# Best Identity and Access Management (IAM) Software

## 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
- 25,800+ 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**

### P0 Security

P0 Security is the next-generation Privileged Access Management (PAM) platform that secures privileged access for every identity—human, machine and agentic—across cloud and hybrid environments. Production access is broken. Enterprises are drowning in break-glass accounts, static tokens, and over-privileged roles, with no clear view of who—or what—actually has access. Legacy tools like PAM, IGA and CIEM were built for a static, perimeter-driven world. They create blind spots, create extra work for security teams who have to manage proxies, bastions, shared accounts and static credentials. P0 was built differently. We unify visibility, governance, and orchestration into one platform. At the foundation is Access DNA—a continuously updated inventory of all human, non-human, and AI identities, their entitlements, and effective permissions across hybrid and cloud environments. On top of that, our Identity Graph maps relationships, reveals risky pivots, and surfaces toxic privilege combinations. And through API-led orchestration, P0 enforces policies natively in every system—without proxies, vaults, or static credentials. The result: \* Privileged resources clearly identified \* No standing privileged access \* All access ephemeral, granted just-in-time, and fully auditable With P0, organizations finally have a clear path from today’s chaotic baseline to zero standing privilege—reducing risk, streamlining compliance, and enabling developer velocity.

[Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=257&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-28T14%3A57%3A25Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=257&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=257&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=1325733&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&secure%5Btoken%5D=38af68884b87c9bdc2f0fdbd357713a4d3a65fa50d939ed3ec33dc4ed985cc43&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fmeetings.hubspot.com%2Fmaria-gallegos%2Fbook-a-demo&secure%5Burl_type%5D=book_demo)

[
Okta
](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews)

By [Okta](https://www.g2.com/sellers/okta)

[

4.5/5(1,348)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise Okta for its ease of use and secure access to multiple applications through single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA). The platform simplifies identity manag

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (207)
](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Authentication Issues (77)
](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
JumpCloud
](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpcloud/reviews)

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

[

4.5/5(4,038)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise JumpCloud for its ease of use and centralized management capabilities, which simplify identity and device management across multiple platforms. The intuitive interface and se

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (881)
](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpcloud/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Missing Features (382)
](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpcloud/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Microsoft Entra ID
](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews)

By [Microsoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/microsoft)

[

4.5/5(912)

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the centralized identity management and strong security features of Microsoft Entra ID, highlighting its seamless integration with Microsoft services that simplifies access c

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (129)
](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complexity (56)
](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
AWS IAM
](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-identity-and-access-management-iam/reviews)

By [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://www.g2.com/sellers/amazon-web-services-aws-3e93cc28-2e9b-4961-b258-c6ce0feec7dd)

[

4.5/5(164)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the fine-grained access control and seamless integration with AWS services provided by AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). This flexibility allows for precise managemen

Pros and Cons

[
Security (31)
](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-identity-and-access-management-iam/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complexity (22)
](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-identity-and-access-management-iam/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

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

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

[

4.4/5(59)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the ease of use and strong security features of Google Cloud Identity & Access Management (IAM), highlighting its ability to manage access effectively while maintaining a

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (20)
](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-identity-access-management-iam/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Difficult Learning (10)
](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-identity-access-management-iam/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Rippling IT
](https://www.g2.com/products/rippling-it/reviews)

By [Rippling](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rippling)

[

4.7/5(1,119)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the ease of use and intuitive interface of Rippling, highlighting how it simplifies HR, payroll, and IT management tasks. Many appreciate the platform's ability to consolidat

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (675)
](https://www.g2.com/products/rippling-it/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Missing Features (164)
](https://www.g2.com/products/rippling-it/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Cisco Duo
](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews)

By [Cisco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cisco)

[

4.5/5(518)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the ease of use and quick setup of Cisco Duo, highlighting its efficient push notifications that streamline the authentication process. Many appreciate how it integrates seam

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (68)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Authentication Issues (23)
](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
AWS Vertrified Access
](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-vertrified-access/reviews)

By [Amazon Web Services (AWS)](https://www.g2.com/sellers/amazon-web-services-aws-3e93cc28-2e9b-4961-b258-c6ce0feec7dd)

[

4.7/5(38)

](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-vertrified-access/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its secure access without the need for traditional VPNs, which simplifies workflows and enhances security. The zero-trust approach allows for fine-grained acc

Pros and Cons

[
Security (14)
](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-vertrified-access/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Difficult Learning (10)
](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-vertrified-access/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
IBM Verify CIAM
](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-verify-ciam/reviews)

By [IBM](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ibm)

[

4.3/5(189)

](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-verify-ciam/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its robust security and seamless user experience, particularly highlighting features like multi-factor authentication and adaptive access controls. Many appre

Pros and Cons

[
Security (61)
](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-verify-ciam/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Complex Setup (38)
](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-verify-ciam/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Oracle Identity Cloud Service
](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-cloud-service/reviews)

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

[

4.6/5(30)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its secure authentication and seamless integration with various applications, which enhances overall security and user experience. Many appreciate the robust

Pros and Cons

[
Security (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-cloud-service/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Difficult Learning (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-identity-cloud-service/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
1Password
](https://www.g2.com/products/1password/reviews)

By [1Password](https://www.g2.com/sellers/1password)

[

4.6/5(1,809)

](https://www.g2.com/products/1password/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise ease of use and strong security features of 1Password, highlighting its ability to securely store and autofill passwords across devices. The intuitive interface and seamless

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (332)
](https://www.g2.com/products/1password/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Password Management (95)
](https://www.g2.com/products/1password/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Auth0
](https://www.g2.com/products/auth0/reviews)

By [Okta](https://www.g2.com/sellers/okta)

[

4.3/5(278)

](https://www.g2.com/products/auth0/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise Auth0 for its ease of use and flexibility in implementing secure authentication solutions. The platform simplifies complex identity management tasks, allowing developers to f

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (52)
](https://www.g2.com/products/auth0/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Expensive (26)
](https://www.g2.com/products/auth0/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Ping Identity
](https://www.g2.com/products/ping-identity/reviews)

By [Ping Identity](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ping-identity)

[

4.4/5(124)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the product for its ease of use and flexibility in managing identity and access. Many appreciate the intuitive interface and quick setup, which streamline authentication proc

Pros and Cons

[
Customer Management (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/ping-identity/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Limited Features (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/ping-identity/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
Salesforce Headless 360 Platform (formerly Salesforce Platform)
](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews)

By [Salesforce](https://www.g2.com/sellers/salesforce)

[

4.5/5(3,999)

](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews)

What do users say?

Users consistently praise the platform for its flexibility and customization options, allowing businesses to tailor workflows and automate processes effectively. Many appreciate its ability to central

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (1638)
](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Learning Curve (574)
](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-360-platform-formerly-salesforce-platform/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)

[
SailPoint
](https://www.g2.com/products/sailpoint/reviews)

By [SailPoint](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sailpoint)

[

4.5/5(191)

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

What do users say?

Users consistently praise SailPoint for its automation efficiency and centralized visibility in identity governance, which significantly reduces manual workload and enhances security. The platform's a

Pros and Cons

[
Ease of Use (36)
](https://www.g2.com/products/sailpoint/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons)[
Improvement Needed (17)
](https://www.g2.com/products/sailpoint/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

Top Tools at a Glance

| 

 | 

SSO and lifecycle automation across SaaS apps

 | 

User Review

"Okta Makes IAM and SSO Seamless with Strong, Easy-to-Deploy MFA"

 |
| 

 | 

Cross-platform device and identity unification

 | 

User Review

"Centralized IT Management with Seamless SSO"

 |
| 

 | 

Hybrid identity with Microsoft 365 SSO

 | 

User Review

"Entra ID P2 Makes Conditional Access and Security Policies Easy to Configure"

 |
| 

 | 

Fine-grained AWS resource permissions at scale

 | 

User Review

"Granular and scalable access control with AWS IAM"

 |
| 

 | 

Role-based GCP resource access with workload identity

 | 

User Review

"Strong, Flexible Access Control and Auditability with Google Cloud IAM"

 |
| 

 | 

HR-driven SSO and automated access provisioning

 | 

User Review

"IT provisioning and app access made completely painless for everyday employees."

 |
| 

 | 

Push-based MFA for remote access workflows

 | 

User Review

"Effortless Security Compliance with Cisco Duo"

 |
| 

 | 

VPN-free application access with zero-trust policies

 | 

User Review

"Strong Security and Controlled Access for Our AWS-Hosted PMS"

 |
| 

 | 

Customer identity with adaptive risk-based authentication

 | 

User Review

"Low-Code Identity Orchestration with Smart Adaptive Risk and Legacy Integration"

 |
| 

 | 

Oracle-native SSO and centralized identity provisioning

 | 

User Review

"Oracle IDCS offers a comprehensive suite for identity governance, single sign-on (SSO)."

 |

* * *

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