Avatier vs Idaptive Application Services

You’re considering Avatier vs. Idaptive Application Services for your identity and access management needs. What are some of the key features and differences to keep in mind? To simplify your selection process, use our quick reference guide.

1) Evaluating The Single Sign-On (SSO) Value Proposition

In its simplest form, a single sign-on solution makes life easier for end-users. Instead of continually checking a list of logins and passwords, they can use one login and move on with their work. In terms of this basic functionality, Avatier and Idaptive are both successful. However, there is more to the story once you start to look closer.

Avatier empowers you to regain control over your SaaS licenses. By tracking which users use which SaaS apps, you can measure which SaaS licenses are worthwhile. Some of our customers have cut their SaaS costs by up to 30% as a result! That’s a significant win for IT. In contrast, the Idaptive Single Sign-On solution does not offer Saas license or usage tracking.

If you want to demonstrate to help your executives better manage SaaS costs while providing a seamless login solution, Avatier is the best choice.

2) Which Solution Empowers End Users With Maximum Flexibility?

Traditionally, identity and access management solutions have focused on IT. After all, IT usually has the ultimate responsibility for these systems. However, we also need to acknowledge the needs of business end-users. These users want to log in and get their work done. Convenience, speed and flexibility all matter to them.

Avatier has responded by building a specialized IT security chatbot called Apollo. It can be installed quickly so users can perform simple tasks like password resets. Unlike a conventional help desk, Apollo can operate 24/7 to provide support. That is a significant benefit if you have a global workforce.

Our research found that Idaptive has no comparable chatbot option. As a result, there are fewer choices for end-users to get the support they need. Avatier has the advantage in terms of providing a flexible, end-user support experience.

3) Which Solution Meets Your Governance and Compliance Needs Best?

It’s not enough to run a secure company. You need to be able to document your processes, changes and approach to identity management. In short, IT auditors and compliance staff are essential stakeholders in identity and access management. Let’s look at how these two products serve governance, risk and compliance (GRC) needs.

Avatier includes support for compliance and IT audit as a fundamental feature. First, you have access to full audit logs for every change made: add, delete and change. Second, you have the option to make private comments on user changes (e.g. “note this user request as high risk”). These features make it much easier for your IT auditors and related control staff to get their work done.

In comparison, Idaptive appears to have less support. For example, we did not find any mention of “compliance history” as a feature.  Likewise, we did not find any mention of “GRC” (Governance, Risk and Compliance”) as a product capability either.  These gaps suggest that the needs of IT audit, governance, risk and compliance users are not a priority.

To help your risk and control professionals get their work done effectively, choose Avatier.

4) Avatier vs. Idaptive Application Services: Which Works Best With Collaborative Apps?

For IT security processes to work effectively, you need to make the steps easy for your employees. That’s why Avatier has developed support for popular apps like Skype, Telegram, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Facebook Messenger, and Twilio in Apollo. These popular collaboration tools are challenging the supremacy of email and phone as workplace tools. Therefore, your identity and access management software solution needs to keep pace.

Our review of Idaptive did not find support for these collaboration tools. As a result, identity and access management changes are going to be less convenient. If users cannot quickly get service, they are more likely to engage in less secure habits like writing down passwords on scraps of paper.

If your organization uses tools like Slack and Skype for everything, you need to choose Avatier.

5) Avatier Vs. Idaptive: Who Has The Best Multi-Factor Authentication Support?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now a standard requirement in many companies. It is too easy for a determined hacker to break a poorly written password. That’s why banks, governments and other companies are using “two-factor” or “multi-factor” authentication.

Idaptive’s approach to multi-factor authentication has some positive qualities. For example, Idaptive offers support for FIDO2, just as Avatier does. Likewise, both companies support the use of mobile devices and one-time passwords (“OTP”). So far, this MFA comparison suggests that two products are evenly matched.

Not so fast! Avatier has a significant advantage in terms of biometrics. When we examined Idaptive’s Authentication Factors, there was no mention made of biometric authentication options. By contrast, Avatier supports three different kinds of biometrics:  Biometric Face (i.e. facial recognition), Biometric Voice (i.e. voice identification) and Biometric Fingerprints.

Avatier’s high level of multi-factor authentication means you have plenty of options to protect your most sensitive users.

6) Special Pricing For Non-Profits And Educational Institutions

Non-profit organizations, schools and colleges have significant amounts of sensitive data to protect. On the other hand, these organizations are under significant cost pressures. When comparing Avatier vs. Idaptive Application Services, which makes life easier for the sector?

Avatier offers a special discounted pricing arrangement for educational institutions and non-profits when you have more than 3,000 users. In contrast, Idaptive does not offer this kind of special pricing. That lack of special pricing may mean the difference between adequately protecting your users and leaving some out.

Final Thoughts On Choosing Your Single Sign-On Solution

You’ve learned a lot about these two products. While both products are designed to make single sign-on easy, there are significant differences. End-user convenience and MFA security are just some of the factors that make Avatier a more robust solution.