Kubernetes
EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA) vs Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS
EKS Pod Identity (and IAM Roles for Service Accounts) maps to Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS.
Both exchange a Kubernetes service account token for short-lived cloud credentials.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA) | Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Map Kubernetes service accounts to IAM roles so pods get temporary AWS credentials. Pod Identity uses an EKS agent and association API. IAM Roles for Service Accounts (IRSA) uses OIDC federation. | Federates Kubernetes service account tokens (OIDC issuer) with Microsoft Entra managed identities or app registrations, so pods get Entra tokens without secrets. |
| Pricing model | No extra charge. | No extra charge. |
| Docs | EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA) docs | Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS docs |
| Pricing page | EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA) pricing | Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS pricing |
| Exams | SCS-C03 DOP-C02 | AZ-104 SC-500 |
Key differences
- Mechanism. Pod Identity uses an EKS Pod Identity Agent and association API, with no OIDC provider setup per cluster. IRSA and Workload ID both use the cluster's OIDC issuer and a federated credential or trust policy.
- The credentials are AWS STS credentials for an IAM role on AWS, versus Microsoft Entra access tokens for a user-assigned managed identity or app registration on Azure (then authorized with Azure RBAC).
- The older AAD Pod Identity add-on on AKS is deprecated in favor of Workload ID.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- No extra charge. EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA) pricing →
- Azure
- No extra charge. Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty SCS-C03 | AWS | Specialty | current The current code (SCS-C03) is taken from the exam-prep link on the official certification page. Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil) versions retire after Dec 31, 2026. |
| AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional DOP-C02 | AWS | Professional | current Korean version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 | Azure | Associate | current |
| Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate SC-500 | Azure | Associate | current New certification. A practice assessment isn't available yet, which the page says usually means the exam recently left (or is in) beta. |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA)?
EKS Pod Identity (and IAM Roles for Service Accounts) maps to Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS. Both exchange a Kubernetes service account token for short-lived cloud credentials.
How does pricing compare between EKS Pod Identity (and IRSA) and Microsoft Entra Workload ID for AKS?
AWS: No extra charge. Azure: No extra charge. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (DOP-C02); Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500).