Okta vs CyberArk Identity: Decide in 3 Minutes

Okta and CyberArk Identity are online security solutions. The intent of both Okta and CyberArk Identity is to give the right people access to the right information and accounts while making it very difficult for hackers and criminals to access accounts. Here’s a quick guide on which is right for your company.

What are Okta and CyberArk Identity?

Okta is a cybersecurity solution provider for businesses and global enterprises. From email security to cloud database monitoring, Okta offers a modular array of security solutions. We tend to implement Okta Workforce and Okta Multi-Factor Authentication solutions most frequently. Okta is a flexible identity and access management tool that addresses the needs and budgets of small businesses and enterprises when it comes to Multifactor Authentication and Single Sign-On. We recommend it to companies offering customers an online log-in, i.e., online publishers and gaming.

CyberArk Identity specializes in adaptive multi-factor authentication for email security, database monitoring, and remote app security. CyberArk Identity strives for a simple interface that integrates SSO, MFA, EMM, and UBA. A leader in cloud-based Multi-factor Authentication and Single Sign On, CyberArk Identity is a flexible solution that’s easy to implement for small to large companies. We tend to recommend it to product-based companies with a growing salesforce.

Okta vs CyberArk Identity: Which to choose?

While Okta and CyberArk Identity are similar product offerings, we have preferences based on your company’s goals and needs.

Choose Okta if your company is:

Mostly interested in online login (i.e., publishers, gaming)
Single Sign On and/or Multi-Factor Authentication
Scaling quickly to 200+ employees
100% cloud-based
Interested in biometric/fingerprint authentication

Choose CyberArk Identity if your company is:

Product-based with a growing salesforce
50-100+ employees
On-prem and cloud data centers
Interested in a “zero-trust” security policy

Okta vs CyberArk Identity Pricing

Okta costs about 20% more than CyberArk Identity. For example, we implemented Okta for a Bay Area biotech startup. They pay Okta’s per-user fees ($6/user), plus an annual MFA cost ($8000), plus API Access Management ($8000). In total it’s about $16,500/year or $1375/month. On a larger scale, we implemented Okta for an enterprise IT department, and their Okta costs are about $6,000/month.

In both of these cases, CyberArk Identitywould cost about 20% less. Does that mean we recommend CyberArk Identity over Okta, purely on price? Not at all. We recommend solutions based on the best fit for your needs and long-term goals. For many of our clients, Okta is clearly worth the additional spend, based on features, integrations, and client data architecture.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?

Both Okta and CyberArk Identity offer class-leasing MFA security solutions. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) uses multiple pieces of information to allow the right people to access information and accounts. The most common example of MFA is when you sign in to an account and it requires your password, a PIN confirmation on your phone, and then follows up with a risk-based geolocation confirmation behind the scenes. When three or more elements are required to sign in, that is considered Multi-Factor Authentication.

What is a Single Sign On (SSO)?

Both Okta and CyberArk Identity offer class-leading SSO solutions. The most common example of SSO is your Gmail account. When you’re signed in to your account and visit various different Google properties (ex., Gmail, YouTube, etc.), your authentication travels with you, and you’re automatically signed in to the different environments. Single Sign On (SSO), per Wikipedia:

“Single sign-on (SSO) is an authentication scheme that allows a user to log in with a single ID and password to any of several related, yet independent, software systems.”

Do I need an Okta or CyberArk Identity consultant near me?

The most important factor is experience and effective workflow, whether in-person, on-site, virtual, or off-site. That said, we think working with a security consultant near you is an advantage. This will allow your security consultant to better communicate with existing IT teams, and better understand your current information architecture. A non-local security consultant becomes a good option if they follow security best practices, and have an established virtual workflow. Why? Location is less significant when virtual workforce tools are effectively adopted by consultants and clients, whether a small business or global enterprise. Plus, on-site specialists can become costly. The bottom line, look for a security consultant who offers an excellent communication process, clear workflow, and custom security solutions for your business.

Have questions about finding an Okta or CyberArk Identity consultant?
Email [email protected] or call (925) 918-6618

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About Sennovate

Sennovate delivers custom identity and access management solutions to businesses around the world. With global partners and a library of 1000+ integrations, we implement world-class cybersecurity solutions that save your company time and money. We offer a seamless experience with integration across all cloud applications, and a single price for product, implementation, and support. Have questions? The consultation is always free. Email [email protected] or call us at: (925) 918-6618