:

• Cloud-native SSO that deploys in days instead of months
• SmartFactor Authentication that combines multiple MFA methods based on context
• Identity lifecycle management that automates provisioning and deprovisioning

Integration capabilities:

OneLogin’s pre-built connectors work with major SaaS applications and directory services, plus SCIM provisioning automates user account creation and updates across your tech stack, so you don't have to manually manage accounts in every system.

Drawbacks:

Advanced features are limited compared to enterprise platforms like Okta or Ping Identity, plus the integration ecosystem is smaller, so you may hit gaps with niche applications, and the user interface feels dated compared to newer competitors.

9. SailPoint

SailPoint automates identity governance for audit-heavy industries like finance and healthcare that need continuous access certifications and compliance reporting.

Notable features:

• Automated access certifications and reviews that eliminate manual quarterly audits
• Machine learning that spots risky access patterns before they trigger compliance issues
• Segregation-of-duties enforcement that prevents conflicting permissions automatically

Integration capabilities:

Sailpoint connects with major enterprise applications, Active Directory, and cloud platforms through REST APIs and SCIM provisioning, so you can automate user account management across your entire tech stack regardless of whether systems are on-premises or in the cloud.

Drawbacks:

Configuration requires dedicated governance expertise that your general IT team can't handle, plus the cost limits it to large enterprises with complex compliance needs. Reporting capabilities exist, but customizing them gets difficult without specialized knowledge.

How Do You Choose the Right IAM Platform for Your Business?

Choose your IAM by matching platform capabilities to three factors that determine what you need:

Identify your primary security requirement

Different organizations need different IAM capabilities based on what they're protecting:

• Workforce access management → Standard SSO and lifecycle automation (Okta, Microsoft Entra, OneLogin)
• Privileged credentials → Vaulting and session recording for admin access (CyberArk)
• Customer-facing authentication → Developer-friendly login widgets and social providers (Auth0)
• Hybrid infrastructure → On-premises plus cloud identity management (Ping Identity)

Assess your compliance and infrastructure reality

Your regulatory requirements and existing systems narrow your options fast:

• Cloud-native teams ditching Active Directory → Cloud directories with device management (JumpCloud)
• Federal contractors needing FedRAMP → Platforms with government certifications (Okta, Microsoft Entra)
• Regulated industries requiring audit trails → Governance automation and access certifications (SailPoint)
• Quick MFA wins without full IAM rollout → Standalone MFA deployment (Duo Security)

Calculate costs beyond per-user pricing

Per-user pricing looks simple until you factor in the real expenses:

• Account for feature tiers—basic SSO at $4-6 per user jumps to $15+ for governance
• Add implementation fees, which can match your first-year subscription cost
• Include ongoing support contracts (often required for enterprise deals)
• Estimate integration work if pre-built connectors don't exist for your tools

Once you've narrowed to 2-3 platforms, test them with your actual workflows. Run through onboarding a new hire, offboarding a contractor, and handling an access request to see where friction appears.

Connect Your IAM to Your Tech Stack

The platforms above solve core identity challenges—authentication, access control, compliance—but bottlenecks persist when your IAM can't talk to the rest of your systems. Match capabilities to your needs: Okta, Microsoft Entra, or JumpCloud for workforce SSO; CyberArk for privileged access; Auth0 for customer identity; SailPoint for enterprise governance.

Without integrations, every identity change means manual updates across IT, HR, and Finance systems. Siit bridges this gap by connecting your IAM to your entire tech stack. When Okta provisions a new user, Siit automatically orders their laptop, creates collaboration channels, grants application access, and routes approval requests—reducing three-hour provisioning workflows to minutes.

Start automating with Siit.