Duo Security
Widely deployed MFA and zero trust access platform from Cisco, with strong device trust and push-based authentication.
Quick answer
What is Duo Security?
Short answer
Duo Security, part of Cisco, is one of the most widely deployed MFA and zero trust access platforms. It is best known for push-based MFA, device posture checks and easy integration with existing SSO and VPN stacks. Duo is often used alongside a workforce IAM (Okta, Entra, Ping) to add strong authentication, device trust and remote access policy enforcement, rather than as the primary identity provider.
- Best for
- Enterprises and mid-market organizations that need strong MFA, device trust and zero trust access alongside an existing IdP.
- When to choose
- You need best-in-class MFA and device trust layered on an existing identity provider, with a path toward passwordless and zero trust.
- When not to choose
- You want a primary IdP, CIAM or a low-cost MFA bundled inside a broader productivity suite.
- Related tools & categories
- MFA / PasswordlessYubicoOktaRun the IAM Stack Finder
Categories
Common use cases
- MFA for SaaS, VPN and on-prem apps
- Device trust and posture
- Zero trust remote access
- Passwordless rollout
Strengths
- Very strong MFA UX
- Broad integration coverage
- Backed by Cisco security ecosystem
- Mature device trust
Limitations & considerations
- Not a full IdP on its own
- Advanced features require higher tiers
- Pricing scales quickly at premium tiers
Pricing model summary
Tiered SaaS pricing per user (Essentials, Advantage, Premier). Discounts for larger volumes; enterprise quotes via Cisco.
View vendor pricing page ↗Integrations
Fit
Alternatives & comparisons
Maker of YubiKey hardware security keys, widely used for phishing-resistant MFA and passwordless via FIDO2 / WebAuthn.
Compare Duo Security vs Yubico →Okta is a leading cloud-native identity and access management platform offering SSO, MFA, lifecycle management, and identity governance for enterprise workforce and customer-facing applications.
Compare Duo Security vs Okta →Microsoft Entra ID is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service, providing SSO, MFA, Conditional Access, and identity governance tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 and Azure.
Compare Duo Security vs Microsoft Entra →OneLogin is a workforce identity and access management platform providing SSO, MFA, and user provisioning for mid-market organizations, now part of One Identity.
Compare Duo Security vs OneLogin →Duo Security and its logo are trademarks of their respective owner. IDSync is an independent buyer resource and does not imply endorsement unless explicitly stated.