UserLock vs. ManageEngine
Compare UserLock vs ManageEngine to help you choose the best multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution for your on-premises or hybrid Active Directory environment.
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UserLock and ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus are at times held up against each other as different access management solutions. They offer essential features like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and user account security. But which one is best for your system?
To prevent security breaches and data loss, it’s key to choose your user authentication solution wisely. The right one will fit right in with your existing IT environment, and help ensure your users are who they say they are – without getting in the way of productivity.
This blog provides a comprehensive comparison of UserLock vs ManageEngine. You’ll gain insight into their features, advantages, and disadvantages, so you can make the best choice for your organization’s unique needs.
ManageEngine overview
ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus is an identity security solution that helps secure various IT resources. Fundamentally a password management system, ManageEngine alleviates some common workloads placed on IT help desks. It gives users self-service password capabilities while allowing IT admins more control over cloud environments.
ADSelfService Plus provides an array of self-service options, including password resets and account unlocks. It also offers MFA for endpoint and cloud app logins, with password expiration reminders and a password policy enforcer. Optional features also include a self-service directory updater, a multiplatform password synchronizer, and SSO for cloud apps.
ADSelfService Plus is available in three editions. You may need to upgrade for specific features like contextual access controls, with several paid add-ons bringing further capabilities.
Benefits of UserLock
UserLock brings several significant advantages. With UserLock you can:
Integrate seamlessly with AD: UserLock integrates quickly and seamlessly with your current AD environment – by design. You don’t need to download additional software, and integration is automatic, so you don’t need to spend time on manual integrations that other solutions often require.
Extend AD security to the cloud: Hybrid organizations can easily apply MFA to access to cloud apps with UserLock’s single sign-on (SSO). Since UserLock allows you to retain your on-premise AD for user authentication, there’s no need to spend time managing duplicate directories.
Apply access security with granularity: With UserLock, you can tailor access policies to match specific authentication and user login criteria. This allows you to implement MFA and security policies that are user-friendly rather than overly restrictive.
Get real-time visibility: Since UserLock syncs every 5 minutes with Active Directory, you get real-time monitoring and risk detection across your entire AD environment that goes far beyond native Windows features.
Automate risk prevention: UserLock allows you set up automatic alerts and responses to detect and stop any unusual activity before an incident occurs.
Put reporting on autopilot: UserLock’s insights and reporting features provide you with the necessary information to protect network access and meet compliance requirements. Logging also allows for easier IT management and auditing processes.
UserLock vs. ManageEngine: Comparison
Feature | UserLock | ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus |
|---|---|---|
Cloud, On-premise, or Hybrid? | On-premise and hybrid. UserLock integrates seamlessly with on-premise and hybrid AD environments. Its supplementary controls enhance security for various connections, including Windows login, RDP, RD Gateway, VPN, IIS, and cloud applications. Importantly, UserLock does not replace current solutions but instead provides additional access controls and system visibility for existing AD environments. | Cloud-based. With ADSelfService Plus, you can safeguard IT resources and equip users with self-service capabilities. As a cloud-based platform, it gives comprehensive visibility and control over identities distributed across cloud environments, while admins can also configure it to work with on-premise and hybrid AD systems. |
Minimum Users? | Pricing begins at 20 users. There is no maximum number of users. | Restricted. Pricing begins at $595, which may be prohibitive for smaller organizations. Several features are also offered as add-ons, rather than native controls. For instance, the professional edition begins at $1195 for 500 domain users and offers additional features beyond those found in the standard edition. These features include conditional access controls and capabilities for a remote access password reset. |
MFA for Different Machines? | Yes. Endpoint MFA is available on Windows and Linux. | Yes. The Endpoint MFA Add-on is available for $395 and supports 500 domain users. It provides MFA support for machines running Windows, Linux, macOS, and other network endpoints using RADIUS. |
MFA for VPN? | Yes. UserLock works with connections administered by a VPN server solution that supports RADIUS Challenge, Microsoft RRAS, or Windows VPN. | Yes (Limited). ManageEngine offers limited logon support and MFA for VPN and other network endpoints through RADIUS. |
Enable MFA on IIS? | Yes. UserLock supports MFA for various IIS applications such as Outlook Web Access, RDWeb, SharePoint, CRM, or Intranet websites. The IIS UserLock agent redirects users to a dedicated web-based application where they can enroll for MFA and input the MFA code — before accessing the secured IIS application. | Yes (limited). ManageEngine supports enabling MFA on IIS for Outlook Web Access. |
Application Access and Authentication | Yes. UserLock provides support for various two-factor authentication methods. This includes mobile app push notifications, authenticator apps, and hardware tokens such as YubiKey and Token2. | Yes. ManageEngine supports biometrics, apps, and hardware tokens for MFA. They also offer an SMS add-on that starts at $395 for 2000 SMS credits. This add-on provides text message MFA through a third-party SMS gateway. However, this service is currently unavailable in the US region and cannot be used to send SMS to US numbers. Additionally, security questions are still used as an MFA method, which may be more susceptible to interception or guessing than other MFA methods. |
Integration with Existing AD Environments? | Yes. UserLock offers secure AD access management from any location by extending on-premise and hybrid AD environments. UserLock automatically synchronizes with AD every five minutes and adds users to groups in real-time to ensure seamless access management. | By group and organizational unit (OU) (not at user level). ManageEngine is fundamentally a password management software that also includes MFA and SSO capabilities. However, MFA policies are sometimes limited and can only be applied to groups and OUs — not to individual users. |
Offline MFA? | Yes. UserLock MFA can function without an internet connection, prompting offline users for a second authentication factor. Additionally, with the web app UserLock Anywhere (included in UserLock subscriptions), users can operate in an “offline” mode where they are prompted for MFA even if they're not connected to the domain and not using a VPN. | No. ManageEngine does not support offline access. The only workaround is to disable MFA for offline users, as they will be unable to log in otherwise. Alternatively, you can set the option to “Skip MFA when ADSelfService Plus server is down or unreachable,” effectively removing MFA requirements for offline users. |
Granular MFA? | Yes. UserLock MFA enables administrators to apply MFA to both internal and external workstations and servers. With granular controls, you can base MFA checks on who, how, and under what circumstances the logon attempt is made. UserLock’s granularity helps implement MFA for remote work connections such as RDP, Outlook web access for Exchange, VPN, cloud app connections, and RD Web Access for IIS. With contextual access, MFA can trigger for many different actions, such as logging in from a new IP address, first login only, or after a set number of days have passed. You can also set always-on MFA requirements for privileged accounts. | Limited. ManageEngine’s MFA controls are limited. MFA policies can only be applied to groups and OUs and not individual users, which restricts the level of granularity available to a one-size-fits-all approach. |
UserLock is the right MFA solution for you if…
UserLock’s MFA and access management features can help you if:
You want to boost security and meet compliance using your existing on-premise or hybrid AD environment
Some access management solutions duplicate directories, which can lead to manual or sporadic synchronization with cloud-based software. UserLock operates within your existing environment to enhance on-premise and hybrid AD access security. It provides additional security controls, improves visibility, and offers expanded session management, all without replicating existing access controls.
You require granular control to provide user-friendly security
With UserLock, MFA no longer frustrates users. With granular settings, users are only prompted to authenticate when needed, helping to improve system security without bombarding users with unnecessary verification requests. With UserLock’s contextual access management, you can enhance protection levels without hindering the end-user experience.
You’re looking for easy, affordable MFA and access management
UserLock’s MFA features are included under one subscription price, with all MFA methods, granular controls, and connection types available as standard.