How does Okta enable synchronization with Active Directory and LDAP?

Okta enables synchronization with Active Directory (AD) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) through the use of lightweight agents, specifically designed to facilitate this integration. These agents, known as Okta Access Gateway or Okta LDAP Agent, install on-premises and automatically connect to the directory services. They manage the user lifecycle, ensuring that updates in the AD or LDAP are synchronized with Okta without requiring significant manual intervention or complexities.

The lightweight nature of these agents means they can easily operate within various network environments, ensuring that organizations can maintain their existing directory structures while leveraging Okta’s Identity as a Service (IDaaS) capabilities. This efficiency allows for seamless user provisioning and de-provisioning, single sign-on (SSO), and real-time updates, enhancing the overall effectiveness of identity management across the organization.

In contrast, using API keys or manual imports would not provide the same level of integration or automation, and creating separate applications for each directory service would complicate the setup and management process, detracting from usability and efficiency.