IronWiFi vs Microsoft NPS
Cloud-native RADIUS vs Windows Server dependency. Modern identity provider support without the infrastructure burden.
Move Beyond Windows Server RADIUS
Microsoft NPS has been a reliable RADIUS solution for organizations with Windows Server and Active Directory. But as organizations move to cloud identity providers like Azure AD, Okta, and Google Workspace, NPS shows its age. IronWiFi provides modern cloud RADIUS with native support for cloud IdPs.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | IronWiFi | Microsoft NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Cloud (30 min) | On-premise (1-2 weeks) |
| Infrastructure | None required | Windows Server + AD |
| Annual Cost (500 users) | ~$2,400 | ~$15,000+ (licensing + maintenance) |
| Azure AD / Entra ID | ✓ Native | Complex (AD sync required) |
| Okta | ✓ Native | ✗ |
| Google Workspace | ✓ Native | ✗ |
| Active Directory | ✓ | ✓ |
| Captive Portal | ✓ Built-in | ✗ |
| Guest WiFi | ✓ | ✗ Separate tool |
| OpenRoaming | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Console | ✓ | ✗ MMC only |
| High Availability | Built-in (6 regions) | Manual NLB setup |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% | None |
The Cloud Identity Problem
NPS was designed for on-premise Active Directory. As organizations adopt cloud identity, NPS becomes a bottleneck:
- Azure AD-only users can't authenticate - NPS requires on-premise AD sync
- Okta and Google Workspace aren't supported - No native integration
- MFA requires NPS Extension - Complex setup with Azure MFA
- Cloud-first organizations maintain on-premise servers just for RADIUS
IronWiFi eliminates this problem with native cloud IdP integration. Authenticate directly against Azure AD, Okta, or Google Workspace without on-premise infrastructure.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | IronWiFi | Microsoft NPS |
|---|---|---|
| PEAP-MSCHAPv2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| EAP-TLS (Certificates) | ✓ | ✓ |
| EAP-TTLS | ✓ | ✓ |
| MAC Authentication | ✓ | ✓ |
| VLAN Assignment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Group-Based Policies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social Login (Guest) | ✓ | ✗ |
| SMS/Email Registration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payment Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics Dashboard | ✓ | ✗ Event logs only |
| API Access | ✓ REST API | PowerShell only |
When to Keep Microsoft NPS
- You're 100% on-premise Active Directory with no cloud IdP plans
- You have Windows Server licensing and dedicated IT staff
- NPS is already deployed and working reliably
- You don't need captive portals or guest WiFi management
When to Switch to IronWiFi
- You're moving to Azure AD, Okta, or Google Workspace
- You need captive portals for guest WiFi
- You want to eliminate on-premise RADIUS servers
- You need OpenRoaming or Passpoint
- High availability without NLB complexity
- Modern web management vs MMC console
The Verdict
Microsoft NPS works well for traditional on-premise Active Directory environments. But for organizations adopting cloud identity providers, NPS creates unnecessary complexity. IronWiFi provides native Azure AD, Okta, and Google integration without maintaining Windows Servers for RADIUS. Migrate in under 2 hours and eliminate your on-premise RADIUS infrastructure.
Ready to Go Cloud-Native?
Start your 14-day free trial. Keep your existing access points. Native Azure AD, Okta, Google support.