Configuration Over Customization: Why Avatier’s Approach Beats ForgeRock (PingIdentity)’s Complex Flexibility

The debate between configuration and customization has significant implications for implementation time, total cost of ownership, and long-term sustainability. While ForgeRock (now owned by Ping Identity) champions extensive customization capabilities, Avatier has pioneered a configuration-first approach that delivers superior business value with significantly less complexity. This fundamental difference in philosophy affects everything from deployment timelines to upgrade paths and security posture.

The Configuration vs. Customization Conundrum: Understanding the Core Difference

Before diving into specifics, let’s clarify what separates these two approaches:

Customization (ForgeRock’s model) involves writing custom code to modify the core platform to meet specific requirements. This approach offers ultimate flexibility but creates unique implementations that can be difficult to maintain, upgrade, or secure.

Configuration (Avatier’s model) relies on built-in tools and interfaces to adapt platform behavior without modifying underlying code. While potentially offering fewer customization options, this approach ensures standardization, upgradeability, and security.

According to Gartner, organizations that prioritize configuration over customization in identity management deployments complete implementations 40% faster and reduce total cost of ownership by up to 30% over a five-year period.

The Hidden Costs of ForgeRock’s Customization Approach

ForgeRock’s highly-customizable platform initially appeals to organizations with unique requirements. However, this flexibility comes with significant hidden costs:

1. Extended Implementation Timelines

ForgeRock implementations typically require specialized developers with deep knowledge of their platform. According to IDC’s 2023 Identity Management Implementation Survey, the average ForgeRock implementation takes 9-12 months, compared to Avatier’s average of 4-6 months.

This extended timeline directly impacts time-to-value and delays security improvements. While ForgeRock customers are still implementing basic identity governance capabilities, Avatier customers are already realizing security benefits and ROI.

2. Upgrade Complexity and Technical Debt

Perhaps the most significant downside of ForgeRock’s approach is the complexity of upgrades. When organizations extensively customize their ForgeRock deployment, each upgrade requires:

• Comprehensive regression testing of all customizations
• Re-implementing customizations that aren’t compatible with new versions
• Extended downtime during complex upgrade processes

According to a 2023 survey by Enterprise Strategy Group, 68% of organizations with heavily customized identity platforms are running outdated versions due to upgrade complexity, exposing them to security vulnerabilities and missing new features.

3. Specialized Skills and Resource Dependencies

ForgeRock implementations typically require:

• Specialized developers with ForgeRock certification
• Ongoing developer resources for maintenance
• External consultants for major upgrades

This creates significant resource dependencies and makes your identity program vulnerable to staff turnover or consulting budget constraints.

Avatier’s Configuration-First Approach: Delivering Superior Business Value

Avatier’s Identity Anywhere Lifecycle Management takes a fundamentally different approach, emphasizing configuration over customization. This philosophy delivers several key advantages:

1. Rapid Implementation Through No-Code Configuration

Avatier’s platform is designed for business analysts and identity administrators rather than specialized developers. The platform features:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop workflow design
• Visual connectors for enterprise applications
• Pre-built templates for common identity scenarios
• No-code configuration for approval workflows

This approach dramatically accelerates implementation. According to customer data, Avatier implementations are typically completed in 4-6 months versus 9-12 months for comparable ForgeRock deployments.

2. Seamless Upgrades and Future-Proofing

Unlike heavily customized ForgeRock implementations, Avatier’s configuration-based approach ensures that upgrades are straightforward and non-disruptive:

• Configurations are maintained through upgrades
• No custom code to rewrite or test
• Automated upgrade processes with minimal downtime

This fundamental difference ensures Avatier customers can stay current with security patches and new features without the extensive project effort required by ForgeRock customers.

3. Lower Total Cost of Ownership

The configuration-first approach directly impacts total cost of ownership:

• Lower implementation costs (4-6 months vs. 9-12 months)
• Reduced specialized staffing requirements
• Simplified upgrades with minimal professional services
• Fewer security incidents due to current software versions

A 2023 Forrester Total Economic Impact study found that organizations using configuration-based identity platforms realized a 35% lower five-year TCO compared to customization-heavy alternatives.

Real-World Security Implications

The configuration vs. customization debate extends beyond cost considerations to core security capabilities:

1. Security Patch Implementation

When critical vulnerabilities are discovered, the ability to quickly patch systems is essential. Avatier’s standardized approach allows security patches to be applied within days, while heavily customized ForgeRock deployments often require weeks or months of testing and redevelopment.

2. Compliance Attestation

Avatier’s Access Governance solution delivers out-of-the-box compliance capabilities with minimal configuration:

• Pre-built attestation workflows for major regulatory frameworks
• Configurable certification campaigns
• Automated evidence collection and reporting

ForgeRock customers often need to develop custom attestation processes, leading to inconsistent compliance approaches and greater audit complexity.

3. Zero-Trust Implementation

Zero-trust security principles are increasingly essential for modern enterprises. Avatier’s configuration-based approach simplifies zero-trust implementation with:

• Pre-configured risk-based authentication workflows
• Integrated multi-factor authentication
• Context-aware access policies
• Continuous access evaluation

These capabilities can be implemented with simple configuration changes rather than the extensive development required in ForgeRock environments.

The Flexibility Myth: Addressing Common Objections

Advocates for ForgeRock’s customization approach often cite flexibility as the primary advantage. However, this perspective misunderstands the nature of modern identity requirements:

1. Standards-Based Identity Management

The identity management field has matured significantly, with standardized approaches now addressing most enterprise requirements. According to Gartner, over 80% of enterprise identity requirements can be met with standardized, configuration-based approaches without custom development.

2. Configurable Workflows vs. Custom Development

Avatier’s Self-Service Identity Manager provides exceptional workflow flexibility through configuration rather than customization:

• Conditional approval routing based on risk factors
• Dynamic form generation based on user attributes
• Context-sensitive provisioning rules
• Automated lifecycle management based on user state

These capabilities provide the flexibility needed for complex enterprise environments without the maintenance burden of custom code.

3. API-First Integration

Modern identity platforms like Avatier offer comprehensive API capabilities that address integration requirements without custom platform modifications:

• RESTful APIs for programmatic access
• Webhook support for event-driven architectures
• Standard connectors for major enterprise applications
• Support for custom attributes and schema extensions

These capabilities enable deep integration with enterprise systems while maintaining the benefits of a configuration-first approach.

Case Study: Financial Services Migration from ForgeRock to Avatier

A Fortune 500 financial services company recently migrated from a heavily customized ForgeRock implementation to Avatier’s Identity Anywhere platform. Their experience highlights the real-world impact of the configuration vs. customization philosophy:

Before (ForgeRock):

• 18-month initial implementation
• 3 full-time developers maintaining customizations
• Unable to upgrade for 3+ years due to customization complexity
• $1.2M annual maintenance and support costs
• 6-week lead time for any significant changes

After (Avatier):

• 5-month migration project
• Zero developers required for ongoing maintenance
• Quarterly updates applied without project effort
• $450K annual maintenance and support costs
• Configuration changes implemented within days

The organization reported a 63% reduction in total cost of ownership and significantly improved security posture due to current software versions and faster implementation of security controls.

Implementation Best Practices: Maximizing Configuration Value

For organizations considering a move to Avatier’s configuration-first approach, these best practices ensure maximum value:

1. Process Standardization Before Technology

Before implementing any identity solution, standardize identity processes where possible. This approach:

• Reduces configuration complexity
• Improves user experience through consistency
• Simplifies compliance and governance
• Enables faster implementation

2. Focus on Core Use Cases First

Implement the highest-value use cases first, typically:

• Automated onboarding/offboarding
• Self-service password management
• Basic access certification
• Role-based access control

This phased approach delivers immediate value while establishing the foundation for more advanced capabilities.

3. Leverage Pre-Built Connectors

Avatier’s extensive application connector library eliminates the need for custom integration development for most enterprise applications. Prioritize using these standard connectors over custom integration development.

4. Adopt Configuration Governance

Even with a configuration-first approach, governance is essential:

• Document configuration decisions and rationales
• Use version control for configuration files
• Implement change management processes
• Test configuration changes in development environments

This structured approach ensures sustainable configuration practices without devolving into unmanageable customization.

The Future: AI-Enhanced Configuration vs. Custom Development

As artificial intelligence transforms identity management, the configuration vs. customization debate takes on new dimensions:

1. Machine Learning for Access Intelligence

Avatier’s platform increasingly incorporates machine learning to enhance configuration-based decisions:

• Anomaly detection for unusual access patterns
• Risk scoring for access requests
• Recommendation engines for access reviews
• Pattern recognition for role mining

These capabilities deliver advanced intelligence without custom development.

2. Adaptive Configuration

The next generation of configuration tools will adapt to organizational patterns:

• Learning from approver decisions
• Suggesting workflow optimizations
• Identifying redundant access controls
• Recommending security improvements

This intelligent configuration layer will further reduce the need for customization while improving security outcomes.

3. Predictive Identity Governance

AI-enhanced configuration will enable predictive governance capabilities:

• Anticipating access needs based on peer analysis
• Proactively identifying toxic access combinations
• Suggesting access revocation before compliance issues arise
• Optimizing certification schedules based on risk profiles

These capabilities represent the future of identity management—achievable through smart configuration rather than custom development.

Making the Right Choice: Evaluating Your Organization’s Needs

When evaluating identity management platforms, consider these key factors to determine if a configuration-first approach aligns with your needs:

1. Implementation Timeline

If rapid security improvement and quick time-to-value are priorities, Avatier’s configuration approach delivers significantly faster results than ForgeRock’s customization model.

2. Available Technical Resources

Organizations with limited specialized development resources will struggle with ForgeRock’s customization requirements, while Avatier’s business-analyst-friendly configuration tools require significantly less technical expertise.

3. Long-Term Sustainability

Consider not just immediate needs but long-term sustainability—including upgrades, staff changes, and evolving security requirements. Configuration-first approaches typically deliver superior long-term sustainability.

4. Compliance Requirements

For highly regulated industries, the ability to quickly implement and demonstrate compliance controls is essential. Avatier’s pre-built compliance capabilities significantly reduce the effort required to satisfy regulatory requirements.

Conclusion: The Strategic Advantage of Configuration-First Identity Management

While ForgeRock’s customization approach might appear to offer greater flexibility, Avatier’s configuration-first philosophy delivers superior business value through faster implementation, lower total cost of ownership, and improved security outcomes.

In an era where identity has become the primary security perimeter, the ability to quickly implement, easily maintain, and continuously enhance identity controls is essential. Avatier’s approach enables organizations to achieve these objectives without the technical debt and resource demands of customization-heavy alternatives.

For CISOs and IT leaders prioritizing security improvement, risk reduction, and operational efficiency, Avatier’s configuration-first approach represents the optimal balance of flexibility, security, and sustainability in enterprise identity management.

Ready to experience the benefits of configuration over customization? Contact Avatier’s identity management services team to learn how our approach can accelerate your identity program while reducing complexity and cost.