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SailPoint is the leading identity governance platform in the enterprise market, with two main products: IdentityIQ (on-premises) and IdentityNow (cloud). Both deliver the same outcome — automated identity governance, access certifications, and joiner-mover-leaver workflows — but with very different deployment models, total cost of ownership, and operational overhead. This 2026 guide helps you choose the right one for your organisation.
Architecture
IdentityIQ is an on-premises Java application backed by an application server (Tomcat, JBoss) and a database (Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL). You install, patch, and scale it yourself. IdentityNow is a cloud-native SaaS service. You connect on-prem sources via virtual appliances; the governance engine and UI live in SailPoint’s cloud.
Deployment time
IdentityIQ takes 3–9 months to deploy for a typical 5,000-employee enterprise. IdentityNow takes 4–12 weeks. The difference is the on-prem infrastructure: no servers, no database, no middleware, no upgrade cycles. IdentityNow is the right choice if you want a quick start; IdentityIQ if you need full control.
Customization
IdentityIQ is highly customizable. Workflows are XML, rules can be BeanShell or Java, and the data model is fully exposed. IdentityNow has a constrained customization model — you use the SaaS connectors, configurations are done in the UI, and advanced logic is done in cloud rules. For unique business processes, IdentityIQ wins.
Total cost of ownership
IdentityNow has a higher per-user license cost but lower operational cost. IdentityIQ has a lower license cost but requires FTE staff to maintain. For a 10,000-employee firm, the break-even is typically 18–24 months.
Compliance features
Both deliver the same compliance features: access certifications, separation-of-duties, role mining, policy violations, audit reporting. The UI and reporting capabilities of IdentityNow are more modern; IdentityIQ has deeper reporting customization.
When to choose IdentityIQ
Choose IdentityIQ when: data residency must be on-prem, you need deep customization, you have complex regulatory requirements, you have the in-house staff to operate it, or your industry mandates on-prem deployment (some defence, some government).
When to choose IdentityNow
Choose IdentityNow when: you want fast time-to-value, you have limited IAM staff, you want to consume governance as a service, or you are in a hybrid cloud journey and need consistent identity governance across cloud and on-prem apps.
Migration path
Most new customers in 2026 start with IdentityNow. Migrations from IdentityIQ to IdentityNow are common and SailPoint has a structured migration program. SkilBrill’s SailPoint Training in Chennai covers both platforms, with hands-on labs in IdentityIQ and IdentityNow.
Talk to a Chennai Counsellor
The SkilBrill SailPoint Training in Chennai is a 16-week programme that builds deep expertise in both IdentityIQ and IdentityNow, with three real-world capstones including a 10,000-employee BFSI governance model.
Ready to start? Call +91 8610964691, WhatsApp us, or enrol online. Visit us at No 22, 200 Feet Radial Road, Thoraipakkam, Chennai 600097.
