# Best Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software - Page 2

## How Many Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software Products Does G2 Track?

**Total Products under this Category:** 220

### Category Stats (Jul 2026)

- **Average Rating:** 4.47/5 (↑0.01 vs Jun 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings
- **Top Trending Product:** Jellyfish by Cogito Group (+5.56%) - Among all products in this category, Jellyfish by Cogito Group recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month

_Last updated: July 26, 2026_

## How Does G2 Rank Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software Products?

**Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:**

- 30 Analysts and Data Experts
- 25,900+ Authentic Reviews
- 220+ Products
- Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

## G2 Grid® for Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software
 ![G2 Grid® for Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=633&focus%5B%5D=36316&focus%5B%5D=3899&focus%5B%5D=20164&focus%5B%5D=21375&focus%5B%5D=1640029&focus%5B%5D=5282&focus%5B%5D=1308836)

Highlighted products: Okta, JumpCloud, Microsoft Entra ID, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Google Cloud Identity & Access Management (IAM), Rippling IT, Cisco Duo, and AWS Vertrified Access.

Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=okta&focus%5B%5D=jumpcloud&focus%5B%5D=microsoft-entra-id&focus%5B%5D=aws-identity-and-access-management-iam&focus%5B%5D=google-cloud-identity-access-management-iam&focus%5B%5D=rippling-it&focus%5B%5D=cisco-duo&focus%5B%5D=aws-vertrified-access)

**Sponsored**

### Hire2Retire

RoboMQ’s Hire2Retire is an Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) solution designed to manage the complete workforce lifecycle, encompassing joiners, movers, and leavers (JML) events such as hiring, role changes, department transfers, terminations, and long-term leaves. This solution effectively bridges the gap between HR systems and IT infrastructure by synchronizing identity data with platforms like Active Directory (AD), Entra ID, Okta, and Google Workspace. By ensuring that user access and privileges are consistently aligned with their roles within the organization, Hire2Retire enhances overall operational efficiency. Targeted primarily at mid to large, fast-growing organizations, Hire2Retire addresses the challenges associated with manual and fragmented lifecycle management processes. Traditional methods of onboarding and offboarding can be slow, error-prone, and resource-intensive, often leading to security vulnerabilities, compliance risks, and diminished employee experiences. By automating these processes, Hire2Retire not only streamlines operations but also significantly reduces operational overhead, allowing organizations to focus on more strategic initiatives. One of the standout features of Hire2Retire is its extensive integration capabilities. With connections to 27 HR and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), major identity providers, and over 10 leading service management platforms such as ServiceNow, Salesforce, SolarWinds, and FreshService, the solution enables seamless identity orchestration. Its robust library of connectors allows for the automatic provisioning and deprovisioning of access to third-party applications based on profile-driven entitlements, making it a scalable and flexible IGA solution that adapts to the needs of modern enterprises. From a governance and security standpoint, Hire2Retire enforces role-based access control and continuously aligns user privileges with their job functions. This ensures that employees have the right level of access at all times, reducing the risk of over-provisioning. Additionally, timely deprovisioning during terminations or role changes helps prevent unauthorized access, protecting the organization from potential security breaches and reputational risks. Hire2Retire supports organizational compliance with key regulatory frameworks and standards including SOX, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and GDPR, providing complete audit trails for every identity lifecycle event.

[Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=paid_promo&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=257&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-28T14%3A18%3A03Z&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=168476&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=257&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fidentity-and-access-management-iam%3Fpage%3D2&secure%5Btoken%5D=600f6fa77745fdd8f2c5e486aad809a5a3fd9faaede0075000f8eec195de8083&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.robomq.io%2Fproducts%2Fhire2retire%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=paid_promos)

[
Google Cloud Identity
](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-identity/reviews)

By [Google](https://www.g2.com/sellers/google)

[

4.3/5(34)

](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-identity/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its easy user management and seamless integration with Google services, which simplifies access control and enhances security. The straightforward admin conso

Pros and Cons

[
Security (11)
](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-identity/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Difficult Learning (7)
](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-identity/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
NordPass Business
](https://www.g2.com/products/nordpass-business/reviews)

By [Nord Security](https://www.g2.com/sellers/nord-security)

[

4.5/5(642)

](https://www.g2.com/products/nordpass-business/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the ease of use and strong security features of NordPass Business, highlighting its ability to simplify password management and enhance team collaboration. The intuitive inte

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (194)
](https://www.g2.com/products/nordpass-business/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Password Management (90)
](https://www.g2.com/products/nordpass-business/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Descope
](https://www.g2.com/products/descope/reviews)

By [Descope](https://www.g2.com/sellers/descope)

[

4.8/5(86)

](https://www.g2.com/products/descope/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise Descope for its ease of use and exceptional customer support, highlighting how quickly they can implement authentication solutions without extensive coding. The platform's in

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (15)
](https://www.g2.com/products/descope/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complex Setup (6)
](https://www.g2.com/products/descope/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Saviynt
](https://www.g2.com/products/saviynt-saviynt/reviews)

By [Saviynt](https://www.g2.com/sellers/saviynt)

[

4.4/5(81)

](https://www.g2.com/products/saviynt-saviynt/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise Saviynt for its ease of use and robust integration capabilities, which streamline identity management processes and enhance operational efficiency. The platform's intuitive i

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (23)
](https://www.g2.com/products/saviynt-saviynt/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Difficult Learning (9)
](https://www.g2.com/products/saviynt-saviynt/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
WSO2 Identity Platform
](https://www.g2.com/products/wso2-identity-platform/reviews)

By [WSO2](https://www.g2.com/sellers/wso2)

[

4.5/5(110)

](https://www.g2.com/products/wso2-identity-platform/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the flexibility and customization options of WSO2 Identity Server, highlighting its ability to integrate seamlessly with various identity providers and support multiple authe

Pros and Cons

[
Authentication (31)
](https://www.g2.com/products/wso2-identity-platform/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Difficult Learning (14)
](https://www.g2.com/products/wso2-identity-platform/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
FusionAuth
](https://www.g2.com/products/fusionauth/reviews)

By [FusionAuth](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fusionauth)

[

4.5/5(139)

](https://www.g2.com/products/fusionauth/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise FusionAuth for its ease of use and flexibility, making it a reliable choice for managing authentication across various applications. The straightforward setup process and com

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (49)
](https://www.g2.com/products/fusionauth/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complexity (28)
](https://www.g2.com/products/fusionauth/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Willow AI Governance Control Plane
](https://www.g2.com/products/willow-ai/reviews)

By [Willow](https://www.g2.com/sellers/willow-d5b357c5-5357-45ae-bd0d-4f59647082c6)

[

4.9/5(42)

](https://www.g2.com/products/willow-ai/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently highlight the easy setup and integrations, noting that connecting MCPs and managing teams across the organization takes little effort. Many also point to responsive, hands-on suppor

[
PropelAuth
](https://www.g2.com/products/propelauth/reviews)

By [PropelAuth](https://www.g2.com/sellers/propelauth)

[

5/5(31)

](https://www.g2.com/products/propelauth/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise PropelAuth for its ease of use and responsive support, highlighting how quickly they can integrate and manage authentication without significant overhead. The product's relia

Pros and Cons

[
Customer Support (6)
](https://www.g2.com/products/propelauth/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Customization Difficulties (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/propelauth/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Hire2Retire
](https://www.g2.com/products/hire2retire/reviews)

By [RoboMQ](https://www.g2.com/sellers/robomq)

[

4.7/5(76)

](https://www.g2.com/products/hire2retire/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its exceptional customer support and ease of use, highlighting how the team is responsive and helpful throughout the implementation process. Many appreciate t

Pros and Cons

[
Customer Support (6)
](https://www.g2.com/products/hire2retire/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Implementation Difficulty (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/hire2retire/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Tenable Cloud Security
](https://www.g2.com/products/tenable-tenable-cloud-security/reviews)

By [Tenable](https://www.g2.com/sellers/tenable)

[

4.6/5(40)

](https://www.g2.com/products/tenable-tenable-cloud-security/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its comprehensive visibility across multi-cloud environments, enabling effective monitoring of misconfigurations and vulnerabilities. The intuitive interface

Pros and Cons

[
Compliance (6)
](https://www.g2.com/products/tenable-tenable-cloud-security/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complex Setup (4)
](https://www.g2.com/products/tenable-tenable-cloud-security/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Josys
](https://www.g2.com/products/josys/reviews)

By [Josys Inc.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/josys-inc)

[

4.3/5(131)

](https://www.g2.com/products/josys/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the intuitive UI and centralized management capabilities of Josys, which simplify the oversight of IT assets and SaaS accounts. This ease of use allows both IT and non-IT sta

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (31)
](https://www.g2.com/products/josys/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Missing Features (22)
](https://www.g2.com/products/josys/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Guardian
](https://www.g2.com/products/alert-enterprise-guardian/reviews)

By [Alert Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/sellers/alert-enterprise)

[

4.2/5(66)

](https://www.g2.com/products/alert-enterprise-guardian/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the ease of use and responsive support provided by Guardian, highlighting its intuitive interface that simplifies identity and access management tasks. Many appreciate how it

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (9)
](https://www.g2.com/products/alert-enterprise-guardian/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complexity (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/alert-enterprise-guardian/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Oracle Identity Management
](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-management/reviews)

By [Oracle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oracle)

[

3.8/5(71)

](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-management/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its ease of use and customization options, which facilitate effective identity management across various systems. Many appreciate its ability to integrate sea

Pros and Cons

[
Access Control (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-management/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Error Handling (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-management/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
miniOrange Identity &...
](https://www.g2.com/products/miniorange-identity-access-management/reviews)

By [miniOrange](https://www.g2.com/sellers/miniorange)

[

4.6/5(41)

](https://www.g2.com/products/miniorange-identity-access-management/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its flexibility in authentication methods and ease of use, making it suitable for various applications and environments. The support team is frequently highli

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (7)
](https://www.g2.com/products/miniorange-identity-access-management/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Integration Issues (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/miniorange-identity-access-management/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Cakewalk
](https://www.g2.com/products/cakewalk-technology-gmbh-cakewalk/reviews)

By [Cakewalk Security](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cakewalk-security)

[

4.9/5(28)

](https://www.g2.com/products/cakewalk-technology-gmbh-cakewalk/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the ease of use and intuitive design of Cakewalk, highlighting how it simplifies access management and enhances operational efficiency. The integration with Slack and respons

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (14)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cakewalk-technology-gmbh-cakewalk/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Missing Features (3)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cakewalk-technology-gmbh-cakewalk/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

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Similar Categories

- [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)](/categories/multi-factor-authentication-mfa)
- [Biometric Authentication](/categories/biometric-authentication)
- [Cloud Directory Services](/categories/cloud-directory-services)
- [Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM)](/categories/customer-identity-and-access-management-ciam)
- [Decentralized Identity](/categories/decentralized-identity)

- [Passwordless Authentication](/categories/passwordless-authentication)
- [Password Managers](/categories/password-managers)
- [Password Policy Enforcement](/categories/password-policy-enforcement)
- [Privileged Access Management (PAM)](/categories/privileged-access-management-pam)
- [Risk-Based Authentication (RBA)](/categories/risk-based-authentication-rba)

- [Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) Tools](/categories/self-service-password-reset-sspr-tools)
- [Single Sign-On (SSO)](/categories/single-sign-on-sso)
- [User Provisioning and Governance Tools](/categories/user-provisioning-and-governance-tools)

[Browse Identity and Access Management (IAM) Themes](/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam/themes)

 ![Brandon Summers-Miller](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Brandon Summers-Miller")
BS

Researched and written by [Brandon Summers-Miller](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/brandon-summers-miller)

Updated July 28, 2025

Identity and access management (IAM) software helps companies protect their systems from unauthorized access or misuse by only allowing authenticated, authorized users (typically employees, based on job roles) to access specific, protected company systems and data. IT administrators leverage the software to quickly provision, deprovision, and change user identities and the corresponding user access rights at scale.

IAM software authenticates users, provides access to systems and data based on company policies, tracks user activity, and provides reporting tools to ensure employees are in compliance with company policies and regulations. Many IAM solutions include single sign-on (SSO) and password manager features. For employees, once users authenticate by signing into their accounts or using other multi-factor authentication methods, they are granted limited access to company systems allowed by their user type to complete their typical job functions.

Additionally, many IAM products are now being integrated with generative artificial intelligence (AI) features. These AI features allow IAM products to automate routine tasks that can be cumbersome for IT and InfoSec teams while predicting identity-related misconfigurations and recommending various access controls.

IAM software differs from [privileged access management (PAM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/privileged-access-management-pam). IAM software is used to authorize, authenticate, and grant specific access to everyday users, such as company employees. However, PAM software is used to provide administrative or superusers with granular access to business-critical assets and privileged credentials. IAM software also differs from [customer identity and access management (CIAM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-identity-and-access-management-ciam), which provides a company’s customers, as opposed to employees, with secured access to customer applications.

To qualify for inclusion in the Identity and Access Management (IAM) category, a product must:

- Provision and deprovision user identities
- Assign access based on individual role, group membership, and other factors
- Enforce user access rights based on permissions
- Verify user identity with authentication, which may include multi-factor authentication methods
- Integrate with directories that house employee data

Show More

* * *

## How Do You Choose the Right Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software?

### What You Should Know About Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

### What is Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software?

Companies use identity and access management (IAM) software to both enforce their security controls regarding who has access to corporate assets and to promote worker productivity with ease of access to the tools they need to do their jobs. IAM software achieves this by allowing only authorized and authenticated users, such as employees, contractors, and devices, to access corporate resources at their appropriate permission level based on predetermined policy-based controls. 

Using IAM software, company administrators can quickly provision, deprovision, or change user identities and access rights to corporate assets at scale. Each user is granted the right level of access permissions based on their user or group membership type. This makes it easier for security teams to manage who has access to what accounts at scale, and for end users to quickly gain access to the tools they need to do their jobs instead of waiting for their individual accounts to be provisioned one by one. For example, a newly promoted departmental leader at a company may need permissions to fully access the proprietary data stored within an application. This can easily be granted to them due to their management group membership, while a junior-level employee would not need that kind of granular access, so they would only be permissioned to view non sensitive data stored within the application. IAM software also tracks user activity, enabling administrators to confirm that users are accessing corporate assets in compliance with company policies.

Using IAM software and utilizing policy-based controls to enforce least privilege strategies, companies can protect against unauthorized access from both external actors like hackers and non permissioned internal users (insider threats) who have insufficient access level permissions. IAM software is used as an important component of a company’s zero-trust, least-privilege security model, where all users’ identities are verified prior to granting access to corporate resources. This is different from prior security models that enforced perimeter security where once a user is inside the corporate network, they are granted free access and movement across the network, and not required to be authenticated again to use other applications.

**What Does IAM Stand For?**

IAM, sometimes also listed as IdAM, stands for identity and access management. IAM software is sometimes also referred to as workforce identity or employee identity management. Other acronyms related to IAM include CIAM for [customer identity and access management (CIAM)](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-identity-and-access-management-ciam)software which is used for customer-related identity management. Similarly, for government-related identity products, the acronym ICAM stands for Identity, credential, and access management. Another acronym, IDaaS, stands for identity as a service.

### What are the Common Features of Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software?

The following are some core features within IAM software:

**Authentication:** IAM providers offer multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods for users to prove their identity prior to being granted access to corporate resources. MFA requires more than a single authentication factor, such as only a username and password. Authentication factors can include one-time passcodes (OTPs), software tokens, mobile-push, hardware tokens, and more. More advanced authentication methods include biometric authentication and passwordless authentication. 

More recently, IAM providers are utilizing risk-based authentication (RBA) methods, also known as contextual authentication, intelligent MFA, or adaptive MFA, which analyzes real-time information about users, such as their IP addresses, devices, and behaviors to continually verify their identity. 

**Identity lifecycle management or user provisioning and deprovisioning:** IAM software providers offer administrators the ability to manage the lifecycle of an identity—from quickly provisioning to deprovisioning, along with user changes including attributes, roles, permissions, and other entitlements. Some IAM providers also offer a universal directory.

**Directory:** IAM providers will either integrate with existing directory providers or offer a universal directory service.

**Single sign-on (SSO):** IAM software provides SSO functionality to enable end users to access their business applications all in one place and requiring them to authenticate once.

**User activity monitoring:** IAM software enables administrators to track user activity, including anomalous activity. This kind of auditing is to ensure compliance with secure access control policies. IAM solutions often provide standard reports for this.

### What are the Benefits of Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software?

**Security:** The main benefit of implementing identity and access manager software is for improved security. IAM software manages access governance, allowing only verified, authorized, and permissioned users to access company assets. This helps mitigate risks from external hackers or insider threats.

**Productivity or enabling the workforce:** In addition to improved security, companies that deploy IAM software to streamline the login experience, may lead to productivity gains with users. Having a simple to use security product with SSO requiring only one login and that also organizes the user’s corporate applications and accounts all in one place can save the user time and frustration. 

**Regulatory compliance:** Many global governmental or industry regulations require companies to have security controls to be in place. Identity management is a major component of a well-rounded information security program.

### Who Uses Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software?

**Information security (infosec) professionals:** Infosec professionals use IAM software as a foundational component of their security program.

**IT Administrators:** IT admins may be responsible for managing IAM software, especially as it relates to provisioning and deprovisioning users.

**End users and devices:** End users such as employees or contractors use IAM software in their day-to-day work activities to access corporate assets needed to do their jobs. Devices such as internet of things (IoT) devices require the validity of their identity in order to access corporate resources, including other IoT devices.

### What are the Alternatives to Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software?

Alternatives to IAM solutions can replace this type of software, either partially or completely include:

[Single sign-on (SSO) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/single-sign-on-sso): SSO software, which is a component of a complete IAM software solution, is an authentication tool that allows users to sign into multiple applications or databases with a single set of credentials. SSO software will not have identity governance and user lifecycle management features that an IAM solution would provide.

[Multi-factor authentication (MFA) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/multi-factor-authentication-mfa): MFA, which is a component of a complete IAM software solution, is used to have users prove their identity in two or more ways before granting them access privileges to corporate accounts. There are many types of authentication factors above the standard single factor of login credentials like usernames and passwords, including something the user has like a mobile device or security token, something the user is, such as a scan of their faceprint or fingerprint, or somewhere the user is, like their geographical location and IP address. Newer forms of MFA include risk-based authentication and passwordless authentication.

[Password manager software](https://www.g2.com/categories/password-manager): Password manager software, or password management software, stores a user's individual passwords through either an encrypted vault downloaded to a user’s computer or mobile device, or digitally through browser plugins or extensions. The passwords stored in this software are managed by the user, not by a corporate administrator.

#### Software Related to Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

Related solutions that can be used together with IAM software include many types of [identity management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-management):

[Customer identity and access management (CIAM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/customer-identity-and-access-management-ciam) **:** CIAM software is similar to IAM software, but used for customer identities instead of workforce identities like employees, contractors, and corporate devices. 

[Privileged access management (PAM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/privileged-access-management-pam) **:** PAM software helps companies protect the most critical IT resources by ensuring the credentials of their privileged accounts, such as admin accounts are only accessed by those with proper permissions to do so. When users access these privileged accounts, they must check in and check out and are often monitored during the time they are using the privileged account. PAM solutions are used in conjunction with IAM software, which provides authentication of general user identities; PAM software, however, provides more granular control and visibility of administrative or privileged user identities. 

[User provisioning and governance tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/user-provisioning-and-governance-tools) **:** User provisioning and governance tools enable companies to manage user account identities throughout their lifecycle, including provisioning and deprovisioning. These solutions are often deployed on-premises, but many tools are offering cloud-based solutions, as well. 

[Cloud directory services software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-directory-services) **:** Similar to user provisioning and governance tools, cloud directory services software enables companies to manage user identities throughout their lifecycle, including provisioning and deprovisioning, in a cloud-deployed manner. Companies use these tools as they transition away from traditional on premises or locally operating identity management software to cloud services and SaaS applications. 

### Challenges with Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

Identity management solutions and IAM systems can come with their own set of challenges. 

**Policy and group management:** Managing corporate access policies and group management is a company policy-related issue, not necessarily a technical one. It can get overwhelming for IAM administrators when companies have undefined or even conflicting policies as to which users have access to what resources. Administrators may be asked by leadership to provide users with much higher levels of access than their policy or group access control would normally allow, thus introducing risks into the environment.

**Identity for cloud vs. on-premises applications:** Depending on the company’s technology stack, businesses may have a mix of both on-premises and cloud-based applications and resources. Companies must ensure that their IAM solution has connectors to the types of systems they need support for, especially for hybrid IT environments.

**Insufficient MFA methods:** It is important that the MFA component of the identity program is strong to prevent unauthorized use which can lead to data breaches. Many IAM providers are moving away from less secure MFA methods, such as email one-time-passcodes to stronger authentication methods like risk-based authentication or contextual authentication.

### How to Buy Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

#### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

When gathering and prioritizing the company's requirements, it is important to consider the following factors.

**Ease for end users:** In order for IAM software to be effective, end users have to actually use it. The IAM solution must be easy to use by the end user and become part of their everyday routine. 

**Authentication methods:** Are there limitations on the types of authentication factors that the company’s employees, contractors, and devices can use? For example, employees may be able to use authentication methods such as hardware tokens and biometrics, while temporary contractors might rely on in-app mobile pushes or OTPs sent via email, SMS, or phone. Additionally, if employees in a manufacturing facility or healthcare unit cannot carry a mobile phone with them, authentication factors requiring a mobile device may not be suitable.

**Regional considerations** : Is the company global? Does the IAM solution need to support multiple languages, use cases, and adhere to local data protection regulations? Businesses must ensure the IAM provider can accommodate the company’s geographic and regional-based needs.

**Integrations** : Companies should determine which integrations are important to them. The most critical integration would likely be the user directory solution, such as an HR system, if a directory is not provided by or being used within the IAM solution.

**Timeline:** The company must decide how quickly they need to implement the solution.

**Level of support** : Buyers should know if they require high-quality support or if they prefer implementing the solution in house.

#### Compare Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software Products

**Create a long list**

There are many providers of IAM software. The best way to begin narrowing the search for products that would work well for the company would be to start by company segment size, such as small, medium, or enterprise-size businesses. By visiting the [Identity and Access Management (IAM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam) page on G2.com, buyers can filter solutions by market segment using the left-hand filter radio buttons.

**Create a short list**

After looking through IAM solutions for particular company size, buyers should ensure it meets the authentication and regional needs. If a specific language is a requirement, buyers can filter solutions by language by visiting the [Identity and Access Management (IAM) software](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam) page on G2.com. For other requirements, such as how easy it is to use, the “[Easiest to use](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam?tab=easiest_to_use)” section of the Identity and Access Management (IAM) software page on G2 helps compare options. Users can further narrow the selection by reading user reviews, checking the product’s ranking on the [G2 Grid® report for the Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam#grid)software category, and reading other related IAM-related [resources](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam/resources).

**Conduct demos**

At each demo, buyers must be sure to ask the same questions and use case scenarios to best evaluate each product. Potential buyers can contact many vendors directly on g2.com to request demos by selecting the “Get a quote” button. 

#### Selection of Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

**Choose a selection team**

The selection team should include the day-to-day administrator of this product, who is likely an information security or related cybersecurity professional or an IT administrator professional. Companies may also consider having someone from HR join the selection committee to provide context regarding new hire onboarding and employee offboarding, as it relates to the user provisioning or deprovisioning aspect of IAM software. And lastly, it is important to include a typical day-to-day end user to ensure that the end user experience is easy to use and can be widely adopted by the workforce.

**Negotiation**

When negotiating the contract, buyers must consider pricing, implementation, and support. Typically longer length contracts and larger license counts can improve price discounting. 

**Final decision**

The final decision maker should likely be the day-to-day administrator of the solution, likely an information security professional or an IT administrator professional, with input from other stakeholders on the selection team. Prior to purchasing an IAM solution, buyers should check if they can get a trial period to test with a small number of users before going all in on the product. If the tool is well received by end users and administrators, businesses can feel more confident in their purchase.

### Which IAM platform is best for managing user roles?

When choosing an IAM platform that's best for managing user roles, I would consider some of these popular IAM platforms:

- [Salesforce Platform ](https://www.g2.com/products/salesforce-platform/reviews)
- [Cisco Duo](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews)
- [OneLogin](https://www.g2.com/products/onelogin/reviews)

These platforms are known for their robust features and efficient management of user roles.

### What is the best identity management tool with multi-factor authentication?

If you're seeking identity management tools with multi-factor authentication, here are some top options to consider:

- [Microsoft Entra ID](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews): excels with its risk-based conditional access that can dynamically require different authentication factors based on login patterns, device health, and location signals.
- [JumpCloud](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpcloud/reviews): provides a cloud-based directory platform that manages user identities, devices, and access across various systems. It supports multiple operating systems and offers features like SSO, MFA, and device management, catering well to hybrid and remote work environments.
- [Okta](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews): offers robust identity management features, including single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA). It’s highly scalable and integrates well with various applications