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Technical Solutions Lead at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Stable and reliable solution but the application updates are lacking
Pros and Cons
  • "A solution that's easy to use, stable, and reliable."
  • "Application updates are lacking. Customer support needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We've been using this solution for SSO and consolidation of IDs.

How has it helped my organization?

This solution brought us the SSO perspective, and this is the main reason we're using it.

What is most valuable?

The only thing I like about Okta Workforce Identity compared to other solutions in the market is that it's an easy resource that you can get, even if you're working with many users, but there is a lot to learn about it.

What needs improvement?

There are many things that Okta has to improve on. I understand that Okta has a lot of apps, like any other provider, e.g. Microsoft apps, IDP apps, or cloud identity apps.

The problem with Okta is that they create the app and they never update. In this fast-paced industry where versions keep getting updated, Okta is really slow at times.

None of the Okta applications that they create, for example, in my case: I have used the cloud identity of Microsoft apps and now I'm using the off tabs. What I found is none of the single Okta apps that we have worked and did not create an issue. They are not fully mature. So it's that aspect that can be improved, which Okta is investigating. Their application support and not having updates for those applications also need to be improved. These are the things that surprised me and I was not able to understand from Okta.

Okta's customer support should be improved.

Okta should work with certain providers, e.g. the Google cloud, the AWS cloud, the Microsoft cloud, and they should evaluate the integration point because what happens is if your organization has SSO which relies on Okta, all of these three clouds and the Okta app are far from perfect. You are not able to get the right setup based on how your security is trying to define it vs what the application can support. You'll end up using the default interface Okta provides with those apps.

I understand Okta could say that if they shouldn't worry about it because if AWS wanted to support Okta, then AWS should be the one providing us the app and support, but Okta should try to understand the users, do surveys from the different automation using Okta, and use different apps because those apps are very critical. They are far from perfect, so Okta has the worst implementation.

Buyer's Guide
Okta Workforce Identity
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Okta Workforce Identity. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,071 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used this solution in the last 12 months. We've been using it for six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This solution is stable and reliable. We didn't find the solution itself hard to use.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of this solution is bad. Scalability has two or three different meanings to it.

Is it scalable from the infrastructure side of it? The answer is yes.

Is this scalable from the business perspective? The answer is no. For example, the B2B and the B2C solutions that others provide, those aspects in Okta are completely lacking.

For example, if I have the Microsoft Azure Active Directory, I have the B2C, B2B, and the phase rate, so I have a way to not only support my enterprise but my end customers in a very fast manner. In the case of Okta, that whole path is a nightmare to work with.

How are customer service and support?

I didn't like Okta's support. They say they have very good support, but the moment you create a ticket, they will tell you that they provide the app, but they cannot provide support because we connected the app to another environment, or to another side of the spectrum. This seemed very odd to me.

First, we are using the application you specified, then you say you cannot support this application just because the value provided is outside of this application, so you cannot troubleshoot or help us to troubleshoot if we open a ticket. Every single time it's a chicken and egg type of situation. From that perspective, Okta's support is horrible.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was straightforward. Nowadays, all the other IDPs are the same way, too. I didn't find a single IDP that had no experience at the level, and all of them can stand up at the same time, within the same time frame.

With Okta, on the other hand, the requirement to have the ID server in between, whether it's the cloud-based ID server specified, or the on-prem base, like ours: It's on-prem, but what I found was that we were not able to do it even after following all the guidance unless we had a dedicated Okta person to help us do it. It was a different situation with Microsoft and cloud IDP which were easy to set up, as we were able to do it ourselves just by following the documentation.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented the solution through an integrator consultant. They are fine. They are doing the job on a daily basis.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

This solution is costly.

With Microsoft, you get the exact same information that Okta gives out of the box: free, because that's what Microsoft does, and even if I compare to other cloud IDPs, with Okta, access may offer free access for startups, and if you have fewer users, it's okay. Pricing is decent. The moment you talk about the enterprise level, for example, we were talking about implementing Okta across the US with multiple customers, and the cost they gave us was two million dollars. The cost is not justified for the single assets of this solution, so Okta is bad in those terms.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We've been evaluating Microsoft Azure Active Directory. It's still in the POC phase, and it's been three or four months. We have very particular requirements, e.g. a mix of multiple IDPs with Okta, and Azure Active Directory is one of them, but that is the only one where we don't have the solution. We are trying to do the POCs first to ensure that they are able to meet our needs.

What other advice do I have?

The reports I downloaded were very informative. The things that we were trying to do is generally the One ID and software entitlement. Our customers find them more useful than the Microsoft Azure side of it. They know that the functionality exists and they are able to use that functionality, but the intuitive nature of managing the entitlement was not there. We also had a requirement where we wanted to mix the Okta in between, for the SSO, so I was trying to collect as much information as I can get and that information was helpful.

Whenever you search for the Okta documentation, for example, if we search for cloud IDP and Microsoft-related documentation, it's only on Microsoft's site we get the help we need, including help from the community. Okta's community, when you Google it, is lacking because it only contains help or information about Okta products because Okta users are only able to use the product in a standard way.

This surprised me especially because Okta has such a good name, but the bottom line is, if you ask me as a decision-maker or the one who influences decisions in our organization, if I was going to choose Okta as our SSO provider, my answer will be flat NO.

The initial implementation of this solution took three months. It's a very simple and standard implementation, so that's never been a problem.

A hundred users are currently using this solution in our organization. It doesn't require heavy maintenance.

Working with Okta can be restrictive, and this is where Okta doesn't shine.

This solution is being used extensively in our organization. Increasing its usage will depend on whether they are able to convince the Infotech folks, and that's what's happening.

The advice I would give to others looking into implementing this solution is for them to first try to understand it. They should not confine themselves to selecting Okta, thinking that it's the end solution. They should look at their future needs too because once they implement Okta without considering their future needs, they will have to do a lot of hacks and tricks. Before they even delve into Okta, they have to first think about their future and how much this solution will cost in the long run.

This solution meets the need, but that's all, so I'm rating it a six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2134212 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager IAM at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 5
Easy, secure access for your workforce but team access management can be better
Pros and Cons
  • "Workforce Identity offers a comprehensive access management solution with multi-factor authentication, total control, and features like app access management, identity governance, and administration tools such as certification and access request management. These are typically found in identity management solutions, but Okta integrates them seamlessly into its user interface."
  • "They should focus on improving them to provide top-notch team access management while still offering those typical features."

What is our primary use case?

We have been using this tool for access management. Our client has connected their app's security with Okta Workforce Identity. We have used LinkedIn's libraries to integrate it with various apps, including Oracle and others.

What is most valuable?

Workforce Identity offers a comprehensive access management solution with multi-factor authentication, total control, and features like app access management, identity governance, and administration tools such as certification and access request management. These are typically found in identity management solutions, but Okta integrates them seamlessly into its user interface.      

What needs improvement?

They should focus on providing top-notch team access management to companies.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Okta Workforce Identity for the past 10 months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It has proven to be stable in the time I've used it. If there are any challenges, their support team has been responsive and helpful. Overall, my experience with them has been positive.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable, but we need to coordinate with Okta's support team or our account manager if we want to increase our workload. Since it's a complete SaaS solution, they can make the necessary adjustments accordingly.

How are customer service and support?

As premium customers, we have the opportunity to schedule calls directly with Okta's expert team members for discussions and support. It's a valuable perk of being a premium user.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

I haven't personally handled the deployment, but I've worked on configuring the printer, which wasn't too complex. As for deployment time and manpower, it's a bit different since Okta Workforce Identity is a cloud-based platform. We don't need dedicated servers as Okta manages integration. We work on our own tenants, and Okta provides preview environments for testing new features. As for maintenance, it's not too difficult, especially for premium customers who can raise support tickets if needed.

What other advice do I have?

I received good support for addressing some bugs, although there were delays in fixing them due to the product backlog and prioritization process at Okta. The resolution time depended on how they prioritized issues, which sometimes caused delays. Overall, I would rate it 7 out of 10.  

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Okta Workforce Identity
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Okta Workforce Identity. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,071 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Wissam Khashab - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Security Manager at Sara
Real User
Provides a very useful single sign-on feature for all our applications
Pros and Cons
  • "Having a single sign-on to all our applications."
  • "You can't hide the device when you're checking logs."

What is our primary use case?

My primary use case is to have a single sign-on and to have identity access management. I'm the team management manager and we are customers of Okta. 

What is most valuable?

Having a single sign-on to all our applications.

What needs improvement?

With the device applications, when you are checking the logs, you can't hide the device and that's a feature that's missing. I'd like to see MDM source added. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used this solution for a year. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is good on scalability and stability. 

How are customer service and technical support?

The company has very good tehnical support and they respond quickly. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup wasn't so easy but it wasn't too complex either. We had assistance from Okta for the installation. Implementation didn't take long, maybe two or three days but we had some issues with some applications, and we had to postpone our deployment for about two months because of that. There's no maintenance required. We have about 300 users dealing with the solution in the company and it's used daily. We have no plans to increase usage for now.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I think the approximate cost for the license is somewhere between $20,000-$21,000 a year and that includes everything. 

What other advice do I have?

I think this is a good solution, I would recommend it. 

I would rate this solution an eight out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
ABHILASH TH - PeerSpot reviewer
ABHILASH THManaging Director at FOX DATA
Top 10Reseller

Good to read reviews from customers

Chief Technology Officer at Windval Technology Solutions LLC
Real User
Easy to implement and manage, and the cost benefits are valuable
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are ease of operation and visibility."
  • "The integration with third-party tools needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We are a solution provider and Okta is one of the products that we implement for our clients. I am a solution architect and help to design the system.

Most of our clients have a hybrid architecture where they want to use a single sign-on. They have some applications on-premises, whereas others are on the public cloud. This means that they have a two-tier or three-tier architecture.

How has it helped my organization?

Our clients are happy because prior to implementation, they had a very distributed architecture. Okta has allowed them to consolidate with respect to identity management, which increases their operational efficiency.

This product has the features that every customer is looking for.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are ease of operation and visibility.

This product is easy to deploy and easy to manage.

There are cost benefits to using this solution.

What needs improvement?

The integration with third-party tools needs to be improved. Mainly, the open-source APIs for Splunk would be helpful, as that is where they aggregate most of the data. If this process can be streamlined then it will definitely help.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Okta for the past three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This solution is scalable. Our clients are large, Fortune 500 businesses.

How are customer service and technical support?

Okta has very good support and I would score them high, at nine out of ten. I am definitely happy with them.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Prior to working with Okta, our clients had native solutions.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward.

We currently have one customer deployed on AWS and another on Azure.

What about the implementation team?

I am the solution architect and our in-house team does the implementation.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

As part of the process, our clients did a couple of POCs. Symantec was one of them, Okta was another, and there was a third product that they evaluated. During this process, they had success criteria defined, and Okta did well with most of it.

The metrics included the operation and cost benefits, the business value, and the support.

What other advice do I have?

Every customer has a different need and a different requirement. For anybody who is considering this product, I think they should do a pilot POC to make sure that it works well in their environment. 

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
reviewer2591397 - PeerSpot reviewer
Module lead at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Protects the applications by avoiding cross-site scripting
Pros and Cons
  • "You can only log in if you have the access, which protects the applications by avoiding cross-site scripting."
  • "The most valuable feature of Okta is its security."
  • "Whenever I write Cypress test cases, we encounter problems with logging in through Okta."
  • "There is no proper documentation on integrating test cases with Okta, and this issue is troubling whenever I try to implement it."

What is our primary use case?

I have used Okta for security purposes. It grants access only when you have the proper credentials, which I find essential for utilizing new technologies and web applications.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Okta is its security. You can only log in if you have the access, which protects the applications by avoiding cross-site scripting. Hackers cannot access the system directly. Only after receiving a message from Okta, you can log in, making it highly secure.

What needs improvement?

We are facing one issue with Cypress test cases. Whenever I write Cypress test cases, we encounter problems with logging in through Okta. There is no proper documentation on integrating test cases with Okta, and this issue is troubling whenever I try to implement it.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Okta is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Currently, scalability is a top priority, but there are no issues with adding many users to Okta.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Before Okta, I manually created portals using a username and password stored in a database. Okta introduced a different process.

How was the initial setup?

Initially, it was complicated to set up since I was a beginner and there was no proper documentation. Now that I am more experienced, it is easier to handle.

What other advice do I have?

I need to analyze fully in the future, and if I do not have any concerns, I will share any with you via LinkedIn. As of now, I do not have any additional advice.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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DevOps Team Lead at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees
Real User
Simplifies user lifecycle management and provides SSO
Pros and Cons
  • "The tool provides a single place of contact for managing users. We only need to manage users in Okta Workforce Identity, eliminating the need to duplicate efforts across different systems. For example, if a user needs to be decommissioned, we don't have to go through all the systems and cloud services; we delete the user in one place. This process is automated with our HR system for both organizations, simplifying user lifecycle management."
  • "We faced some challenges during the Okta Identity Workforce deployment. Integrating with AWS and other cloud services posed some limitations with federated options. For instance, features like automatic user addition from AWS to the tool were missing, requiring manual intervention. The API is limited compared to the manual configuration possible through the UI."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use cases are SSO, user management, and SSO integration with various cloud services, including AWS, GCP, GitHub, etc.

What is most valuable?

The tool provides a single place of contact for managing users. We only need to manage users in Okta Workforce Identity, eliminating the need to duplicate efforts across different systems. For example, if a user needs to be decommissioned, we don't have to go through all the systems and cloud services; we delete the user in one place. This process is automated with our HR system for both organizations, simplifying user lifecycle management.

The main features we find most valuable are the single sign-on and the OTP authentication. The ability to connect via a PC or a mobile phone makes the process seamless.

The MFA feature enhances regular authentication through the user portal and utilizes one-time passwords generated from QR codes on mobile devices.

What needs improvement?

We faced some challenges during the Okta Identity Workforce deployment. Integrating with AWS and other cloud services posed some limitations with federated options. For instance, features like automatic user addition from AWS to the tool were missing, requiring manual intervention. The API is limited compared to the manual configuration possible through the UI.

I think Okta Workforce Identity could improve by making its API more robust, ensuring that all UI capabilities are exposed in the API. This is particularly important for integrating with other applications, such as AWS and other cloud providers.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for six years. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The licensing model is fine for general service usage. However, the charges for API features and API tokens can be quite high.

What other advice do I have?

I would give Okta Workforce Identity a solid eight out of ten. There's always room for improvement, but overall, the tool performs well and meets our needs. The solution was my first experience with such products. Previously, I had used internal tools like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Active Directory services within Azure, which were excellent for corporate environments. However, I find Okta Workforce Identity more suitable for startups.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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reviewer1476972 - PeerSpot reviewer
Global Leader - Application Operations & Operational Excellence at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Quality, scalable solution for user and application authentication
Pros and Cons
  • "I am able to authenticate my users on cloud and SaaS applications such as Workday through Okta workflows."
  • "We experienced some technical glitches that need to be resolved."

What is our primary use case?

We implemented this solution for all employees within our environment. So, the entire single sign-on is through Okta for all of our employees through all applications.

How has it helped my organization?

Okta enables us to authenticate my users on cloud and SaaS applications such as Workday through Okta workflows.

What is most valuable?

I would like for the onboarding process for new solutions to be simplified because, right now, it is a very lengthy process.

What needs improvement?

We experienced some technical glitches that need to be resolved. 

I go into further detail below in the 'stability' section.

For how long have I used the solution?

We implemented the solution one year ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is pretty stable but we have experienced some glitches. We use Zscaler for our security encryption protection. Whenever Zscaler expired, Okta would stop working. We were able to fix this by storing the credentials and local mission that that we would be able to authenticate without Zscaler.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable both on-premise and on cloud. We currently have 36,000 users.

How are customer service and support?

We have not had any major challenges over the past two years; however, they do offer quality customer service to all tickets.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

We had a partner help us which made the implementation even easier. We have also outsourced a support party, Data Consultancy Services, to manage the solution for us - they have about three to four engineers manage the solution for us.

What was our ROI?

We are able to look at our ROI from this solution as an intangible benefit. The solution requires a lot of human capital but offers us security so in our opinion we have received a high ROI as this is something that we have planned for and invested in.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

This is an expensive solution but the security makes it worthwhile.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1415214 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Director of Application Services at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Reliable, good multifactor authentication and single sign-on functionality, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "It's reliable and it does what it is advertised to do."
  • "The guest user access could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for MFA and single sign-on.

It's our enterprise-wide identity management system. It identifies all of our users prior to accessing any of our applications.

How has it helped my organization?

It assures us that everybody is authenticated prior to accessing any corporate applications.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are multifactor authentication and single sign-on.

It's reliable and it does what it is advertised to do.

What needs improvement?

The guest user access could be improved. How do we authenticate people that aren't in our Active Directory?

In the next release, I would like to see passwordless access.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for four years.

We are working with the current version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This product is very stable and is one of our best applications. It's the most reliable application and it never goes down.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's a scalable solution and we are able to add users as needed.

We have about 4,000 users and it's all employees and contractors within the company.

Every employee uses this solution every day, multiple times a day, and we plan to increase usage.

How are customer service and technical support?

They meet our needs. 

We haven't had a problem with technical support answering any of our questions.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We went from using nothing to Okta Workforce Identity.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward.

It was a week-long process to deploy.

We need one and a half persons to do the configuration, maintain this solution for administrators and the development.

What about the implementation team?

We completed the implementation in-house.

What was our ROI?

We have seen a return on investment by using Okta Workforce Identity.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I can't discuss pricing.

What other advice do I have?

Follow along with what Okta recommends.

I would rate Okta Workforce Identity a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Okta Workforce Identity Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Okta Workforce Identity Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.