What is JumpCloud?
JumpCloud, founded in 2012, has firmly established itself as a significant and influential player in the identity and device management sector, offering a cloud-based open directory platform.
The platform's fundamental design goal is to provide secure and frictionless access for users, from any device, to virtually any IT resource, regardless of where that resource or the user is located.
JumpCloud acts as a central command hub, enabling the management of user identities, the control of access permissions, and the oversight of a diverse range of endpoints, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices, all accessible from a single, unified administrative console.
Key Features of JumpCloud
JumpCloud's comprehensive feature set is strategically designed to offer a holistic approach to identity, access, and device management, effectively consolidating numerous individual functions into a single, integrated platform.
These capabilities are broadly categorized into Identity and Access Management (IAM), Device Management (often referred to as Unified Endpoint Management or UEM), and an overarching Security Framework built upon the principles of Zero Trust.
1. Single Sign-On (SSO)
JumpCloud facilitates Single Sign-On access to an extensive range of web applications, thereby significantly reducing the necessity for users to remember and manage multiple passwords. The platform primarily utilizes the SAML 2.0 protocol and offers a comprehensive catalog of pre-built connectors for numerous popular SaaS applications, including prominent examples like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, AWS, and Salesforce.
- Additionally, it provides the flexibility to configure custom SAML connections for applications not included in the pre-built catalog. User feedback consistently highlights SSO as a major time-saving feature that requires minimal configuration effort for many standard applications.
- While highly effective, some users have expressed a desire for broader protocol support beyond SAML, specifically mentioning OpenID Connect (OIDC) / OAuth, to facilitate integration with a wider range of internal or developer-focused tools.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Security is substantially enhanced by adding extra verification layers beyond just passwords before granting access. JumpCloud supports various MFA factors, with a prominent focus on its own JumpCloud Protect mobile application, which supports both convenient push notifications (allowing users to approve or deny login prompts) and traditional Time-based One-Time Passwords (TOTP).
- Depending on the specific integration, other methods such as hardware tokens, biometrics, or SMS may also be supported. MFA can be rigorously enforced across multiple access points, including user logins to the JumpCloud User Portal.
- JumpCloud has MFA with Conditional Access policies, which allows for the enforcement of authentication rules based on contextual factors such as user location or device trust status.
- JumpCloud Go has introduced a passwordless authentication option, leveraging secure device-bound keys to provide phishing-resistant MFA. While generally well-regarded, some earlier feedback noted limitations specifically concerning MFA for LDAP.
3. Password Management
JumpCloud includes its own dedicated Password Manager tool designed for securely storing and managing user credentials.
- Passwords stored within the system are protected using industry-standard secure hashing and salting techniques to ensure their confidentiality and integrity.
- Self-service password reset capabilities are also a standard feature, designed to reduce the volume of password-related support requests directed to the IT helpdesk.
4. User Lifecycle Management
The platform provides streamlined capabilities for managing the entire user lifecycle within a company, from onboarding to offboarding.
- JumpCloud supports multiple methods for user creation, including manual entry, bulk import via CSV files, and automated provisioning and deprovisioning through integrations with popular Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) such as Workday, BambooHR, and Namely.
- Access permissions are typically managed efficiently by assigning users to groups, allowing administrators to quickly grant or revoke permissions based on defined roles or departments.
- This automation significantly reduces manual administrative effort and enhances security by ensuring that user access is promptly granted upon hiring and securely revoked upon termination.
5. Analytics and Reporting
JumpCloud offers valuable capabilities for analytics and reporting, primarily facilitated through its Directory Insights and System Insights® features. Directory Insights provides comprehensive event logging and monitoring capabilities, capturing detailed data on authentication events, user actions, administrative changes made within the platform, and access patterns.
- This collected data is essential for various critical functions, including security monitoring, detecting potential threats, conducting compliance audits, and efficiently troubleshooting issues.
- System Insights provides detailed endpoint telemetry data, automatically collecting extensive hardware and software inventory information from managed endpoints on an hourly basis.
- This data is highly valuable for asset management purposes, assessing the current security posture of devices, generating reports for compliance requirements, and facilitating troubleshooting efforts.
6. Cross-Platform Support
One defining and highly valued characteristic of JumpCloud's features is the fact that it comes with the ability to manage a diverse range of operating systems from a single, unified administrative console.
- This includes effective management of Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops and laptops, in addition to supporting management capabilities for iOS/iPadOS and Android mobile devices.
- This capability is consistently highlighted as a significant advantage, particularly for organizations operating with heterogeneous IT environments where utilizing separate, OS-specific tools like Microsoft Intune (primarily focused on Windows) or Jamf (primarily focused on macOS) would be necessary.
- Device management is primarily achieved through the installation of the JumpCloud agent on desktop and laptop endpoints. This agent-based approach is supplemented by the utilization of standard MDM protocols for managing Apple and Windows devices, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.
7. Conditional Access Policies
This feature serves as the primary and practical implementation mechanism for enforcing the Zero Trust security rules within the JumpCloud platform.
- Administrators have the ability to create highly granular policies that govern access to resources based on evaluating real-time contextual information.
- These policies are constructed by defining specific conditions that must be met, which then trigger defined actions.
8. Cloud LDAP
JumpCloud grants users a secure, cloud-hosted LDAP service, often referred to as LDAP-as-a-Service. This feature is critically important for organizations that need to integrate their modern cloud directory with legacy systems and applications.
- Cloud LDAP primary function is to authenticate users attempting to access applications (such as Atlassian Jira/Confluence, Jenkins), servers (particularly Linux servers), network devices (including VPNs like OpenVPN and Wi-Fi controllers), and storage systems (like Network Attached Storage - NAS) that rely on the LDAP protocol for authentication.
- This service effectively eliminates the need for organizations to deploy, manage, patch, and maintain their own on-premises LDAP servers, which can be a complex and resource-intensive task.
9. Cloud RADIUS
JumpCloud also has cloud-hosted RADIUS authentication capabilities. This service is primarily utilized for securing network access, commonly employed for Wi-Fi networks using standards like WPA2-Enterprise and for VPN connections.
- Users authenticate to these network resources using their core JumpCloud credentials, which are managed centrally within the JumpCloud platform.
- Similar to Cloud LDAP, utilizing Cloud RADIUS eliminates the need for organizations to deploy and maintain their own on-premises RADIUS servers.
10. Integrations and Ecosystem
JumpCloud's commitment to an "open" philosophy is clearly reflected in its strong ability to integrate with a wide variety of existing IT systems and applications that organizations already utilize.
- Directory Integration: The platform has a dedicated AD Integration feature allows organizations to maintain their existing Active Directory on-premises while simultaneously using JumpCloud to manage resources that are not joined to the AD domain or to extend their identity management capabilities into the cloud.
- Application Integration: JumpCloud supports Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with thousands of cloud-based applications and, in some cases, potentially on-premises applications, primarily leveraging the SAML 2.0 protocol.
- API Access: JumpCloud provides comprehensive RESTful APIs and a dedicated PowerShell module, which empower IT teams to automate tasks, write custom scripts, and integrate the platform with other IT management tools they utilize.
- HRIS Integration: To further automate user lifecycle management, JumpCloud offers integrations with popular Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) platforms, including Workday, BambooHR, and Namely.
JumpCloud Usability and Interface
For JumpCloud, the administrative console is widely described as intuitive and user-friendly, which contributes significantly to making the platform accessible and manageable even for smaller IT teams who may not possess extensive specialized technical expertise.
- Users praise the simplicity of setting up and managing identities, devices, and applying policies from a single pane of glass, significantly simplifying IT administrative tasks.
- The initial implementation process is also often cited as being straightforward and relatively easy to complete.
- While the documentation is often praised for its availability, some users have noted that it can sometimes be lacking in specific areas, difficult to navigate to find necessary information, or not updated as promptly as they would prefer.
JumpCloud Pricing
JumpCloud offers two primary approaches for acquiring its services: organizations can choose from a selection of pre-built packages that bundle together core functionalities, or they can opt for a more granular à la carte approach by utilizing the "Build Your Plan" option.
A significant and widely appreciated entry point to the platform is the Free Tier. This tier allows organizations to utilize the full capabilities of the JumpCloud platform for up to 10 users and manage up to 10 devices at absolutely no cost.
- Device Management: This package is priced at $9 per user per month and is primarily focused on providing cross-platform device management (MDM) and related features. This includes capabilities such as System Insights, Patch Management, Software Management, and Remote Access.
- SSO: Priced at $11 per user per month, the SSO package centers on Identity & Access Management functionalities. This includes the core Cloud Directory, MFA, comprehensive SSO capabilities, User Lifecycle Management features, and the Password Manager tool.
- Device Identity: This package costs $13 per user per month and combines the features included in the Device Management package with core user identity management and MFA specifically tailored for device logins.
- Core Directory: Also priced at $13 per user per month, this is an IAM-focused package that builds upon the SSO package.
- Platform: Recommended for a comprehensive approach, this package is priced at $19 per user per month.
- Platform Prime: Positioned as the top-tier package, Platform Prime costs $24 per user per month. It encompasses all features included in the Platform package and adds advanced capabilities such as Conditional Access/Zero Trust policies.
JumpCloud Reviews and Ratings
JumpCloud generally maintains a strong and positive perception within the market, which is consistently reflected in high ratings across numerous independent review platforms and substantiated by significant industry recognition. This widespread positive sentiment underscores its established position as a leading open directory platform.
Aggregated ratings collected from major review sites provide compelling evidence of high user satisfaction:
- G2: JumpCloud is consistently identified and ranked as a Leader across numerous categories critical to IT management, including core areas such as Cloud Directory Services, IAM, SSO, UEM, MDM, and PAM.
- Gartner Peer Insights: The JumpCloud platform holds a strong average rating of 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars, based on dozens of reviews provided in relevant categories such as Endpoint Management Tools and Security Solutions. Ratings specifically concerning customer experience aspects like Evaluation & Contracting, Integration & Deployment, and Service & Support are consistently strong, each rated at 4.4 stars. The distribution of ratings heavily favors positive outcomes, with a notable 94% of all ratings being either 4 or 5 stars.
- TrustRadius: On the TrustRadius platform, JumpCloud achieves a high overall score of 8.8 out of 10. Key metrics reported by TrustRadius include a Likelihood to Recommend score of 8.6, Usability ratings falling between 8.1 and 8.2, and a strong Implementation rating of 9.1. The Support Rating on TrustRadius is slightly lower relative to the other metrics, ranging from 7.6 to 7.8.
- Software Reviews: The platform earned a Composite Score of 7.8 out of 10 and a Customer Experience (CX) Score of 8.0 out of 10. User sentiment on Software Reviews is overwhelmingly positive, as indicated by a +90 Net Emotional Footprint (representing 94% positive responses) and high scores for Likeliness to Recommend (90%) and Plan to Renew (96%).
Overall View of JumpCloud
The core value proposition delivered by JumpCloud - which is simplifying the management of complex, heterogeneous IT environments through a unified, cloud-native platform - resonates deeply with its target audience and is often perceived as outweighing the noted drawbacks.
The platform appears to be effective in solving critical pain points that companies face in managing modern IT environments.
Infisign: The Best JumpCloud Alternative
With Infisign’s IAM Suite for employees and UniFed for customer platforms, you get tools that fit pretty much whatever you need to do. Plus, you can connect to over 6000 APIs and SDKs to work with the tech you already use.
Infisign works with both new web apps and older systems, so companies can keep everything secure, no matter how old or new it is. But here’s a more detailed breakdown of what you can get with Infisign:
- Privileged Access Management: Infisign grants privileged access management for users with a full record of who changed access control or accessed specific privileged tools when.
- Supports Multiple Ecosystems Simultaneously: A lot of the time, some IAM software is not able to support legacy and modern systems at the same time with the same set of authentication protocols. Infisign enables this across multiple tools and ecosystems.
- Advanced Authentication Features Without Additional Cost: Essential tools like MFA, biometrics, or device passkeys typically come with an additional fee. With Infisign, you get these from the get-go.
- Managed Password Web Authentication: This allows users to enable SSO functionality on legacy and web-based tools that do not support typical SSO protocols like SAML, OAuth, or OIDC.
- ABAC: Get more control with Attribute Based Access Control. It lets you quickly add or remove hundreds of users from your tech stack at once, based on their roles, departments, or other rules you set.
- Just In Time Access: This allows you to grant users and employees access to admin privileges or specific tools or ecosystems for a limited time period helping you stay compliant and have an auditable record.
- Adaptive MFA with Conditional Access: Set up extra layers of security without making it hard for users. You can use biometrics, one-time passwords, QR codes, device passkeys, or magic links for passwordless logins. Add conditional access rules to block anything that looks suspicious before it becomes a problem.
- Network Access Gateway: Protect on-premises apps from the cloud by using encrypted network gateways with the Network Access Gateway (NAG).
- AI Access Assist: Make IT jobs way faster with AI. Admins can add or remove users in less than a minute using stuff like chatbots, Slack, or Teams, so they can update access even while they’re moving around.
- Impersonation: With impersonation, you can grant customers and clients temporary access to admin privileges when thier admin account is no longer accessible or if their admin is on temporary leave.
- Single Sign-On (SSO): Let users sign in once and get into everything they need. Infisign’s SSO makes it possible to set this up in less than 4 hours.
Want to check it out? Book a free demo call today and see how Infisign can help with your identity and access management needs.
FAQs about JumpCloud
Is JumpCloud suitable for small businesses?
Yes, JumpCloud is generally considered well-suited for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Organizations, especially those without deep legacy Active Directory investments or those actively seeking to modernize their IT infrastructure, tend to find significant value in JumpCloud's simplified and comprehensive approach to IT management.
Are there any specific considerations for managing different operating systems with JumpCloud?
While cross-platform support is a significant strength of JumpCloud, potential adopters should investigate any known issues or specific feature limitations that may be particularly relevant to the primary operating systems used within their organization.
What is the complexity of migrating to and integrating with JumpCloud?
While JumpCloud is generally considered relatively easy to implement, integrating the platform with complex existing IT environments, such as those involving multi-domain Active Directory forests or legacy systems, may require careful planning and potentially necessitate engaging professional services for assistance.