Cloud Identity & Zero Trust for Modern Business

We evaluate your existing stack, platform mix, and security requirements. JumpCloud fits Apple-first SMBs with 10-500 users beautifully—strong Mac/Linux support, straightforward pricing, and easy integration with Jamf. Okta works for enterprises needing advanced compliance features, extensive app catalog, and enterprise support. Entra ID (Azure AD) makes sense if you're heavily invested in Microsoft 365 and already licensing E3/E5. Open-source platforms like Authentik or Keycloak give you full control and zero licensing costs but require more operational expertise. We map your dependencies, provide a comparison matrix, and recommend what actually fits—not what has the best reseller margin.

If you're managing more Macs than Windows PCs, supporting remote/hybrid workers, running mostly cloud apps (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), struggling with VPN complexity, or your on-premise domain controllers are end-of-life—you're likely ready. Cloud identity works best for organisations between 10-1000 users where "the office" isn't a single physical location anymore. We assess your environment, map dependencies, and provide a migration recommendation during your strategy session.

For most organisations, yes. Modern cloud platforms provide Windows domain join, Mac binding, Linux authentication, SSO, MFA, and group policies—everything AD does plus modern Zero Trust features. However, if you run legacy apps hardcoded to AD LDAP, on-premise Exchange, or Windows Server infrastructure that requires domain trusts, you may need hybrid identity (cloud + AD coexistence) rather than full replacement. We map your dependencies and design the right architecture—whether that's full migration, hybrid coexistence, or a phased transition.

Cloud identity platforms and Jamf integrate seamlessly. The identity platform handles user authentication (SSO, MFA, passwords), whilst Jamf manages device configuration (profiles, apps, compliance, inventory). Users authenticate to their Mac via their cloud credentials, FileVault recovery keys escrow to both platforms, and device trust policies ensure only Jamf-enrolled Macs can authenticate. It's the same separation you'd have with AD + Jamf, but without domain controllers or VPNs. Works with JumpCloud, Okta, Entra ID, or open-source platforms.

Before a user can authenticate, the identity platform checks: Is the device enrolled in MDM (Jamf/Intune)? Is disk encryption enabled (FileVault/BitLocker)? Is the OS version approved? Is the device on the trusted hardware list? If any check fails, authentication is denied until the device complies. This works for logging into the Mac/PC, accessing SSO apps, connecting to Wi-Fi (RADIUS), and VPN access. It's automatic, enforced at every login, and doesn't rely on users "choosing" to be secure. Supported across all major cloud identity platforms.

Push notifications are simplest: user taps "Approve" on their phone when logging in. For users without smartphones, we configure SMS or email MFA codes. For high-security roles (IT admins, finance), we enforce hardware keys (YubiKey, Touch ID). You can also set conditional MFA: require it for remote access but skip it for office-connected trusted devices. Most organisations see 95%+ MFA adoption within two weeks with proper onboarding.

Cloud platforms charge per-user/month (typically $5-15 depending on features and platform). Active Directory requires Windows Server licenses, CALs for every user, domain controller hardware, backup infrastructure, patching overhead, and specialist admin knowledge. For most organisations, cloud identity costs less than running on-premise AD once you account for hardware, licensing, and admin time. The bigger win is operational—no more patching domain controllers at 2am or dealing with replication issues. We provide a TCO comparison during your strategy session based on your actual user count and requirements.

Yes. Cloud identity platforms integrate as the identity provider for Google Workspace (SAML SSO), Microsoft 365 (federated auth), and 200+ other cloud apps. Users log in once with their cloud credentials and get automatic access to Gmail, Drive, Office 365, Slack, Xero—whatever you've configured. User provisioning is automated via SCIM (when someone's added to the directory, accounts are created in all connected apps). Deprovisioning works the same way. Works across JumpCloud, Okta, Entra ID, and open-source platforms.

Most platforms cache credentials locally on macOS, Windows, and Linux, so users can still log into devices offline (last 30-90 days of passwords cached depending on platform). However, SSO apps and new logins require internet connectivity to the cloud infrastructure (99.9-99.99% uptime SLAs depending on platform). For organisations with strict uptime requirements, we design hybrid architectures with local fallback authentication or implement high-availability platforms like Okta with on-premise agents.

We can, but it's optional. Some clients want us to monitor and manage their identity platform ongoing ($1,500-3,500/month depending on user count and platform), which includes user provisioning, policy updates, integration changes, and incident response. Others prefer to run it themselves—in which case we document everything properly, train your team, and provide support when you need it. Most clients start with managed service for 3-6 months then transition to self-operation with our on-call support.