Breaking Free from Dependency: ForgeRock (PingIdentity) Professional Services vs. Avatier’s Self-Guided Implementation

Identity and access management (IAM) solutions have become critical infrastructure components for enterprises of all sizes. However, the implementation approach can dramatically impact time-to-value, total cost of ownership, and long-term operational efficiency. This is particularly evident when comparing ForgeRock’s professional services dependency model with Avatier’s self-guided implementation approach.

The Hidden Costs of Professional Services Dependency

When organizations select ForgeRock (now part of PingIdentity following the 2023 acquisition), they’re often signing up for more than just software. According to industry analysis, ForgeRock implementations typically require extensive professional services engagements that can extend deployment timelines by 3-6 months and increase total costs by 40-60% beyond the initial software investment.

A Gartner report found that 78% of IAM implementations exceed their initial budget forecasts, with professional services being the primary cost expansion factor. For ForgeRock specifically, customers report that professional services costs often reach 1.5 to 2 times the cost of software licensing over a three-year period.

The dependency on external expertise creates several significant challenges:

1. Extended Time-to-Value: With average implementation timeframes of 9-12 months, organizations face extended periods without security improvements or operational efficiencies.
2. Knowledge Transfer Barriers: When external consultants build and configure systems, internal teams often struggle to gain the expertise needed for ongoing management.
3. Reduced Agility: Changes and customizations typically require additional professional services engagements, limiting an organization’s ability to adapt quickly.
4. Higher Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Initial implementation costs are just the beginning, with ongoing professional services needs for updates, integrations, and expansions.

A senior CISO from a Fortune 500 company recently shared: “We spent over $800,000 on professional services for our ForgeRock implementation, and we still need their consultants for any significant changes. This dependency has become a budgetary and operational constraint.”

Avatier’s Self-Guided Implementation Approach: A Paradigm Shift

In stark contrast, Avatier has pioneered a self-guided implementation approach that fundamentally reimagines how identity management solutions are deployed and maintained. Avatier’s Identity Management Anywhere platform empowers organizations to implement, configure, and maintain their IAM infrastructure with minimal external assistance.

This approach delivers several distinct advantages:

1. Accelerated Implementation Timelines

Avatier customers typically achieve full implementation in 2-4 months—less than half the time of ForgeRock deployments. This accelerated timeline is possible through:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop workflow designers that require no coding expertise
• Pre-built connectors for over 500 business applications and systems
• AI-assisted configuration recommendations
• Containerized deployment options that simplify infrastructure requirements

According to a 2023 Enterprise Strategy Group report, organizations using self-service IAM solutions like Avatier reduced implementation time by an average of 63% compared to consultant-dependent models.

2. Enhanced Internal Knowledge and Control

Avatier’s self-guided approach ensures that internal IT teams develop deep platform expertise during implementation rather than after it. This creates significant advantages:

• Reduced dependency on external consultants for ongoing management
• Faster response to business requirements and security needs
• Greater confidence in system capabilities and limitations
• More effective utilization of platform capabilities

A Director of Identity and Access Management at a mid-size financial institution noted: “With Avatier, our team became self-sufficient during implementation. We haven’t needed to engage consultants for any changes in over two years, which has saved us approximately $200,000 annually compared to our previous vendor relationship.”

3. Dramatically Lower TCO

By eliminating ongoing professional services dependency, Avatier delivers substantially lower total cost of ownership:

• 40-60% reduction in implementation costs
• 70-85% reduction in ongoing operational support costs
• Elimination of professional services requirements for most updates and changes
• Ability to redirect IT resources to strategic initiatives rather than vendor management

The Avatier Identity Management Suite is designed specifically to minimize external dependency while maximizing internal control and efficiency.

Self-Service Capabilities: The Core Differentiator

At the heart of Avatier’s self-guided implementation model is a comprehensive suite of self-service capabilities that extend from initial setup through ongoing operations and optimization. These capabilities stand in stark contrast to ForgeRock’s consultant-dependent approach:

Implementation and Configuration

Capability	ForgeRock (PingIdentity) Approach	Avatier Approach
Workflow Design	Requires professional services or Java coding	Drag-and-drop interface with no coding required
Application Integrations	Custom development for many applications	500+ pre-built connectors with guided setup
Role/Policy Management	Consultant-built framework	Self-service role design and management
MFA Integration	Professional services recommended	Self-guided multi-factor integration
Report Configuration	Custom development	Self-service report builder

Operational Management

Capability	ForgeRock (PingIdentity) Approach	Avatier Approach
User Provisioning Changes	Often requires professional services	Self-service workflow modifications
Policy Updates	Typically consultant-dependent	Drag-and-drop policy editor
New Application Onboarding	Professional services engagement	Self-service connector configuration
Compliance Updates	Consultant-led remediations	Self-service compliance manager
System Upgrades	Often requires professional services	Self-guided upgrade process

Real-World Implementation Comparison: A Case Study

A multinational manufacturing company with 12,000 employees recently transitioned from ForgeRock to Avatier after experiencing significant challenges with the professional services dependency model. Their experience highlights the dramatic differences between approaches:

ForgeRock Implementation (Previous):

• Implementation timeframe: 11 months
• Professional services cost: $620,000
• Internal resource allocation: 3 FTEs for 11 months
• Annual professional services for management: $180,000
• Time to implement changes: 2-6 weeks

Avatier Implementation:

• Implementation timeframe: 3.5 months
• Professional services cost: $120,000
• Internal resource allocation: 2 FTEs for 3.5 months
• Annual professional services for management: $0
• Time to implement changes: Hours to days

The company’s CIO reported: “The transition to Avatier not only saved us nearly half a million dollars in the first year, but it also dramatically improved our security posture by enabling us to respond to identity management needs in days rather than weeks or months.”

Beyond Implementation: Operational Benefits of Self-Guidance

The advantages of Avatier’s self-guided approach extend well beyond the implementation phase. Organizations leveraging Avatier’s Identity Management Architecture report numerous ongoing operational benefits:

1. Faster Response to Security Incidents: When security incidents occur, organizations can immediately adjust access policies and controls without waiting for consultant availability.
2. Improved Compliance Posture: Self-service reporting and certification capabilities enable organizations to respond to audit requests and compliance requirements without external assistance.
3. Enhanced User Experience: IT teams can quickly modify self-service portals and workflows to improve user experiences without development dependencies.
4. Reduced Change Management Overhead: Changes can be tested and implemented in staging environments without consultant scheduling constraints.
5. Greater Innovation Capacity: IT resources previously dedicated to vendor management can be redirected to innovation initiatives.

Making the Strategic Choice: Key Considerations

When evaluating ForgeRock (PingIdentity) versus Avatier, organizations should consider several strategic factors:

1. Long-term Operational Control: Does your organization want to maintain dependency on consultants, or would you prefer self-sufficiency?
2. Budget Predictability: Are you comfortable with ongoing professional services costs, or do you need predictable, license-focused spending?
3. Implementation Speed: How quickly does your organization need to realize security and efficiency benefits?
4. Internal Capability Development: Would your organization benefit from developing deeper internal IAM expertise?
5. Change Response Requirements: How quickly does your organization need to implement changes to identity workflows and policies?

For organizations prioritizing implementation speed, cost control, and operational independence, Avatier’s self-guided approach offers compelling advantages over ForgeRock’s professional services dependency model.

Conclusion: Empowerment vs. Dependency

The contrast between ForgeRock’s professional services dependency and Avatier’s self-guided approach represents a fundamental philosophical difference in how identity management solutions should be implemented and maintained.

While ForgeRock (now PingIdentity) continues to build business models around professional services revenue, Avatier has invested in making its platform intuitive, adaptable, and manageable by internal teams. This difference impacts not just initial implementation costs and timelines but shapes the entire ownership experience for years to come.

Organizations seeking to maximize the return on their identity management investment while minimizing long-term dependency would be well-advised to carefully evaluate the total cost implications and operational constraints of the professional services dependency model before making their selection.

With Avatier’s self-guided approach, organizations can break free from consultant dependency, accelerate implementation timelines, reduce costs, and gain greater control over their identity management infrastructure—all while building valuable internal expertise that enhances security posture and operational efficiency.

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