Keycloak vs Okta

August 06, 2023 | Author: Michael Stromann
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Keycloak
Keycloak is an open source identity and access management solution for modern Applications and Services. Add authentication to applications and secure services with minimum fuss.
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Okta
Support enterprise-wide identity management across any app, user or device with Okta - a future-proof cloud service designed for maximum ROI & ease of use. A secure, reliable cloud service for today’s hybrid IT reality. Comprehensive Identity Management that has no alternatives. Across All Apps, Users and Devices. Easy-to-use, Superior ROI. Integrated, Future Proof
Keycloak and Okta are both identity and access management (IAM) solutions that provide authentication, authorization, and other security features for applications and APIs. However, there are some main differences between the two:

Open Source vs. Commercial: Keycloak is an open-source IAM solution that is available for free and can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, while Okta is a commercial IAM solution that is offered as a cloud-based service with subscription-based pricing.

Deployment and Hosting: Keycloak can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, allowing you to have more control over your IAM system and data. On the other hand, Okta is a cloud-based service that is hosted and managed by Okta, relieving you from the burden of managing the underlying infrastructure.

Features and Capabilities: Both Keycloak and Okta offer a wide range of IAM features such as single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), user management, role-based access control (RBAC), and integration with various authentication protocols and standards. However, Okta is known for its extensive set of features and capabilities, including advanced features such as adaptive authentication, threat intelligence, and API access management. Okta also has a large ecosystem of pre-built integrations with popular enterprise applications, making it easier to integrate with existing systems.

Scalability and Performance: Okta is a cloud-based service, which means it can scale dynamically based on the needs of your organization, allowing you to handle large numbers of users and applications. Keycloak, being a self-hosted solution, may require additional configuration and infrastructure setup to achieve the same level of scalability and performance.

Customization and Extensibility: Keycloak is an open-source solution, which means it can be customized and extended to suit the specific needs of your organization. It also has an active community of developers contributing to its development. Okta, being a commercial service, provides customization and extensibility options through its APIs, but may have some limitations compared to an open-source solution like Keycloak.

Pricing: Keycloak is free and open-source, which means there are no licensing costs associated with using the software. Okta, on the other hand, has subscription-based pricing that varies depending on the features, usage, and number of users.

Target Audience: Keycloak is often considered suitable for organizations that prefer self-hosted solutions, have technical expertise, and value open-source software. Okta, on the other hand, is often used by larger organizations that require a cloud-based IAM solution with a wide range of features, integrations, and support options.

In summary, the main differences between Keycloak and Okta include the open-source vs. commercial nature of the solutions, deployment and hosting options, features and capabilities, scalability and performance, customization and extensibility options, pricing, and target audience. Organizations should consider their specific requirements, technical expertise, budget, and other factors when choosing between Keycloak and Okta for their IAM needs.

See also: Top 10 Identity Management platforms
Keycloak vs Okta in our news:

2023. Okta snatches up security firm Spera for over $100M



Okta, a company specializing in identity and access management, is set to acquire the security firm Spera. This strategic move aims to enhance Okta's existing capabilities in identity threat detection and response (ITDR), providing customers with advanced technology to enhance their identity security, posture management, and the ability to identify, detect, and remediate risks effectively. The Spera platform offers tools for identifying silos in software-as-a-service and infrastructure applications, enabling the discovery of vulnerabilities across user populations. It also aids in prioritizing security issues based on regulations, attack vectors, and industry best practices. Beyond security benefits, Spera serves an additional purpose by assisting companies in reducing license costs through the identification and deactivation of dormant accounts.


2023. Okta acquires password manager Uno to develop a personal tier



Okta, the prominent identity management company, has recently acquired Uno, a password management application. According to Okta, Uno's team will play a vital role in expediting the launch of Okta Personal, a consumer-oriented password manager. Uno introduced an app earlier this year, aiming to simplify password management for users through a user-friendly design. The app's primary feature allowed users to execute one-click logins on websites by remembering their credentials and providing quick access to one-time codes through its browser extension. The objective was to streamline security for users, eliminating the need for extensive password management efforts. Okta has confirmed that Uno will no longer be available as a standalone app, and its team will integrate into Okta to enhance the Okta Personal service. Details regarding the financial aspects of the acquisition have not been disclosed by the company.


2021. Okta acquires cloud identity startup Auth0 for $6.5B



Cloud identity company Okta has announced its acquisition of the cloud identity startup Auth0 for a significant $6.5 billion. This deal brings together two companies that approach identity management from different perspectives, creating potential synergies and opportunities in the identity market. Okta specializes in delivering identity and access management (IAM) solutions to organizations, enabling seamless single-sign-on access for employees across various cloud services such as Gmail, Salesforce, Slack, and Workday. On the other hand, Auth0 offers developers an easy-to-use API for implementing single-sign-on functionality, eliminating the need for developers to build IAM tools from scratch. Following the acquisition, Auth0 will continue to operate as an independent unit within Okta, and the two companies will explore integration possibilities in the future.


2020. Okta adds new no-code workflows that use identity to trigger sales and marketing tasks



Identity management provider Okta has unveiled new no-code workflows that enable businesses to leverage identity as a trigger for launching customer-centric processes. Okta has developed a range of connectors that simplify the integration of identity with sales and marketing tools within a workflow. In the previous year, Okta introduced Platform Services, which disaggregated various components of the platform and presented them as individual services for larger enterprise customers to leverage as required. This latest development builds upon that concept, allowing users to effortlessly incorporate Okta services into their workflows by dragging and dropping the appropriate connectors, eliminating the need for complex coding or engineering resources.


2020. Okta launches Lifecycle Management Workflows to make building identity-centric processes easy



Okta, the widely-used identity and access management service, has introduced Lifecycle Management Workflows, a novel tool that empowers IT teams to create and oversee automated processes akin to IFTTT (If This Then That), utilizing a user-friendly graphical interface. This new offering extends Okta's existing automation tools, but its distinctive feature lies in enabling IT teams and developers to effortlessly construct intricate workflows centered around identity, encompassing a broad array of applications. Consequently, these teams can easily automate onboarding procedures, ensuring that the establishment of a new Okta account seamlessly triggers relevant processes on third-party platforms such as Box, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Slack, leading to the swift setup of corresponding accounts on those platforms.


2019. Identity management software Okta introduced end-user-security product


Under the SecurityInsights umbrella, Okta has introduced two new products. The first is UserInsights, designed for end users, while the second is HealthInsights, catering to administrators. UserInsights provides users with valuable information regarding any suspicious activity associated with their accounts, such as unrecognized device logins. In the event of a potential password theft, users can report the incident by clicking the Report button, initiating an automated workflow for further investigation by the company's security team. Additionally, users are strongly advised to change any compromised passwords promptly. HealthInsights functions similarly but targets system-level administrators, offering suggestions to enhance the overall identity security posture of the company.


2019. Okta acquired workflow automation startup Azuqua



Okta has announced its acquisition of Azuqua, a workflow automation startup, for a sum of $52.5 million. In today's dynamic enterprise environment, employees and tasks frequently transition across various applications and services. The integration of automation software with identity and access management presents an opportunity to facilitate seamless movement between these entities. By combining their capabilities, the two companies aim to enable smooth application transitions within complex workflows, reducing the need for repetitive credential input. Product teams will have the ability to incorporate this technology into their own applications, alongside Okta's core authentication and user management tools, in order to create cohesive and integrated customer experiences.


2018. Okta introduced new service - Sign in with Okta



Okta has introduced a new service called "Sign in with Okta," enabling employees to sign into third-party sites and applications using a single set of credentials, similar to how they access their company applications. With the implementation of this new API, developers can easily integrate a few lines of code, granting Okta customers the capability to sign into each other's websites in a manner akin to OAuth, which allows the use of Google or Facebook credentials to log into various consumer sites. Once developers incorporate this functionality, users will encounter a "Sign in with Okta" button when accessing the respective website or service. They can then utilize their Okta login to gain access to these sites based on the specific rules defined by the site owner.


2018. Okta partnered with ServiceNow



In a collaborative effort, Okta and ServiceNow have developed an application to assist ServiceNow customers utilizing security operations tools in identifying and promptly addressing security issues related to identity. Okta has introduced the Identity Cloud for Security Operations app, which is now available in the ServiceNow app store. This app is specifically tailored for customers who utilize both Okta and ServiceNow toolsets. Upon downloading and installing the app, it seamlessly integrates identity information into the ServiceNow security operations interface, granting the operations team easy access to specific details about individuals involved in a security problem. With this integration, there is no need for the operations team to exit their existing tool in search of relevant information, as it is conveniently provided within the interface itself.


2017. Okta launches free service for startups



Online identity management provider Okta, known for its corporate clients such as Nordstrom and government clients like the U.S. Department of Justice, has announced a new offering for startups. Okta will now provide its services free of charge to young organizations with up to 25 employees, allowing them to leverage the Okta Identity Cloud for one year. This initiative aims to establish a relationship with startups, with the hope that as their businesses expand and they experience the benefits of secure sign-on services, they will become long-term corporate clients. While there are several companies operating in the secure sign-in space, Okta's CEO, Todd McKinnon, emphasizes that they provide a comprehensive suite of services compared to competitors like Duo or SailPoint, who specialize in specific areas. McKinnon views Okta's main competitors as established players such as IBM, Oracle, Salesforce, and Computer Associates.

Author: Michael Stromann
Michael is an expert in IT Service Management, IT Security and software development. With his extensive experience as a software developer and active involvement in multiple ERP implementation projects, Michael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his writings. Having previously worked at SAP, he has honed his expertise and gained a deep understanding of software development and implementation processes. Currently, as a freelance developer, Michael continues to contribute to the IT community by sharing his insights through guest articles published on several IT portals. You can contact Michael by email stromann@liventerprise.com