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Microsoft Entra External ID vs SailPoint Identity Security Cloud comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 2, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Entra External ID
Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
21st
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.0
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) (11th), Microsoft Security Suite (33rd)
SailPoint Identity Security...
Ranking in Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
69
Ranking in other categories
User Provisioning Software (1st), Identity Management (IM) (2nd), SaaS Management Platforms (1st), Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Entra External ID is 1.5%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SailPoint Identity Security Cloud is 10.6%, up from 9.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS)
 

Featured Reviews

Oluwakorede Oladipo - PeerSpot reviewer
Promotes centralized user management and easy to setup
The most beneficial feature for us is the ease of setup. With about five clicks, we can generate unique IDs and keys and set up in less than 30 minutes. We can also generate these for multiple years simultaneously, which is convenient. In Azure, you can set up access rules. Just because an app is linked to Active Directory doesn’t mean everyone can access it automatically. You can make it so users have to give consent before getting access. You can also control which apps can connect to Active Directory. For Microsoft Exchange, we use multi-factor authentication to protect our information, which helps keep it secure by requiring more than just a password to log in. Centralizing user management has positively impacted our operational costs and efficiency. We no longer need multiple systems to manage users, especially in our SaaS applications. This has improved turnaround time for user management tasks and streamlined our processes, making things more efficient. We use the SaaS version, so there's no on-premises infrastructure. The integration is mainly done through setup, linking it to our domain and Active Directory.
Praveen Jalumuru - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced automation and AI-driven integration offer significant time savings
The most valuable features include its ability to integrate with AI and machine learning, the automation of reports, and the built-in connectors that enable easy connection with both legacy and cloud-based applications. Its code-less drag-and-drop functionality allows for easier adjustments, and it provides strong support with reduced SLAs compared to SailPoint IQ.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The fact that it is quite integrated into the entire Microsoft environment makes it quite easy to use."
"The most beneficial feature for us is the ease of setup. With about five clicks, we can generate unique IDs and keys and set up in less than 30 minutes. We can also generate these for multiple years simultaneously, which is convenient."
"It's similar to using a Microsoft account to create accounts on other websites. We are also using Microsoft Entra to monitor which applications our guests are using. This allows us to filter, block, or adjust permissions for these applications as needed for our collaborators."
"The fact that it is quite integrated into the entire Microsoft environment makes it quite easy to use."
"It's quite easy to manage and monitor."
"The solution's most valuable feature is its integration with Slack for the notification of access requests."
"Has a great certification module with intuitive options."
"It is a scalable product."
"The solution is very good at the management of the identity lifecycle."
"The access certification feature is valuable."
"IdentityIQ's best features are the hassle-free user experience and security."
"The solution’s stability and performance are good."
"What I like most about SailPoint IdentityIQ is that it's simple to use and easy to configure and deploy."
 

Cons

"A common concern among the customers I visit is the unpredictability of Microsoft's costs at every renewal. This is really bothersome for the customer, and I would say it is the worst element I have seen in these years."
"I generally find Microsoft solutions expensive, especially in specific offerings."
"I would like to see faster synchronization."
"The problem with Microsoft products is that they often cater to enterprise-level needs, which can be too costly for medium-sized businesses."
"Technical support needs improvement."
"The UI is complex."
"It is too technical. You need really good technical skills in Java and other technologies, which are hard to find. If they can make it easier so that things can be done with a few clicks, it will be great."
"The pricing could be improved."
"There are more functionalities in the Cloud that could be explored."
"If you compare Saviynt and Okta Workforce Identity versus SailPoint IdentityIQ, SailPoint IdentityIQ needs to improve its UI."
"SailPoint IdentityIQ has a primitive AI engine."
"Competitors are advancing by offering integrated solutions encompassing access and privileged access management in a single unified platform. IdentityIQ's focus has remained primarily on identity and access governance, neglecting to expand its offerings to include these additional functionalities within its existing product. Enhancing their product by incorporating modules for access management, privileged access management, and third-party access governance could address this gap."
"The workflow and user interface of SailPoint are not as smooth as ServiceNow's. I find raising a ticket to be too complex, which could be improved for better user-friendliness."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We don't pay separately for Microsoft Entra External ID as it's part of our Microsoft Exchange subscription."
"SailPoint IdentityIQ is highly-priced, and I rate it an eight out of ten for pricing."
"I rate the solution a seven on a scale where one is cheap and ten is too expensive. In short, the solution falls under the higher side of pricing."
"SailPoint is higher in price as compared to Saviynt. The initial cost of SailPoint is very high. There are additional costs to the standard licensing fees."
"The solution is not cheap."
"It's difficult to say that the solution saved costs because it is quite expensive."
"The product is expensive. I rate its pricing an eight out of ten."
"It is a costly solution. Its cost, for sure, should be reduced."
"You are able to get discounts if you plan to use the tool for the long-term i.e. discounts for 5+ years of usage."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
Financial Services Firm
18%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Healthcare Company
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Entra External ID?
It's quite expensive, especially as you grow and add more users. Initially, with a small number of people, the costs were manageable.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Entra External ID?
The problem with Microsoft products is that they often cater to enterprise-level needs, which can be too costly for medium-sized businesses. When you move beyond a small team and start growing, the...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Entra External ID?
We had a project to integrate our Active Directory, which was running on our site, and invite external collaborators, such as freelancers, to connect to our domain via an invitation. Additionally, ...
How does Sailpoint IdentityIQ compare with CyberArk PAM?
We evaluated Sailpoint IdentityIQ before ultimately choosing CyberArk. Sailpoint Identity Platform is a solution to manage risks in cloud enterprise environments. It automates and streamlines the m...
What do you like most about SailPoint IdentityIQ?
The first valuable feature of the solution is its interface. The second feature of the solution is the level of flexibility it provides.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SailPoint IdentityIQ?
The product is expensive. People need to opt for a licensing plan for one year or three years.
 

Also Known As

Azure Active Directory External Identities
IdentityIQ, IdentityNow, Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management, Intello
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Adobe, AXA Technology Services, Cuna Mutual Group, Equifax, ING Direct, Orrstown Bank, Rockwell Automation, SallieMae, Spirit Aerosystems, TEL
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Entra External ID vs. SailPoint Identity Security Cloud and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
832,083 professionals have used our research since 2012.