Two-factor authentication has emerged as an essential safety measure for organizations to enhance the protection of their customers. Duo and Microsoft Authenticator are two widespread packages that supply this degree of security.

Duo makes use of push notifications, time -based, one -time passwords, bodily indicators and biometry to confirm the identification of customers on the login. Equally, Microsoft Authenticator makes use of Push notifications and one-time password codes that may combine with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Entra ID (previously Azure Energetic Listing.)

Though each 2FA choices have some similarities, the primary variations could make you determine to decide on one over the opposite.

• Duo: Finest for further safety capabilities corresponding to adaptable verification, grain entry insurance policies and menace of menace.
• Microsoft Authenticator: Finest for Microsoft-centric environments who need seamless integration with Microsoft Entra ID and different Home windows providers.

Duo vs Microsoft Authenticator: Comparability Desk

Duo vs Microsoft Authenticator Costs

Under is how Duo and Microsoft Authenticator get up when it comes to costs.

Duo costs

Duo follows a layered system primarily based on features and providers that you simply need to add to the appliance. Presently it gives 4 subscription ranges:

Microsoft Authenticator -Costs

Microsoft Authenticator is free and comes with all Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Energetic Listing) and 365 enterprise accounts.

For a whole checklist of costs and options, you may go to our articles on Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Energetic Listing).

Perform Comparability: Duo vs Microsoft Authenticator

Each duo and Microsoft Authenticator provide glorious options to customers, however here’s a head-to-head function equation:

Utility Programming Luck Integration

Most enterprise organizations contemplating Duo or Microsoft Authenticator need to combine these packages with current or personalized software program and server purposes.

Duo helps limitless utility integrations through its platform in all out there bills.

However, though Microsoft Authenticator additionally integrates with different third-party services, it’s a lot simpler to combine with Microsoft-supported providers as a result of it has already been merged with a few of them.

Safety features

Each duo and Microsoft Authenticator prioritize safety and provide sturdy options to guard consumer accounts. Duo helps adaptable verification, which assesses the chance of every login try and if essential to confirm extra verification. It additionally offers grain entry insurance policies, permitting directors to outline particular verification necessities primarily based on consumer roles and circumstances.

Microsoft Authenticator makes use of the facility of Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Energetic Listing) to ship superior safety features, corresponding to conditional entry insurance policies, risk-based verification and seamless single-on-experiences on purposes. It additionally helps the hardware-backed safety keys for improved phishing assault safety.

Verification strategies

Each duo and Microsoft Authenticator provide a number of verification strategies. Duo gives quite a lot of verification choices, together with push notifications, Webauthn and biometry, indicators, ready codes and {hardware} safety keys.

In the meantime, Microsoft Authenticator helps push notifications, OTPs and biometric verification (fingerprint, facial recognition) on supported gadgets.

Backup and restoration

Duo’s restoration function permits customers duo-protected accounts and third-party ATP accounts for restoration to the identical or new system. This enables UU duo accounts on cloud providers corresponding to iCloud and Google Drive.

Equally, Microsoft gives backup and restoration choices that allow customers to securely retailer their accounts and settings within the cloud. This function makes it attainable to allow the account restore on new gadgets or within the case of system loss.

Buyer assist

So far as customer support is anxious, each suppliers provide a good quantity of choices.

For Duo, they’ve a devoted assist web page with a web based data base categorized for duo customers and directors, making it straightforward to get assist for each kinds of customers.

Additionally they have a weblog, documentation portal and chatbot function. Other than that, you may submit a assist case, contact a dwell agent by cellphone or the duo assist crew e mail.

Conversion falls assist for Microsoft Authenticator underneath the umbrella assist providers you get with Microsoft as a complete. You possibly can contact Microsoft’s assist brokers through their official assist web page, make a cellphone name to certainly one of their regional assist numbers, or go to their Microsoft Group Discussion board for direct discussions.

Additionally they have an intensive FAQs web page for Microsoft Authenticator itself, which offers documentation of setup to fixing widespread issues.

Duo -for and downsides

Whereas duo gives many benefits for customers, it additionally holds some disadvantages. Here’s a abstract of the professionals and cons.

Advantages

• Single login.
• Passwordless.
• A number of verification strategies.
• Press the safety of phishing.
• Risk detection.
• Backup and restore.

Reflection

• Duo -free accounts are restricted to 10 customers.
• Barely junk onion in sure locations because of the large number of verification choices.
• Security notices typically take longer than anticipated.

Microsoft Authenticator -Defore and Cons

Microsoft Authenticator gives highly effective two-factor authentication options, however there could also be some disadvantages that some customers say they’ve skilled whereas utilizing the product. Under are some execs and cons.

Advantages

• Passwordless login.
• Press notifications by way of the cellular app.
• The authenticator app can be utilized as a software program token.
• Backup and restoration assist.

Reflection

• Multi-factor report choice is just supported within the increased plans.
• The pricing mannequin could also be difficult for some customers to navigate.
• Maybe it isn’t best for companies that shouldn’t have Microsoft Ecosystems.

Ought to your group use Duo or Microsoft Authenticator?

It may be difficult to decide on one 2FA software program above one other, particularly if many putting similarities bind the merchandise collectively. For Duo and Microsoft Authenticator, crucial level of reference between the 2 round your general technological stack, ease of use and costs should revolve.

Should you rely quite a bit on Microsoft merchandise corresponding to Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Energetic Listing), Microsoft 365 and different Microsoft providers, Microsoft Authenticator can present a extra seamless and built-in expertise.

However, in case you have a various set of platforms and purposes, Duo’s broad compatibility and intensive integration skills make it a extra versatile alternative. Duo simply integrates with providers corresponding to Slack, Atlassian, Salesforce, Dropbox and extra.

You must also contemplate the pricing fashions and the way it meets your online business necessities and budgets. The pricing construction of the duo varies relying on the features and the chosen assist degree, whereas Microsoft Authenticator is often mixed with Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

The value of duo is extra complete and clear, not like Microsoft, which is extra difficult on account of the bundle with Microsoft subscriptions. Take time to judge the precise wants of your group and contemplate the related prices when evaluating the pricing of those options.

Lastly, have a look at the consumer expertise of every service and ease of use. Each duo and Microsoft Authenticator provide seamless consumer experiences, however preferences might depend upon the technical stack of your group, consumer base and the way acquainted it’s with every platform.

Use the free variations that present every resolution to realize sensible expertise with every product. Should you take a look at it, you have to decide issues just like the simplicity of the setup, the intuitiveness of the verification course of and any extra features that enhance usability.

Think about performing a pilot take a look at with each options to judge their efficiency and compatibility in your online business surroundings. This lets you acquire first -hand expertise and suggestions out of your customers and directors earlier than making a closing resolution.

For a extra complete analysis of two-factor verification primarily based on safety impression and strategic enterprise initiative, have a look at this two-factor authentication analysis information.

See: Safety of Linux coverage (TechRepublic Premium)

Methodology

To make a good comparability between Duo and Microsoft Authenticator, we began with the documentation pages of every product, the place we realized about their key features and the way they combine with different applied sciences. Now we have additionally checked consumer critiques of dependable third-party evaluation websites to get some opinions of verified customers. The creator additionally makes use of Microsoft Authenticator, which makes it simpler to debate the product primarily based on my expertise. All of this gave sufficient perception to assist form our overview.

This text was initially written by Franklin Oxke in August 2023 and was up to date by Luis Millares in January 2025 to have in mind operate and product modifications, corresponding to Azure Energetic Listing’s identify change to Microsoft Entra ID.