099 | AWS Cognito and Microsoft Entra ID: Authentication Giants

2025-09-01

AWS Cognito and Microsoft Entra ID: Authentication as Part of the Ecosystem

Introduction

If Auth0 is the “hired expert” for authentication, then AWS Cognito and Microsoft Entra ID are the “system engineers” from tech giants. These services don’t just solve login — they are deeply integrated into their ecosystems and work best when you’re already using the cloud that created them.

AWS Cognito: Authentication for AWS-Native Applications

The Big Promise: AWS claims that Cognito is the “gateway” for your users into AWS. It’s designed to seamlessly integrate with other AWS services, such as Lambda for business logic or API Gateway for building APIs.

098 | Auth0: A Painless API That Comes with a Price

2025-08-31

Auth0: Authentication as a Service, or “Just Pay”

Introduction

So far, we’ve discussed solutions that give you full control but demand effort. Auth0 offers a different path: outsourcing authentication entirely. “We’ll handle it for you,” says Auth0 — “just connect to our API.” It’s the perfect choice for those who don’t want to moonlight as DevOps engineers.

The Big Promise

The core message of Auth0 is simplicity. The service promises that you can add user login in minutes without writing a single line of backend code. Its key advantages:

097 | FreeIPA: The Enterprise Swiss Army Knife for Identity

2025-08-30

FreeIPA: The Untamed Titan of Enterprise Identity

Introduction

While Keycloak and FusionAuth focus on the web, FreeIPA operates on a different level. It’s not just an authentication server. It’s an integrated solution for identity management and security policies in UNIX/Linux environments. It’s not designed for quick web app integration but for building centralized access control at an enterprise scale. If your infrastructure consists of many Linux servers, this tool is your ally.

096 | FusionAuth: An API-Oriented Contender

2025-08-29

FusionAuth: Challenging the Giants with an API Focus

Introduction

While Keycloak may feel like a heavyweight titan built for the enterprise world, FusionAuth enters the arena with a much more developer-friendly agenda. This service positions itself as a solution built by developers for developers. It promises to be simple, fast, and most importantly, manageable through a clean, well-structured API. Sounds like a relief after wrestling with complex documentation.

The Big Promise

The core message of FusionAuth is “less configuration, more code.” It promises to save you from wrestling with dozens of XML files and bulky UIs. Instead, you should be able to integrate authentication in just a few hours using only API calls. Its arsenal includes:

095 | Keycloak: An Open-Source Titan in the World of Identity

2025-08-28

Keycloak: Open Source and Big Ambitions

Introduction

In a world where more and more services outsource user management, Keycloak offers a different path. This project is not just a set of login APIs. It is a full-fledged, self-sufficient authentication server that promises to relieve you from headaches with user management, protocols, and security. At the same time, it remains open source. Sounds like utopia, but let’s take a closer look.