Google Cloud Identity Review

Google has been making a lot of headway with their Google Cloud Identity offering, so it’s time for a Google Cloud Identity review. What can Google Cloud Identity do for your environment? Can Google Cloud Identity completely replace your on-prem identity provider?

To answer these questions we need to take a look at Google’s intentions with their identity management platform.

Google Cloud Identity for Google Services

First off, Google Cloud Identity isn’t really a core directory service or identity provider. It is, however, a valuable user management platform for Google Apps that also offers web application single sign-on for a few, select sites. Google Cloud Identity can also manage a few types of devices like Android, iOS, and Chrome Browser. So, why did Google build their identity management platform this way? It certainly doesn’t seem to be following conventional approaches set by leading identity providers like Microsoft® Active Directory®. To understand Google’s approach to identity management, we need to discuss some history regarding G Suite™ (formerly Google Apps).

Google, G Suite, and Active Directory

Google has been a long time Microsoft competitor, so it’s not too far off to think that Google would try and compete against Microsoft’s leading identity management solution Active Directory. After all, Google was competing against Microsoft Office®, Exchange®, and Windows File Server® when they released G Suite. As most know, Google Apps was so successful that ultimately Microsoft was forced to respond with Office 365™. However, when it comes to the identity management market and Active Directory, so far Google’s strategy has been to be more of a complement than a competitor. You see, Google created Google Apps Directory Sync (GADS) so IT admins could connect G Suite to Active Directory, allowing them to federate AD identities to G Suite. This helped ensure G Suite’s spot in the enterprise, and not compete with AD. So, when it comes to Active Directory, Google’s strategy so far has been to work alongside it, instead of replacing it.

Fast forward to today, and Google’s announcements around Google Cloud (Read more...)