7 Best RBAC Tools for SaaS Applications 2024

Need to control who can access what in your SaaS apps? Here's a quick breakdown of the top RBAC tools:

Tool	Best For	Starting Price
Okta Identity Cloud	Large enterprises, 7000+ integrations	$2/user/month
Azure AD	Microsoft ecosystem users	Free with Office 365
CyberArk Identity	Security-focused companies	Custom pricing
SailPoint IdentityNow	Mid to large companies	Custom pricing
Endgrate	API-first companies, 100+ integrations	Free tier available
OneLogin	Small-medium teams	$2/user/month
JumpCloud	Multi-OS environments	Tiered pricing

Key Features All Tools Share:

• Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Role-based permissions
• Audit logging
• API access control

Quick Comparison:

Tool	Integration Count	Security Level	Setup Complexity
Okta	7,000+	High	Complex
Azure AD	3,000+	High	Medium
CyberArk	500+	Very High	Complex
SailPoint	1,000+	High	Medium
Endgrate	100+	Medium	Easy
OneLogin	2,000+	Medium	Easy
JumpCloud	700+	High	Medium

Pick Okta or Azure AD for enterprise-grade security, OneLogin for smaller teams, or JumpCloud if you need to manage different types of devices. Want API power? Go with Endgrate.

Related video from YouTube

Okta Identity Cloud: Core Features and Uses

Okta Identity Cloud is a web-based SSO system that lets users access multiple apps through one dashboard. Since 2009, it's been helping companies manage user access and permissions.

Here's what you get with Okta:

Feature	Description	Benefit
SSO Integration	Connect to Gmail, Office 365, Salesforce	Log into 6,500+ apps at once
Multi-Factor Auth	OTP, push alerts, biometrics	Better security
Policy Engine	Set permissions by job/department	Control who sees what
Session Security	Location checks (ASN/IP) for admins	Stops token theft
Workflows	Auto user setup/removal	Less manual work

The pricing breaks down like this:

Plan Type	Cost per User/Month	What You Get
Basic SSO	$2	Core login features
MFA	$3	Extra security tools
Adaptive SSO	$5	Smart access rules
Adaptive MFA	$6	Top-level protection

Heads up: You'll need to spend at least $1,500/year.

Security That Works:

• DPoP comes standard for API connections
• Admin sessions tied to location
• Full activity tracking
• Zero Trust built-in

Here's How It Works: Let's say you're a super admin at ExampleCorp. Setting up Workflows looks like this:

1. Make admin groups

2. Connect user info to Workflows

3. Hand out roles (Admin, Auditor, Connection Manager)

4. Set up automatic onboarding

Okta does three things really well:

What It Does	How It Helps
Access Control	Manages roles, permissions, and monitoring
Security	Protects tokens, checks locations, spots risks
Reports	Tracks usage, flags issues, analyzes logs

Want to use Okta? Start here:

• List your current systems
• Define your roles
• Plan your integrations
• Build your workflows
• Watch how people use it

If you need RBAC with SSO that just works, Okta Identity Cloud fits the bill.

2. Azure AD: Microsoft's Access Control Solution

Azure AD is Microsoft's cloud platform that manages who gets into your apps and data. Think of it as a digital bouncer that checks IDs and decides who can do what.

Here's what you get with Azure AD:

Feature	What It Does
SSO Integration	Links to 3,300+ apps with one login
Identity Protection	Spots and blocks weird login attempts
Access Management	Controls who does what
Multi-Factor Auth	Makes users prove it's really them
Audit Logging	Records who did what and when

Here's what it costs:

Plan	Cost/User/Month	What You Get
Office 365	Included	Basic ID controls
Premium P1	$6	More admin tools
Premium P2	$9	Advanced security + PIM

Azure AD comes with ready-to-use roles:

Role	What They Can Do	Who Uses It
Global Admin	Everything	IT bosses
User Admin	Handle users	HR people
Reader	Look but don't touch	Auditors
Custom Roles	Whatever you need	Special cases

The Numbers You Need to Know:

• 2,000 role assignments per subscription
• 500 role assignments per management group
• 100 built-in roles to pick from

Setting It Up Is Simple:

1. Pick where it applies
2. Choose your roles
3. Give them to people
4. Watch what happens

Make It Work Better:

• Use the roles that come with it
• Put people in groups
• Keep an eye on who does what
• Clean up old permissions

Extra Security Stuff:

• Lock down admin accounts
• Set time limits on access
• Watch for weird behavior
• Pull reports when needed

If you're already using Microsoft tools or need serious access control, Azure AD fits right in. It's like having a super-smart security guard who never sleeps and follows your exact instructions.

3. CyberArk Identity: Security-First RBAC

CyberArk Identity puts security at the core of access management. Here's what you'll get:

Feature Category	What You Get
Core Security	• MFA and passwordless login • SSO for web and mobile apps • Real-time threat detection
Access Control	• Custom role definitions • Policy-based permissions • Automated access provisioning
Integration	• Active Directory sync • Azure AD connection • API access management
Monitoring	• User activity tracking • Access pattern analysis • Security alerts

The platform connects with 100+ pre-built apps, offers MFA and passwordless authentication, and syncs with AD, Azure AD, and custom directories.

Here's how it works:

1. User Management

The system pulls data from your directories (like Active Directory) and keeps everything in sync - no manual work needed.

2. Access Setup

You'll set up roles and policies based on:

• What people do
• Which department they're in
• How much access they need
• What devices they use

3. Security Measures

You get protection through:

• MFA for admin access
• Time limits on access
• Rules for specific devices
• Watching how apps get used

Plan Type	Best For	Main Features
Basic	Small teams	SSO, basic roles
Business	Mid-size companies	Custom roles, MFA
Enterprise	Large organizations	Full security suite

Want better security? Here's what to do:

• Turn on MFA for anyone with admin access
• Start with the pre-built app templates
• Look at your access logs every week
• Clean up old accounts once a month

CyberArk Identity fits companies that want tight security and single-point control. It's perfect if you're running Active Directory or Azure AD.

Users give it 4.22 out of 5 stars - proof that it delivers on both security and access management.

4. SailPoint IdentityNow: Cloud-Based Access Control

SailPoint IdentityNow combines AI and machine learning to handle identity security in hybrid IT environments. Here's what you get:

Feature Category	Capabilities
Access Control	• Two-tier role modeling (Business & IT Roles) • Self-service access requests • Auto-provisioning and de-provisioning
Security	• AI-powered risk detection • Real-time access monitoring • Password policy enforcement
Compliance	• Detailed audit reports • Access certification • Policy management
Integration	• Cloud platform support (Azure, AWS, GCP) • Out-of-box connectors • API access management

The platform's role-based system makes it stand out. Here's how it works:

1. Business Roles

The system sets up common roles like Manager or Security Analyst. Users get their access instantly when assigned a role.

2. Access Management

Process	How It Works
User Joins	Auto-creates accounts and sets permissions
Role Change	Updates access based on new position
User Leaves	Removes all access immediately
Regular Review	Checks and updates permissions as needed

3. AI at Work

The AI engine:

• Spots access patterns
• Flags suspicious behavior
• Helps with access decisions
• Compares permissions across peer groups

"With SailPoint, we now have a solution that also is harmonious with our cloud-first strategy."

User Rating Category	Percentage
Excellent	55%
Very Good	40%
Average	5%
Poor	0%
Terrible	0%

Want the best results? Here's what to do:

• Start with both business and IT teams
• Give department heads control over team access
• Schedule regular access reviews
• Follow AI suggestions for role changes

"The certification module is perhaps one of the most valuable features. The options are pretty intuitive and you can usually set up the certification easily without much time or resource investment."

This tool fits best with large organizations that need strong identity controls and can handle a detailed setup process.

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5. Endgrate: Integration-Focused Access Management

Endgrate simplifies RBAC by putting integrations first. Their API lets you control permissions across 100+ connected services from one place.

Here's what you get:

Access Control Features	Description
Integration Management	Control access rights across 100+ third-party services
Single API Control	Manage all integration permissions from one dashboard
Custom Data Models	Set specific permissions for different data types
Security Standards	Top-level security for all connections

The RBAC system breaks down into three parts:

1. Integration Access Levels

Think of these as permission tiers. Each level controls what users can do:

Level	Controls
Admin	Full integration setup and user management
Manager	Integration settings and team access
User	Basic integration use with preset limits
Read-only	Can only view integration data

2. Permission Settings

These are your day-to-day controls:

Category	Capabilities
Data Access	Pick what integration data users see and change
Function Access	Control which features each role can use
Time Limits	Set when contractor access starts and stops
IP Restrictions	Lock access to specific networks

3. Integration Management

Here's how you keep everything running smoothly:

Feature	Function
API Keys	Create and handle access tokens
Usage Tracking	See how people use integrations
Audit Logs	Keep tabs on permission changes
Bulk Controls	Update many services at once

You can pick from three plans:

• Free: Basic integration access
• Standard: Team-based permission management
• Premium: Advanced security features

Endgrate fits best if you're juggling lots of third-party services and want ONE place to manage them all. It's built for companies that connect to many external tools and need tight control over who can do what.

6. OneLogin: Single Sign-On and Access Control

OneLogin leads the Identity and Access Management space with 21,448 customers and 49.57% market share. Here's what their RBAC system does:

Core Features	Description
Dynamic Provisioning	Sets up users in workspaces/roles based on their info
Just-in-Time Access	Adds users when they first log in with work email
API Controls	Manages roles and permissions in bulk
Multi-Factor Auth	Adds login security checks
User Lifecycle	Handles user access across all apps

OneLogin's access control works in 4 main areas:

Access Level	What It Does
User Management	Creates and manages roles and groups
App Access	Sets which users can use each app
Security Rules	Limits access by IP and time
Audit Tracking	Logs who does what and when

The system has 3 main parts:

1. Role Assignment

OneLogin handles roles through:

• Login-time syncs
• Manual assignments
• Bulk API updates

2. Access Rules

Rule Type	What It Controls
Workspace Rules	Who gets in based on user info
Role Mapping	Which roles users get
Time Windows	When users can access systems
Network Rules	Which networks can connect

3. Pricing

Plan	Monthly Cost Per User
SSO	$2
MFA	$2
Enterprise	Contact sales

OneLogin fits best if you:

• Need one login for many apps
• Want to automate user setup
• Need SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance
• Have lots of different roles

With over 2,000 customers worldwide, OneLogin keeps things simple while staying secure. It works with both cloud and local apps through a single login.

7. JumpCloud: Directory-as-a-Service with RBAC

JumpCloud combines identity management and unified endpoint management into one cloud platform. Let's break down what their RBAC system does:

Feature	Description
SSO Integration	Works with AD, Entra, Google, Okta at no extra cost
MFA Security	Built-in multi-factor authentication
Device Management	Controls access across Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile
Zero Trust	Environment-wide MFA with conditional access rules
SCIM Support	Automates user attributes and role assignments

Here's how their admin roles work:

Role Type	Access Level	Capabilities
Admin with Billing	Full	All system controls + billing
Administrator	High	All system controls except billing
Manager	Medium	User, device, group management
Help Desk	Limited	Password resets, user creation
Read Only	Basic	View-only access to resources

The platform works through 3 main parts:

1. Identity Management

JumpCloud handles the basics: adding/removing users, managing groups, setting access rights, and updating permissions.

2. Access Controls

Control Type	Function
Dynamic Groups	Auto-validates user/device entitlements
Custom Roles	Granular permission settings
Resource Access	Repository-level controls
API Management	Access token administration

3. Security Features

Feature	Purpose
Pre-built Policies	Ready-made compliance templates
Device Trust	Zero Trust device verification
Audit Logging	Track access and changes
Lifecycle Rules	Automated access updates

JumpCloud works best if you:

• Need a cloud directory service
• Want to automate user management
• Need to control multiple device types
• Care about Zero Trust security

Tool Comparison

Here's a breakdown of the top RBAC tools and what makes each one different:

Tool	Core Focus	Best For	Pricing Model
Okta Identity Cloud	Enterprise IAM	Large organizations	Custom pricing
Azure AD	Cloud-first IAM	Microsoft ecosystem	Tiered, starts free
CyberArk Identity	Security & PAM	Security-focused teams	GPL-3.0 license
SailPoint IdentityNow	Cloud Access Control	Mid to large enterprises	Custom pricing
Endgrate	Integration Management	API-first companies	Free to Premium tiers
OneLogin	SSO & Access	Small to mid-size teams	Per-user pricing
JumpCloud	Directory Services	Multi-OS environments	Tiered pricing

Let's look at what each tool can connect with:

Tool	Cloud Services	On-Premise	Third-Party Apps
Okta	AWS, GCP, Azure	Yes	7,000+
Azure AD	Azure-focused	Yes	3,000+
CyberArk	Jenkins, Puppet	Yes	500+
SailPoint	Major clouds	Limited	1,000+
Endgrate	100+ integrations	No	API-based
OneLogin	Major clouds	Limited	2,000+
JumpCloud	AD, Entra, Google	Yes	700+

Here's what security features each tool offers:

Feature	Okta	Azure AD	CyberArk	SailPoint	Endgrate	OneLogin	JumpCloud
MFA	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
SSO	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Zero Trust	✓	✓	✓	Limited	✓	Limited	✓
API Security	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Limited	✓
Audit Logs	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Speed and scale matter - here's how the tools perform:

Tool	Authorization Speed	Scalability	User Capacity
OpenFGA	< 1ms	High	Unlimited
Permify	< 10ms	High	Custom
Oso	< 50ms	Medium	Per plan
Casbin	< 5ms	High	Unlimited

And here's what the open-source community thinks:

Tool	Stars	License	Active Contributors
Casdoor	8,685	Apache-2.0	High
Zitadel	7,170	Apache-2.0	Medium
Cerbos	2,533	Apache-2.0	Medium
Permit	2,306	Apache-2.0	Medium

Bottom line: Okta and Azure AD pack the most features for big companies. JumpCloud works great if you need to manage different types of devices. If you want to build your own system, open-source tools like Casbin give you that freedom.

Summary and Recommendations

Here's a no-nonsense guide to picking the right RBAC tool for your SaaS setup:

Business Type	Best Tool Choice	Why It Fits
Large Enterprise	Okta Identity Cloud	7,000+ integrations + top-tier security
Microsoft Users	Azure AD	Works perfectly with Microsoft, free to start
Security-First	CyberArk Identity	Built for high-security access control
Mid-Size Business	SailPoint IdentityNow	Born in the cloud, hits the sweet spot
API-Focused	Endgrate	100+ API connections, modern stack
Small Teams	OneLogin	Simple pricing, 2,000+ tools connect
Mixed OS Environment	JumpCloud	Handles all devices, all platforms

Here's What Matters Most:

1. Integration Check

Your tech stack needs to play nice with your RBAC tool. Look at:

• Current tool compatibility
• API options for custom needs
• Room to grow as you scale

2. Security Must-Haves

Every tool has MFA, but they're not all equal:

• Okta, Azure AD, and CyberArk lead in Zero Trust
• API security varies (see our comparison table)
• Each tool has different security extras

3. Money Talk

What to Look At	Why It Matters
User Count	Some charge per person, others flat rate
Features	Basic vs premium - big price gap
Support	Often costs extra
Training	Don't skip this in your budget

Getting Started:

• Lock down your most important systems first
• List out your roles BEFORE you switch
• Test with a small group
• Keep roles simple
• Set up alerts from day one

Bottom Line: Okta and Azure AD are the heavy hitters. Smaller teams? Check out OneLogin or JumpCloud - they're cheaper and easier to use. Need API power? Endgrate's your best bet with 100+ ready-to-go integrations.

Don't skip the audit trails - they're your safety net. Every tool here logs activity, but storage time and detail level change between them.

Pick This	If You Want
Okta	Big business security + tons of connections
Azure AD	Perfect Microsoft fit
CyberArk	Security on steroids
SailPoint	Pure cloud power
Endgrate	API connection king
OneLogin	Easy + budget-friendly
JumpCloud	Works on all systems

FAQs

What is RBAC management platform?

An RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) management platform controls who can access what in your system based on their job roles.

Here's how it works:

Component	Function
Roles	Define access levels by job type
Permissions	Set specific actions allowed
Users	Get matched to roles

Let's look at a real healthcare example:

Role	Access Level	What They Can Do
Doctor	Full medical access	See all records, order tests, prescribe meds
Nurse	Basic medical access	Check vitals, write care notes
Admin	Business access only	Book appointments, handle billing

The numbers show why RBAC matters:

26% of SaaS security problems come from inside threats. That's why many companies use Microsoft Active Directory for RBAC.

"Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is a method of access control that assigns permissions to users based on their roles within an organization."

Here's what RBAC does for you:

• Reduces admin tasks
• Makes security checks simple
• Keeps data on a need-to-know basis
• Connects with your Microsoft tools

Want to set up RBAC? Do this:

1. Write down your job roles
2. Pick what each role can do
3. Start simple
4. Add more rules as you need them

Related posts

• IAM Compliance Guide for SaaS: Goals, Regulations, Audits
• 7 Benefits of MFA for B2B SaaS Security
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework Checklist for SaaS
• Role-Based Access Control for APIs: Implementation Guide