{ "id": "cisco-duo-vs-microsoft-entra-id", "ids": [ "cisco-duo", "microsoft-entra-id" ], "title": "Cisco Duo vs Microsoft Entra ID: authentication, directory and access scope", "heading": "Cisco Duo vs Microsoft Entra ID", "kicker": "Identity and access comparison", "deck": "Compare Duo and Entra ID for workforce authentication, directory and SSO requirements, enrolment, recovery and the retained package around existing applications.", "description": "Compare Duo and Entra ID for workforce authentication, directory and SSO requirements, enrolment, recovery and the retained package around existing applications.", "answerHeading": "Which identity approach fits the brief?", "answer": "Consider Duo when its selected authentication and access edition fits the existing directory and application arrangement. Consider Entra ID when its workforce directory, Microsoft tenant and retained policy licences fit the wider identity brief. Duo’s paid editions now include directory and SSO capabilities; evaluate the exact scope rather than treating every Duo plan as only an authenticator. The products may also form part of a connected identity design.", "checkedAt": "2026-10-15", "researchTag": "Identity audience, lifecycle and commercial scope", "researchLimit": "Official product and commercial scope reviewed. Exercises are proposed for isolated, authorised test accounts; no production identity changes, protection rankings or measured trial outcomes are claimed.", "datasetDescription": "Seven identity buying differences, four proposed evaluation briefs and four acceptance checks for Cisco Duo vs Microsoft Entra ID.", "type": "workflow-buying", "rows": [ [ "Starting brief", "Authentication and access capabilities in the selected Duo edition", "Workforce directory and access platform in the selected Entra licence" ], [ "Directory and SSO", "Essentials and higher add directory and SSO capabilities", "Core directory and SSO with advanced scope by licence" ], [ "Authentication", "MFA, passwordless and adaptive scope vary by edition", "Authentication and advanced policy scope vary by licence" ], [ "Devices", "Check the selected endpoint or device-trust capability", "Check Entra policy and any separate device-management dependency" ], [ "Free boundary", "Duo Free supports up to ten users with limited scope", "Entra ID Free is included in qualifying Microsoft cloud subscriptions" ], [ "Existing identity", "Name the retained directory and app connection design", "Name the tenant, identity source and app connection design" ], [ "Costing", "Edition, users, integrations and surrounding services", "Licence, users, prerequisites and surrounding services" ] ], "scenarios": [ { "name": "A retained application", "question": "Can the application use the proposed identity and authentication path?", "left": "Validate the chosen Duo integration and directory arrangement.", "right": "Validate the chosen Entra app and authentication arrangement.", "note": "Record which service is the identity source and which step performs authentication." }, { "name": "New enrolment", "question": "Can a test colleague enrol in the intended method?", "left": "Use the selected edition’s supported enrolment flow.", "right": "Use the selected licence and policy’s supported enrolment flow.", "note": "Keep the supported devices and accountable help owner with the result." }, { "name": "Lost access method", "question": "Can the isolated account recover under an approved process?", "left": "Exercise the retained recovery and administrative workflow.", "right": "Exercise the retained recovery and administrative workflow.", "note": "Use an authorised test account; this brief does not require production policy changes." }, { "name": "User departure", "question": "What must be removed across the connected services?", "left": "Map directory, Duo, app account and session responsibilities.", "right": "Map Entra, connected app and session responsibilities.", "note": "Verify the full account lifecycle rather than assuming an MFA change removes every app session." } ], "exampleTable": { "caption": "Proposed acceptance checks in a non-production application; record your own evidence.", "headers": [ "Requirement", "Proposed exercise", "Accept when" ], "rows": [ [ "Integration boundary", "Map and exercise one authorised app login", "Identity source and authentication responsibilities are clear" ], [ "Enrolment", "Enrol an isolated colleague in the required method", "Package and device requirements are met" ], [ "Recovery", "Walk through the approved test recovery process", "Ownership and effective app access remain controlled" ], [ "Lifecycle", "Walk through departure across connected services", "Required account and session outcomes are documented" ] ] }, "sections": [ { "id": "architecture", "title": "Draw the identity path before comparing packages", "navLabel": "Identity architecture", "paragraphs": [ "List the directory, application, authentication step and required device information. Determine whether the proposed service replaces a component, adds one or works alongside an existing identity provider.", "Duo editions differ: Free has a narrower scope, while Essentials and higher include directory and SSO capabilities. Entra licence and surrounding Microsoft service boundaries also need explicit confirmation." ] }, { "id": "rollout", "title": "Scope enrolment, recovery and removal", "navLabel": "Rollout and lifecycle", "paragraphs": [ "Choose a representative app and an approved test account. Evaluate enrolment, normal sign-in, recovery and removal using the same written requirements. Record any app-side licence or connector dependency.", "Include rollout and support work in the quote. This page does not rank phishing resistance, protection effectiveness or overall security, and it reports no production testing." ] } ], "faqs": [ { "question": "Is every Duo edition only an MFA application?", "answer": "No. Current paid Duo editions include additional directory, SSO and access capabilities. Evaluate the specific retained edition." }, { "question": "Does Duo Free include the full paid package?", "answer": "No. Duo Free supports up to ten users with limited scope. Paid editions and trials have different features." }, { "question": "Must Duo and Entra ID always replace each other?", "answer": "No. They can address different parts of an identity design. Define the actual directory, authentication and application path before deciding the comparison boundary." } ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://duo.com/", "facts": "Cisco authentication and access product context." }, { "url": "https://duo.com/editions-and-pricing", "facts": "Free supports up to ten users; paid editions add directory, SSO, passwordless, adaptive and device features under different packages." }, { "url": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/identity-access/microsoft-entra-id", "facts": "Workforce directory and SSO; Free, P1, P2 and related offers have different feature scope." }, { "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/fundamentals/licensing", "facts": "Entra ID Free is included with qualifying cloud subscriptions; advanced entitlements and suite prerequisites differ." } ], "relatedLinks": [ { "path": "/categories/identity-access-management/", "title": "Explore identity and access management" }, { "path": "/guides/workforce-vs-customer-identity/", "title": "Workforce vs customer identity: scope the audience and lifecycle" } ], "downloads": [ { "path": "/downloads/cisco-duo-vs-microsoft-entra-id-evaluation.csv", "title": "Download the identity evaluation checklist (CSV)", "description": "Four proposed checks with blank evidence and owner fields. Keep the actual audience, application, package and operating arrangement with the evaluation." } ] }