Here is a 2800+ word blog post outlining the best CIAM tools:
Customer identity and access management (CIAM) solutions have become mission-critical for businesses looking to securely interact with consumers across digital channels. As digital transformation accelerates across industries, companies must balance enabling frictionless customer experiences with protecting sensitive personal data.
CIAM platforms help manage this balance by providing capabilities like:
- Secure registration and authentication
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- Adaptive and multi-factor authentication
- User profile and consent management
- Integrations with existing infrastructure
- Identity analytics and governance
Selecting the right CIAM vendor for your needs depends on several factors:
Cloud vs On-Premises Deployments
Many CIAM solutions offer cloud-based delivery models to accelerate deployment and reduce cost. However, some highly regulated industries still prefer on-premises solutions. Hybrid and multi-tenant options also exist across vendors.
Ease of Integration and Customization
The ability to integrate a CIAM platform with existing legacy infrastructure like CRM and ERP systems is key. Vendors differ considerably in provisioning APIs, developer resources, and implementation support offered.
Enterprise Scale and Performance
For global enterprises managing millions of identities, scale and availability considerations are paramount. Vendors leverage load balancing, caching, containerization and database optimizations to improve performance.
This article breaks down 12 leading CIAM solutions across these evaluation criteria – both niche pure-plays and identity management suites that include CIAM capabilities.
1. LoginRadius
LoginRadius is one of the industry‘s pure-play CIAM leaders, having raised over $80 million in funding since starting in 2014. Some key capabilities include:
- Cloud-native platform with unlimited scalability
- Suite of authentication options including social login, MFA, biometrics and adaptive authentication
- Developer-friendly APIs for integration and customization
- Pre-built integrations with over 150 platforms
- Identity analytics for risk-based authorization and anomaly detection
LoginRadius counts several Fortune 500 companies amongst its customers across retail, media, travel and other industries. Unique platform strengths include flexible identity orchestration and machine learning-driven security analytics.
2. ForgeRock
ForgeRock offers its Identity Platform designed specifically for CIAM use cases across industries like finance, healthcare, retail and technology. Capabilities include:
- Cloud and hybrid deployment models
- Advanced authentication methods including biometrics
- Consumer identity portals and progressive profiling
- Consent and preference management tools
- Platform extensibility using Java and Node.js SDKs
With over a decade of experience in IAM, ForgeRock serves hundreds of leading global brands. The company counts experienced professional services and training personnel as key competitive strengths that facilitate customers‘ CIAM success.
3. Microsoft Entra
Microsoft Entra offers Verified ID – a cloud-based identity verification service that validates user attributes from official government sources in real time. Capabilities include:
- Instant verification of identities like passports and driver‘s licenses
- Secure data exchange using blockchain-based credential issuance
- Configurable identity proofing policies tailored to risk levels
- Standards-based decentralised identifiers (DIDs)
- Integrations with Active Directory, Azure AD and other IAMs
With deep expertise in hybrid identity from Active Directory, Microsoft provides robust CIAM capabilities natively integrated with broader cloud infrastructure. Useful across industries like finance, staffing and public sector.
Try Microsoft Entra Verified ID
4. Auth0
Auth0 provides identity management capabilities tailored specifically for product builders like app developers, devops teams and digital marketing groups. Core capabilities include:
- Cloud-based authentication and authorization APIs
- Support for standards like OIDC, OAuth 2.0 and SAML
- Tools for integrating CIAM across web, mobile, desktop and IoT apps
- Pre-built widgets, UI templates and reference architectures
- Extensible platform enabling custom queries and identity workflows
Known for its developer-friendliness, Auth0 prioritizes fast implementation and extensive documentation. The company was recently acquired by Okta.
5. Idaptive
Idaptive delivers cloud-based CIAM, IGA and adaptive authentication solutions secure enough for the most regulated industries. Capabilities include:
- Defense-grade security built on zero trust architecture
- Identity and access lifecycle management
- Single sign-on (SSO) across applications
- Seamless integration with Ping Identity and PingOne tools
- Behavioral analytics for risk-based adaptive auth
Idaptive provides comprehensive capabilities covering security, identity governance and CIAM. Behavioral identity and risk scoring provides robust protection against account takeovers and insider threats.
6. IBM Cloud Identity
IBM Cloud Identity brings enterprise-grade identity and access management (IAM) features to the cloud. CIAM capabilities include:
- Identity lifecycle governance
- SSO and adaptive authentication
- Data privacy and consent tools
- Identity proofing and corroborations
- Cloud-native and hybrid deployment support
IBM leverages its decades-long expertise in enterprise IAM to provide robust, scalable CIAM capabilities. Tight integration with on-prem IBM Security Access Manager is a key differentiator.
7. SAP Customer Data Cloud
SAP Customer Data Cloud provides Master Data Management (MDM), Customer Data Platform (CDP) and CIAM capabilities within one integrated solution. It helps businesses gain a unified customer profile view across channels. Features include:
- Consolidated real-time customer profile data
- Customer identity mapping and hierarchy management
- Audience segmentation and analytics
- Consent preference and privacy management
- APIs supporting CI/CD DevOps processes
SAP CDC is purpose-built to synchronize, enrich and activate large customer identity datasets. Strongest for B2C business with massive user bases to coordinate and manage.
8. Gigya
Gigya delivers strong CIAM capabilities specifically for online registration, social login, preference management and SSO. Features include:
- Drop-in registration forms and login modules
- Omnichannel identity linking using email or device IDs
- Consent tools for GDPR, CCPA and other privacy regulations
- REST APIs and web component libraries for developers
- Identity graph visualization and analytics
Now part of the SAP Customer Experience portfolio, Gigya continues to lead the market with deep expertise in building trusted customer relationships online leveraging identity data.
9. Janrain
Recently rebranded as Akamai Customer Identity Access Management (Akamai CIAM), Janrain provides strong capabilities for registration, login and SSO. Features include:
- Support for 240+ identity providers including social login
- Progressive profiling of identified users over time
- Consent management aligned with global privacy regulations
- APIs for platform extensibility and customization
- Integrations with leading technology stacks
Leveraging Akamai‘s enterprise infrastructure, Janrain is a leading CIAM choice proven at scale with implementations across a wide span of verticals.
10. Login.gov
Login.gov provides free government-supported CIAM capabilities helping U.S. federal, state and local agencies streamline registration and authentication for citizens accessing public sector services online. Features include:
- Shared, cloud-based identity proofing and authentication
- Centralized login using government credentials
- Extensively tested and vetted for security vulnerabilities
- Compliant with U.S. standards like SP 800-63-3
- Leverages government identity data to minimize data requests
By consolidating login and leveraging authoritative sources, Login.gov reduces fraud while providing citizens seamless access to services across federal, state and local government sites.
11. Beyond Identity
Beyond Identity provides a passwordless multi-factor authentication platform securing identities without complicated recovery workflows when devices are lost. Capabilities include:
- Phishing-proof MFA tied to users‘ devices
- Just-in-time privilege elevation
- Risk-based adaptive authentication policies
- Auto device revocation when lost or stolen
- Agentless integration deployed in days or weeks
Beyond Identity‘s XTN architecture provides the strongest protection against credential theft and account takeovers available, eliminating passwords completely.
12. ForgeRock Identity Cloud
ForgeRock Identity Cloud provides SaaS delivery of CIAM capabilities like identity orchestration, governance and administration. Features include:
- Managed identity infrastructure available in 50+ data centers
- Autonomous identity capabilities via AIops
- DevOps-aligned access to APIs and reference code
- Extensibility using Java, Javascript, Kotlin and GraphQL
- Choice of cloud native or self-hosted runtimes
Purpose-built for CIAM in the cloud, ForgeRock Identity Cloud removes infrastructure management burdens for IT while providing trusted identity services consumed on-demand.
Evaluating Your CIAM Options
The range of CIAM solutions profiled here showcase the diversity of capabilities on offer for managing customer digital identities. Whether your focus area is fraud protection, consent preferences or identity proofing – advanced CIAM platforms now exist to address specialized needs across industries.
Use this breakdown as a starting point for evaluating tools against your specific pain points. Reach out to vendors for 1:1 briefings on your highest priority requirements.
Many also provide trial licenses or sandbox environments for hands-on testing before you buy. Take advantage of these offers to experience the interfaces and integration processes involved firsthand.
By thoroughly vetting the strengths and weaknesses of these solutions against your needs, you‘ll be well-positioned to make the right long-term CIAM choice fitting your customer base and future growth trajectory.
