Okta vs Zscaler

August 06, 2023 | Author: Michael Stromann
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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
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Zscaler
Zscaler is working to make the internet safe for business. Go beyond basic internet security with our 100% cloud solution. Zero hardware and zero backhauling.
Okta and Zscaler are both leading players in the field of cloud security, but they have key differences. Okta is primarily known as an identity and access management (IAM) platform that enables organizations to securely manage user authentication, authorization, and single sign-on (SSO) across various applications and devices. It offers features such as multi-factor authentication, user provisioning, and centralized access control. Okta focuses on ensuring secure and seamless user access to cloud and on-premises applications.

Zscaler, on the other hand, is a cloud-based security platform that provides secure web gateways, cloud firewalls, data loss prevention (DLP), and secure access service edge (SASE) capabilities. It offers features such as web filtering, threat protection, encrypted traffic inspection, and granular policy enforcement. Zscaler emphasizes providing secure access to the internet and cloud applications while protecting against advanced threats.

See also: Top 10 Cloud Security Software
Okta vs Zscaler in our news:

2024. Zscaler buys Avalor to bring AI risk management into its security tools



Cloud security firm Zscaler has completed its acquisition of cybersecurity startup Avalor for $310 million, aiming to enhance its platform with a range of new capabilities including streamlined security incident reporting, incident mitigation, asset discovery, data classification, and security policy generation. Avalor serves as a central repository for cybersecurity assets, controls, identities, vulnerabilities, bugs, and various data points, enabling security teams to aggregate, normalize, de-duplicate, and track risk data from discovery to remediation. While similar startups like Securiti and Dig Security address comparable challenges, Avalor stands out for its versatility in handling data from diverse sources and formats, along with its unique suite of vulnerability risk management and prioritization tools.


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.

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