Best Alternative to Okta: Google SSO as an IAM Solution for Your Business

Introduction to Identity and Access Management

Identity and access management (IAM) is the backbone of secure business operations. IAM is a comprehensive framework of policies and technologies designed to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data, applications, and systems. It plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive security across various IT environments, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid setups. For IT administrators and business leaders, implementing a robust access management solution is essential—not just for protecting critical resources, but also for meeting security and compliance requirements.

At its core, IAM revolves around the ability to manage user identities and control access to digital assets. This means verifying who users are, determining what they can access, and monitoring their activity to prevent unauthorized use. Key features of a modern access management platform include single sign-on (SSO) for seamless user experiences, multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security, automated user provisioning to streamline onboarding and offboarding, and identity governance to enforce policies and conduct periodic access reviews.

Advanced IAM solutions, such as those offered by Ping Identity, go even further with adaptive authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), and fine-grained access control. These capabilities allow organizations to tailor access rules based on user roles, behavior, and risk factors—ensuring that only the right people have the right level of access at all times. Regularly reviewing and adjusting permissions, revoking access when necessary, and monitoring activity are essential for maintaining security and upholding compliance standards.

By investing in a comprehensive access management IAM strategy, organizations can protect sensitive data, reduce the risk of breaches, and provide employees with secure, frictionless access to the tools they need. As we compare Okta and Google SSO, understanding these IAM fundamentals will help you choose the solution that best fits your business needs.

Challenges with Okta and Okta Alternatives

While Okta is a leading name in identity and access management, organizations often encounter several challenges when deploying Okta or similar access management solutions. One of the most significant hurdles is the complexity involved in setup and ongoing maintenance. Implementing Okta typically requires specialized IT expertise, which can lead to increased resource allocation and higher operational costs—especially for organizations without a dedicated IT team.

Another common concern is Okta’s pricing structure. The cost can quickly escalate as you add more users or require advanced features, making it less accessible for small and medium-sized businesses. This has prompted many organizations to seek alternatives that offer more flexible and scalable pricing models, ensuring they only pay for what they need.

Customization is another area where Okta and some alternatives may fall short. Organizations with unique identity and access management requirements often find that limited customization options restrict their ability to implement granular access controls or adaptive authentication tailored to their specific needs. This can be a critical drawback for businesses with complex security and compliance requirements.

Integration capabilities are also a key consideration. While Okta supports a wide range of applications, there can be gaps in seamless integration with certain legacy systems or niche cloud services. This lack of seamless integration can hinder the adoption of a unified access management solution and complicate workflows.

Ultimately, when evaluating Okta and its alternatives, organizations should prioritize access management solutions that offer adaptive authentication, granular access controls, and extensive integration capabilities—while also considering the long-term impact of the pricing structure on their IT budgets.

Picking the right Identity Management solution for your business without overpaying

Signing in with one click does not make only the live easier for employees. Using a Single Sign-On (SSO) has also benefits for the company. Founders, CTOs and IT Managers can choose between different options. Companies using the Google Workspace might be tempted to use Google’s own service. But as it lacks some functionalities, as we will see, other options like Okta might be considered. Organizations seeking flexible, scalable, and cost-effective IAM solutions often evaluate Okta alternatives to find the best fit for their needs, including a security platform that integrates multiple security features for centralized control and robust protection. Choosing between Okta and Google SSO may seem like a simple decision at first glance. Okta is renowned for its comprehensive identity and access management capabilities, while Google, better known for its search engine, might appear to offer SSO merely as a secondary feature. But it’s not that straightforward as there are twists to make Google a powerful tool.

In fact, while Okta often comes out ahead in terms of features (but also in price!), the two solutions are tailored for different types of businesses. Depending on your organization’s size and needs, one might suit you better than the other. For example, Okta is often chosen for customer identity management in customer-facing applications, while Google SSO may be preferred for internal employee access. To guide your decision, we’ll compare these two solutions in key areas:‍

1. Setup and integration complexity: How easy is it to set up and connect with the rest of the workspace?

2. Authentication and multifactor authentication (MFA) options: How can accesses and identities can be given in a secure and efficient fashion?

3. Software User provisioning and deprovisioning: How can we make giving and removing access as easy as a breeze? ‍

4. Access control and management: How do you keep the organisation safe?

5. SaaS Monitoring and reporting: How do you create and keep visibility?

However, before diving into the details, let’s understand an important distinction regarding Google’s service:

Google SSO vs. Google Cloud IAM: What's the Difference?

Many people confuse Google SSO with Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM). Google Cloud IAM is a direct competitor to Okta, offering SAML-based SSO and SCIM provisioning for user lifecycle management. It’s an enterprise-grade identity solution, but it’s not free. It’s far from it. It is a powerful solution that comes with a significant price tag that might not be the right choice for small and mid-size companies. Google Cloud IAM also provides advanced directory services and supports integration with user directories, enabling centralized identity management and seamless access control across enterprise systems. Other major competitors to Google Cloud IAM include Microsoft's cloud based identity platform, Microsoft Entra ID, which is tightly integrated with the Microsoft ecosystem and offers robust security, scalability, and enterprise features.

For organizations seeking enterprise-grade IAM solutions, options like Oracle Identity Governance, which integrates with Oracle Access Governance for advanced access management, are also worth considering. These solutions enhance user lifecycle management, access entitlement controls, and compliance across both on-premises and cloud environments.

In this article, when we refer to Google SSO, we’re talking about the Google Workspace SSO option that lets users log in to various applications with their Google account credentials. This is the same “Sign in with Google” feature you’ve likely seen on countless websites.

What Are the Disadvantages of Google SSO?

While Google SSO is free and easy to implement, it has its limitations, particularly in user lifecycle management. Google Workspace SSO lacks certain key identity and access management (IAM) features:

• It offers limited access control options.
• It does not support user provisioning and deprovisioning for most third-party apps.
• It has minimal monitoring and reporting capabilities. What is available is hidden inside sub-pages in logs that are everything but simple to conduct software access reviews.
• It provides limited automation features for user account management.

These limitations can contribute to password fatigue, as users may need to remember multiple credentials for different applications.

Because of these shortcomings, many organizations turn to dedicated IAM solutions like Okta. Other solutions could be Jumpcloud or IdentityOne but in this article we focus on Okta. For startups and small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), an alternative approach might be pairing Google SSO with Corma. This combination allows businesses to leverage Google’s free SSO while getting advanced user lifecycle management and access control features through Corma. More on that later but let’s first take a closer look at how Okta and Google SSO compare in key areas.

1. Setup and Integration Complexity

One of the key benefits of Google SSO is its effortless setup. If you’re already using Google Workspace, there’s no need for a complex setup process because the SSO is built-in and ready to go. In fact, more literally millions of websites that offer Google SSO as a login option, making it easy to integrate into your existing workflows. Google SSO offers seamless integration with a wide range of applications, providing seamless access for users across cloud-based, on-premises, and on-premises systems. You are likely to cover 70% to 80% of all your tools with the Google SSO. There is hardly any new SaaS tool that appears without the SSO and the older legacy tools are also catching up. The reason for that is the simplicity for the provider as well as for the user.

Okta, however, requires a more hands-on approach. Configuring Okta SSO typically involves setting up SAML integrations for each SaaS application that you are using, and some apps may require manual configuration using API keys. Okta is known for its extensive integration capabilities, including device management as part of its overall IAM solution, but achieving seamless integration may require more technical effort. Setting up the integration for a few key tools is usually feasible but the level of complexity means you’ll likely need a dedicated IT team to manage the setup and ongoing support of Okta. Another thing to consider is that APIs require effort to maintain them. API maintenance is time-consuming also because you will also need to reach out to the SaaS tool in order to get technical input which can take days and sometimes weeks. This makes the tool typically unsuitable for smaller teams that do not have a dedicated IT team.

Which is Better for Setup: Okta or Google SSO?

It highly depends on the complexity of your organisation. If you’re looking for a simple, no-hassle solution that can be deployed quickly, Google SSO is the better choice. Despite being the go-to solution for startups, it can scale well with a larger team size. Okta, while more comprehensive, requires a greater investment of time and technical expertise during setup. However, Okta offers centralized management and flexible deployment options—including cloud-based, on-premises, and hybrid environments—making it suitable for organizations with more complex IT environments. Alternatively, for organizations already invested in Microsoft products, leveraging the Microsoft ecosystem with solutions like Microsoft Entra ID can provide seamless integration and unified management across identity, security, and device management. On the other side, this allows you for greater in-house customisation, but this comes at a price.

2. Authentication and MFA Options and other key features

When it comes to authentication, Google SSO allows employees to use their Google Workspace credentials to access third-party applications. This simplicity makes it a great option for smaller businesses or tech companies that heavily rely on SaaS solutions. However, Okta offers more flexibility by allowing organizations to store identities in its Universal Directory or pull them from external sources such as Google Workspace, Microsoft AD, Microsoft's cloud-based identity solutions, and other Identity Providers (IdP). Keep in mind that using Okta’s Universal Directory adds an extra 2€ per user per month to your costs.

Both Okta and Google SSO support multifactor authentication (MFA), which provides an added layer of security. Google SSO offers Google Authenticator and security keys and emails as free MFA options. Okta, however, provides a broader range of MFA methods, including SMS, email, biometrics, and Okta Verify. Okta supports diverse authentication options, including conditional access policies that allow organizations to enforce dynamic security controls based on user, device, or location for enhanced security. Most companies that are not developing bioweapons or that are not regulated like finance and healthcare are in no need of those high-level security measures for MFA. MFA with security keys and emails is typically more than enough to prevent most security risks.

How Secure Is Google SSO for identity governance?

Google SSO boosts security by eliminating the need for multiple passwords and minimizing the risk of weak or reused passwords. The additional MFA support further strengthens protection against unauthorized access. While Okta’s MFA options are more advanced, Google SSO’s free MFA makes it a compelling choice for businesses on a budget. There is also an option for admins to regularly force end users to update their passwords and enforce a certain security of each password (length, special characters, forbidding Test1234). Google SSO helps organizations maintain security and streamline access by offering secure access to applications with minimal user friction.

3. User Access Control and Management

Access management is where Okta pulls ahead of Google SSO. Okta offers role-based access control (RBAC), which allows organizations to assign specific roles to users, streamlining permissions management. Okta provides granular access controls, enabling organizations to define detailed, customizable permissions across applications, and supports unified identity management for centralized control of user identities across multiple systems. This is the key value proposition of Corma and is why would be many times the price of the Google Workspace to Okta. For example, you could grant a sales manager “read” and “edit” rights while restricting “create” permissions to your CRM tool, while giving your sales manager lead full access. Defining role-based access rules takes time but is usually worth the effort.

Google SSO, however, relies on Google Workspace user groups for access control. While this method works well for smaller teams, it’s less scalable and more difficult to manage for larger organizations with complex access needs. The opportunities from Google are limited here and things are at risk of becoming messy with several hundred employees.

Fortunately, when pairing Google SSO with Corma, access management becomes easier. This combination gives organizations complete control over user access and permissions. RBAC can be  configurated and integrations with HR tools provide data on new joiners and leavers for. Employees can request access to applications directly within Slack or via a browser extension, and Corma automates the approval process. This functionality is similar to what Okta Identity Governance offers which ensures a high level of security, smooth IT management but at a fraction of the cost.

What Are the Disadvantages of Google SSO in Access Management?

Despite what you might expect of this article, not everything is smile and sunshine with Google SSO. Google SSO’s primary limitation is the lack of scalable role-based access controls. This can make managing permissions more complex as your organization grows. For organizations with complex security needs, such as those requiring multiple layers of security or strict compliance, Google SSO's access management capabilities may be insufficient. However, integrating Corma with Google SSO can help solve this by automating access requests and approvals, making it a viable alternative for SMBs. Generally, the larger the organisation, the more tricky the Google Workspace will be as a solution. Nevertheless, there are many organisations with many hundred users that use Google SSO with no issue.

4. Automated User Provisioning and Deprovisioning

One of the biggest challenges with Google SSO is its limited support for SCIM provisioning. This means that if your business uses several third-party applications, you’ll likely need to manually onboard and offboard users, which can become time-consuming as your business expands. Automated user provisioning is the dream of most IT teams so this can be seen as a major barrier. This is unfortunately the reality for many companies that heavily rely on SaaS. Manual provisioning is next to the risk of Shadow IT and cost explosion a key downside of the trend towards Software as a Service.

Okta, in contrast, supports SCIM provisioning for a wide range of applications, allowing for automated user creation and deactivation. However, many SaaS providers only offer SCIM and SAML features on their enterprise plans, often leading to significant cost increases—this is known as the SSO tax. This can go into the thousands of euros every month that need to be paid on top! It might unlock other additional features which might be useful but the cost increase is typically massive.

By using Corma alongside Google SSO, you can handle automated user provisioning and deprovisioning for over 100 tools—including Slack, Notion, and Google Workspace—without relying on SCIM. Corma can automate user provisioning across cloud services and hybrid environments, reducing manual effort and improving security. This makes it a more cost-effective alternative to Okta for smaller organizations.

What Are the Hidden Costs of Okta?

The hidden cost of using Okta often comes from the so-called SSO tax imposed by SaaS providers. SCIM Provisioning is typically hidden in the enterprise or premium pricing tiers. Businesses are forced to upgrade to expensive enterprise subscriptions to unlock the SCIM provisioning. Combined with Okta’s own per-user pricing structure (2€ per user!), these costs can add up quickly, making it a less affordable option for startups and cost-sensitive SMBs. Additionally, organizations should consider the risk of vendor lock-in, as relying on proprietary solutions like Okta can limit long-term flexibility and make it harder to switch providers or customize identity management to specific needs.

5. Monitoring, Auditing, and Reporting

Google SSO offers an audit trail for Google’s suite of apps, but when it comes to monitoring third-party applications, it falls short. This can pose challenges for organizations that need to track user activity for compliance purposes. But even inside Google, the logs are sometimes annoying to find and the interface is not very user-friendly which can be a pain for IT mangers and CISOs.

Okta, on the other hand, provides more comprehensive monitoring and reporting features across all integrated applications. Okta also delivers detailed audit trails and advanced security features to support compliance and enhance security oversight. However, Okta’s logs are retained for only 90 days, meaning you’ll need additional tools to store activity logs for longer periods.

Using Corma with Google SSO can help fill this gap. Corma centralizes monitoring across all connected apps with its extensive app catalog, providing a clear overview of user access and permissions. This can be crucial for businesses that need to generate detailed access reports for compliance audits. ISO 27001 for instance is a key information security certification that requires businesses to to have logs on all access and users. This certification advances to be the gold standard in Europe, so simplifying the achievement of ISO 27001 though access management is more than a nice to have.

Okta alternatives: is Google SSO a Good Option for Monitoring and Reporting?

While Google SSO's audit capabilities are strong for native Google apps, it lacks the necessary tools for external applications. Pairing Google SSO with Corma helps businesses improve their reporting and monitoring, allowing them to meet compliance requirements more easily. The full visibility on software usage is also useful for other use cases like cost management of the software stack.

Benefits of Google SSO

Google Single Sign-On (SSO) delivers a host of benefits for organizations aiming to streamline access management and strengthen security. By enabling users to access multiple applications with a single set of credentials, Google SSO significantly reduces password fatigue and the risk of password-related security incidents. This unified identity approach not only enhances user convenience but also helps IT teams maintain better control over user identities and access permissions.

Security is a core strength of Google SSO. The platform offers robust security features, including multi factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive data and critical business applications. Administrators can implement fine-grained access control and define specific access rules for users and groups, supporting compliance and minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.

Seamless integration with Google Workspace and a wide range of cloud services makes Google SSO an attractive access management solution for organizations seeking to streamline access across their software stack. The user-friendly interface simplifies onboarding and daily use, while automated provisioning capabilities help IT teams efficiently manage user accounts and permissions as employees join or leave the organization.

For organizations seeking a secure, scalable, and easy-to-manage access management solution, Google SSO stands out by offering advanced security features, unified identity management, and the ability to access multiple applications effortlessly. Its combination of security, convenience, and seamless integration makes it a compelling choice for businesses looking to maintain security and compliance without sacrificing user experience.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business for automated provisioning and IAM

When it comes to choosing between Okta and Corma together with Google SSO, the best choice for your business depends on your needs and budget. You should also try to anticipate how your organisation develops. Will your structure stay more or less steady or are you expecting a massive increase in users or new divisions?

Okta offers a full-featured identity management solution with powerful tools for access control, provisioning, and compliance reporting. Okta is often chosen by large enterprises that require flexible deployment options and unified management across cloud and on-premises environments. However, it comes with considerable costs—both in terms of upfront subscription fees and hidden charges related to SaaS integration. It will also require an IT team, but at least a dedicated IT Manager to operate it.

For smaller businesses, Google SSO is a simple and free solution that can be enhanced by integrating with Corma. This combination offers the benefits of Google’s no-hassle SSO, while Corma takes care of more advanced tasks like automated user provisioning, deprovisioning, and access management. By consolidating identity and access management functions, this approach reduces the need for multiple tools. This allows you to get many of the same advantages as Okta, but without the heavy financial burden and setup complexity. It is also a solution that is to drive automation forward so the manual input is to be minimsed next to functionalities around the software expense management and automated SaaS Management.

Conclusion: Corma is a Saas Management Platform that is also an IAM powerhouse solution

If your organization has the budget and IT resources, Okta may be the right choice for managing identity and access at scale. However, for startups and SMBs looking for a cost-effective solution, pairing Google SSO with Corma can provide most of the same benefits at a fraction of the cost. If you want to have an absolute stellar solution (or you struggle to make a choice), Corma also integrates with Okta so you can get both, but unfortunately not for the price of one....

FAQ

Q: What are the key benefits of using Single Sign-On (SSO) for businesses?

A: Single Sign-On (SSO) simplifies the login process for employees, allowing them to access multiple applications with one set of credentials. This not only enhances user convenience but also improves security by reducing the need for multiple passwords and minimizing the risk of password-related breaches.

Q: How does Google SSO differ from Google Cloud IAM?

A: Google SSO is part of Google Workspace and allows users to log in to various applications using their Google credentials. It's the "Sign in with Google" feature commonly seen on many websites. Google Cloud IAM, on the other hand, is an enterprise-grade identity solution that offers more advanced features like SAML-based SSO and SCIM provisioning for user lifecycle management, but it comes with a significant cost.

Q: What are the limitations of Google SSO?

A: Google SSO has several limitations, including limited access control options, lack of support for user provisioning and deprovisioning for most third-party apps, minimal monitoring and reporting capabilities, and limited automation features for user account management.

Q: How does Okta compare to Google SSO in terms of setup and integration complexity?

A: Google SSO is known for its effortless setup, especially for organizations already using Google Workspace. It is built-in and ready to go with minimal configuration. Okta, however, requires a more hands-on approach, involving SAML integrations for each SaaS application, which can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring a dedicated IT team.

Q: What are the advantages of using Okta for authentication and multifactor authentication (MFA)?

A: Okta offers more flexibility in authentication by allowing organizations to store identities in its Universal Directory or pull them from external sources. It also provides a broader range of MFA methods, including SMS, email, biometrics, and Okta Verify, making it a more comprehensive solution for organizations with advanced security needs.

Q: How can Corma enhance the functionality of Google SSO?

A: Corma can enhance Google SSO by providing advanced user lifecycle management and access control features. It offers role-based access control (RBAC), automated user provisioning and deprovisioning, and centralized monitoring and reporting across all connected apps. This makes it a cost-effective alternative for smaller organizations looking to improve their identity and access management capabilities.

Q: What are the hidden costs associated with using Okta?

A: The hidden costs of using Okta often come from the "SSO tax" imposed by SaaS providers, which requires businesses to upgrade to expensive enterprise subscriptions to unlock SCIM provisioning. Additionally, Okta's per-user pricing structure can add up quickly, making it a less affordable option for startups and cost-sensitive SMBs.

Q: Is Google SSO a good option for monitoring and reporting used for audits?

A: Google SSO offers strong audit capabilities for native Google apps but lacks the necessary tools for external applications. Pairing Google SSO with Corma can help businesses improve their reporting and monitoring, allowing them to meet compliance requirements more easily.

‍