Amazon Cognito vs Guardian: What are the differences?
# Introduction
This Markdown code compares the key differences between Amazon Cognito and Guardian.
1. **User Authentication Mechanism:** Amazon Cognito is a cloud-based service that provides authentication, authorization, and user management for web and mobile applications. On the other hand, Guardian is a 2-factor authentication app that adds an extra layer of security to logins by requiring a code generated on the user's device.
2. **Scalability:** Amazon Cognito is highly scalable and can support millions of users, making it suitable for large-scale applications. Guardian, being a 2-factor authentication app, is also scalable but its main focus is on providing enhanced security through an additional verification step.
3. **Integration with Services:** Amazon Cognito integrates seamlessly with other AWS services like Amazon S3, DynamoDB, and API Gateway, making it easier for developers to build and manage applications. In contrast, Guardian can be integrated with various platforms and services that support the Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) protocol.
4. **Cost Model:** Amazon Cognito follows a pay-per-user model, where customers are charged based on the number of users in their application. Guardian, on the other hand, typically follows a subscription-based model where users pay a fixed fee for using the 2-factor authentication service.
5. **Developer Control:** Amazon Cognito provides developers with more control and customization options for user management and authentication workflows through its API and SDKs. On the contrary, Guardian offers a more standardized 2-factor authentication process, limiting developer control over the authentication flow.
6. **Target Audience:** Amazon Cognito is primarily targeted towards developers and businesses looking for a comprehensive solution for user management and authentication in their applications. Guardian, on the other hand, is targeted towards users who are seeking an extra layer of security for their online accounts through 2-factor authentication.
In Summary, Amazon Cognito and Guardian differ in their user authentication mechanisms, scalability, integration capabilities, cost models, developer control, and target audiences.
