Security & identity buyer's guide
Written by the Happy Valley editors, reviewed by Mustafa Gezer. Updated October 20, 2026.
What is Security & identity software?
Security and identity software protects accounts, applications, data and infrastructure, and helps prove to customers and auditors that those protections work. The category spans password managers such as 1Password and Bitwarden, identity and access management such as Okta, Auth0 and Keycloak, developer authentication such as Clerk and Better Auth, compliance automation such as Vanta and Drata, and security operations tools for threat intelligence, SIEM, scanning and backup.
It addresses weak or reused passwords, account takeover, access that lingers after people leave, vulnerable code and dependencies, ransomware and slow audits. Buyers range from individuals and small teams to IT, security engineering and compliance teams.
It differs from monitoring and observability tools, which watch performance, by focusing on preventing, detecting and recovering from attacks and on governing who can access what.
Key features to look for
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- SSO via SAML or OIDC lets people use one identity across apps and lets IT cut access in one place. Check whether SSO is included or locked behind an enterprise tier.
- MFA and passkeys
- Phishing-resistant MFA, especially passkeys and hardware keys, blocks most account takeovers. Look for WebAuthn passkey support, not only SMS codes.
- User lifecycle and SCIM
- Automatic provisioning and deprovisioning through SCIM or HR sync removes access the day someone leaves. Okta and Rippling are strong here.
- End-to-end encryption
- For password managers and file storage, end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption means the vendor cannot read your data. 1Password, Bitwarden, Proton Pass and Tresorit use this model.
- Audit logs
- Detailed, exportable logs of logins, admin changes and shared items are needed for investigations and audits. Check retention length and export to your SIEM.
- Compliance framework mapping
- Vanta and Drata map controls to SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR and more, and collect evidence automatically. Check which integrations pull evidence from your cloud, HR and code tools.
- Backup and recovery
- Immutable, tested backups are the last line of defence against ransomware. Veeam and Acronis cover servers, endpoints and SaaS data; check restore speed and offsite copies.
How to choose Security & identity software
- 1
Map your risks
List what you must protect (accounts, customer data, code, infrastructure) and which threats matter most. Start with the highest-impact gaps, which are usually passwords and MFA.
- 2
Fix identity first
Roll out a password manager and MFA for everyone, then SSO for core apps. These steps stop most common breaches at low cost.
- 3
Decide build or buy for app login
For customer login, compare hosted services such as Auth0 or Clerk with open-source Keycloak or Better Auth. Weigh monthly active user pricing against the engineering time needed to self-host.
- 4
Confirm compliance needs
If customers ask for SOC 2 or ISO 27001, compliance automation such as Vanta or Drata shortens the path. Confirm that your auditor works with the platform.
- 5
Verify integrations and logs
Make sure the tool connects to your cloud, HR system, code repositories and SIEM. Security tools that do not share data leave blind spots.
- 6
Test recovery and offboarding
During the trial, simulate an employee leaving and a file restore. What happens in those tests is what will happen in a real incident.
Security & identity pricing
- 50%
- offer a free plan, free tier or open-source edition
- $8
- median starting price per month
- $1.65
- lowest paid starting price (Bitwarden)
Pricing depends on the sub-category. Password managers and workforce identity tools such as 1Password, Bitwarden and Okta charge per user per month, often keeping SSO, SCIM or advanced policies for higher tiers. Customer authentication services such as Auth0 and Clerk price on monthly active users with free tiers, while Keycloak and Better Auth are free open-source software you host yourself.
Compliance automation, threat intelligence, SIEM and scanning tools are usually sold on annual contracts based on employees, assets, domains or data volume, and rarely publish prices. Watch for the so-called SSO tax, paid add-ons for audit logs, and auditor fees, which are separate from the compliance platform.
Based on 24 tools in this category with prices checked on vendor pages.
Best Security & identity tools by need
- Best overall1PasswordPassword manager for people and teams
- Best free optionAuth0Identity platform for applications
- Best for small businessesAcronisBackup, disaster recovery and endpoint security for MSPs and PCs
- Best for enterprisesRipplingHR, IT and finance in one system
- Best for freelancersBitwardenOpen-source password manager
- Best open sourceKeycloakOpen-source identity and access management
- Best from TurkeySOCRadarExtended threat intelligence and external attack surface management
Recommendations by team type
- Individuals and freelancers
- Bitwarden and Proton Pass offer strong free plans, 1Password is a polished paid option, and Proton Drive adds encrypted file storage.
- Startups and small teams
- Use a team password manager such as 1Password or Bitwarden, Cloudflare for DNS and WAF, Snyk for dependencies and Clerk or Better Auth for app login; add Vanta or Drata when customers ask for SOC 2.
- Growing companies
- Okta or Rippling centralise identity and device access, Auth0 scales customer login, and Veeam or Acronis cover backup and ransomware recovery.
- Enterprises and security teams
- Combine Okta, GitLab security scanning, Invicti for DAST and Dynatrace for runtime protection; Turkish vendors Picus Security, SOCRadar, Brandefense and Logsign cover attack simulation, threat intelligence and SIEM.
Security & identity trends in 2026
Passkeys moved from pilot to mainstream in 2025 and 2026: password managers including 1Password, Bitwarden and Proton Pass store them, and identity platforms let apps offer passwordless login. Identity attacks such as session hijacking, MFA fatigue and help desk social engineering are driving demand for phishing-resistant MFA and identity threat detection.
AI cuts both ways. Attackers use it for convincing phishing, while vendors add AI assistants that triage alerts, explain vulnerabilities and draft compliance evidence. Securing AI agents and the non-human identities they rely on, such as API keys and service accounts, has become a new focus for identity vendors.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sharing passwords in chat or spreadsheets instead of a team password manager with access control.
- Relying on SMS codes as the only second factor when passkeys or authenticator apps are available.
- Building authentication from scratch and missing basics such as rate limiting, secure sessions and account recovery.
- Treating SOC 2 or ISO 27001 as a one-time project and failing the next audit because controls drifted.
- Taking backups without ever testing a full restore.
Security & identity in Turkey
KVKK requires appropriate technical and organisational measures and breach notification to the Authority within 72 hours, and Cybersecurity Law No. 7545, adopted in March 2025, adds duties for critical sectors. Türkiye has a strong security industry: Picus Security, SOCRadar, Brandefense and Logsign are Turkish vendors with local support. If data must stay in the country, Keycloak or Bitwarden can be self-hosted on Turkish servers, and banks also follow BDDK rules.
Security & identity FAQ
- What is the best Security & identity software?
- Based on community votes and market presence, the leading Security & identity tools right now are 1Password, Acronis, Auth0.
- Are there free Security & identity tools?
- Yes. 3 tools in this category are free or open source, including Bitwarden, Keycloak, Better Auth.
- What is the cheapest paid Security & identity tool?
- Bitwarden has the lowest listed starting price at $1.65 per month.
- What is the best free password manager?
- Bitwarden is the most common recommendation because its free plan syncs unlimited passwords across all your devices and its code is open source. Proton Pass also has a capable free plan with email aliases. 1Password has no free plan but offers a free trial.
- 1Password vs Bitwarden: which is better?
- Both use end-to-end encryption and support passkeys. 1Password is known for a polished interface and features such as Watchtower and Travel Mode, while Bitwarden is open source, cheaper and can be self-hosted. Teams on a tight budget or needing self-hosting usually pick Bitwarden.
- Auth0 vs Clerk vs Keycloak?
- Auth0 is a mature identity platform with many enterprise features, Clerk offers drop-in UI components that suit React and Next.js apps, and Keycloak is free open-source IAM you run yourself. Choose based on your stack, expected user count and whether you want to operate the infrastructure.
- What is SOC 2 and do I need it?
- SOC 2 is an independent audit report on a company's controls for security and related principles, commonly requested by US enterprise customers. You need it when deals stall without it; Vanta and Drata automate evidence collection, but an independent auditor still issues the report.
- Is Okta worth it for a small company?
- Okta is built for centralised SSO, MFA and user lifecycle management, which pays off once you have many apps and frequent hires or departures. Very small teams can start with a password manager and app-level MFA, then add Okta or Rippling as headcount grows.
- How much does security software cost?
- Personal password managers are free or a few dollars a month, team identity tools charge per user, and customer authentication is priced by monthly active users. Threat intelligence, SIEM and compliance platforms are usually custom annual contracts; the table on this page lists current starting prices.