AWS Directory Service and Microsoft Entra External ID are competing in the identity services category. AWS Directory Service is favored for its support and cost-effectiveness, while Microsoft Entra External ID is preferred for its robust features.
Features: AWS Directory Service integrates seamlessly with AWS services, enhancing management within the AWS ecosystem. It offers competitive pricing and dependable support. Microsoft Entra External ID provides comprehensive identity verification, scalable options, and dynamic security features.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AWS Directory Service is simple to integrate within AWS environments and has supportive customer service. Microsoft Entra External ID has a complex deployment due to its rich features but provides dedicated support for identity configurations.
Pricing and ROI: AWS Directory Service offers lower setup costs and favorable ROI within AWS setups. Microsoft Entra External ID requires a higher initial investment but provides long-term value with extensive security and identity features.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Entra External ID | 2.4% |
| AWS Directory Service | 1.6% |
| Other | 96.0% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 6 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 3 |
| Large Enterprise | 4 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 8 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 6 |
AWS Directory Service lets you run Microsoft Active Directory (AD) as a managed service. AWS Directory Service for Microsoft Active Directory, also referred to as AWS Managed Microsoft AD, is powered by Windows Server 2012 R2. When you select and launch this directory type, it is created as a highly available pair of domain controllers connected to your virtual private cloud (VPC). The domain controllers run in different Availability Zones in a region of your choice. Host monitoring and recovery, data replication, snapshots, and software updates are automatically configured and managed for you.
Microsoft Entra External ID, part of Microsoft Entra, provides highly secure digital experiences for partners, customers, citizens, patients, or any users outside your organization with customization controls. Combine external identities and user directories in one portal to seamlessly manage access across the organization.
Microsoft Entra External ID refers to all the ways you can securely interact with users outside of your organization. If you want to collaborate with partners, distributors, suppliers, or vendors, you can share your resources and define how your internal users can access external organizations. If you're a developer creating consumer-facing apps, you can manage your customers' identity experiences.
With External ID, external users can "bring their own identities." Whether they have a corporate or government-issued digital identity, or an unmanaged social identity like Google or Facebook, they can use their own credentials to sign in. The external user’s identity provider manages their identity, and you manage access to your apps with Entra ID or Entra External ID to keep your resources protected.
The following capabilities make up External ID:
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