Azure Active Directory vs sso: What are the differences?

Introduction

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and Single Sign-On (SSO) are two important concepts in the world of authentication and identity management. While both are used to provide secure access to resources, they have some key differences. In this article, we will explore these differences in detail.

1. Integration with Microsoft services: Azure AD is tightly integrated with various Microsoft services, such as Microsoft 365, Azure, and Dynamics 365. It provides seamless access to these services, allowing users to use a single set of credentials to access multiple Microsoft products. On the other hand, SSO is a more generic concept that can be implemented with various identity providers and authentication protocols, making it suitable for a wider range of applications and platforms.

2. Scalability and flexibility: Azure AD is designed to handle millions of users and can scale horizontally to meet the demands of large organizations. It provides various deployment options, including multi-tenant, dedicated, and hybrid deployments. In contrast, SSO solutions can vary in scalability and flexibility based on the chosen identity provider and authentication protocol. Some SSO solutions may have limitations in terms of user capacity and deployment options.

3. Authentication protocols: Azure AD supports various authentication protocols, including OAuth, OpenID Connect, and SAML, making it compatible with a wide range of applications and platforms. It provides a unified authentication experience for users across different Microsoft products. On the other hand, SSO solutions can be based on different authentication protocols, such as SAML, OAuth, or JWT, depending on the chosen identity provider and application requirements. This allows organizations to choose the most suitable authentication protocol for their specific needs.

4. Identity management capabilities: Azure AD offers robust identity management capabilities, such as user provisioning, role-based access control, and self-service password reset. These features allow organizations to efficiently manage their user identities and access to resources. SSO solutions, while providing single sign-on capabilities, may not have the same level of identity management features built-in. Additional identity management systems may need to be integrated for comprehensive identity management.

5. Support for external users: Azure AD allows organizations to invite external users, such as partners or customers, to access resources through guest accounts. These guest accounts can be easily managed within Azure AD and provide controlled access to specific resources. SSO solutions, depending on the chosen identity provider, may or may not support the invitation and management of external users. This can limit the ability to provide seamless access to external partners or customers.

6. Ecosystem and marketplace: Azure AD benefits from being part of the larger Azure ecosystem, which offers a wide range of additional services and integrations. Organizations can leverage these services to enhance their identity and access management capabilities. SSO solutions may have their own ecosystem and marketplace, but it may not be as extensive as the Azure ecosystem, limiting the available integrations and services.

In summary, Azure Active Directory is a tightly integrated, scalable, and feature-rich identity and access management solution that is specifically designed for Microsoft services. Single Sign-On, on the other hand, is a more generic concept that can be implemented using various identity providers and authentication protocols, making it suitable for a wider range of applications and platforms.