Beyond 18 Months: Why Organizations Are Switching from ForgeRock to Avatier’s 14-Day Implementation

For enterprises implementing identity and access management (IAM) solutions, the contrast between ForgeRock’s typical 18-month deployment timeline and Avatier’s 14-day implementation represents more than just a scheduling difference—it’s a fundamental shift in how organizations approach security transformation.

According to Gartner’s research, the average enterprise IAM implementation takes between 12-24 months, with complex deployments at large organizations often stretching beyond that timeframe. During these extended periods, organizations remain vulnerable to identity-related threats while simultaneously bearing the financial burden of delayed ROI and mounting project costs.

The ForgeRock Implementation Challenge

ForgeRock, now part of Ping Identity following the $2.8 billion acquisition, has built a reputation on comprehensive IAM capabilities. However, this comprehensiveness comes at a significant cost in terms of time, resources, and complexity.

The typical ForgeRock implementation follows this timeline:

1. Discovery and planning: 2-3 months
2. Architecture design: 3-4 months
3. Development and customization: 6-8 months
4. Testing and QA: 3-4 months
5. Deployment and go-live: 2-3 months

Organizations implementing ForgeRock often face several challenges:

• Resource-intensive customization: Most deployments require significant custom coding and configuration
• Integration complexity: Extended timeframes for connecting to existing enterprise systems
• Implementation expertise: Heavy reliance on specialized consultants
• Scope creep: Projects frequently expand beyond initial parameters
• Delayed security benefits: Critical identity security features remain unimplemented during extended deployment

A 2023 industry survey by Enterprise Strategy Group found that 67% of organizations reported their IAM implementations took significantly longer than initially projected, with the average project running 7.5 months behind schedule.

Avatier’s 14-Day Implementation Advantage

In stark contrast to traditional IAM implementations, Avatier’s Identity Management Services follow a streamlined approach built around rapid deployment and immediate value delivery.

Avatier achieves its 14-day implementation through several key innovations:

1. Container-Based Architecture

Avatier pioneered Identity-as-a-Container (IDaaC) technology, deploying IAM solutions as containerized applications. This architecture enables deployment across any environment—cloud, on-premises, or hybrid—without complex infrastructure requirements. Unlike traditional IAM platforms that require extensive server configuration and component installation, Avatier’s container approach provides immediate deployment capability.

2. Pre-Built Connectors and Workflows

While ForgeRock implementations typically require extensive custom development, Avatier delivers over 500 pre-built application connectors that cover the vast majority of enterprise applications. These top identity management application connectors dramatically reduce integration time while maintaining enterprise-grade security.

The difference is substantial: ForgeRock consultants may spend 2-3 months developing connectors for core enterprise applications, whereas Avatier’s pre-built connectors can be implemented in hours or days.

3. Self-Service Implementation Capabilities

Avatier has reimagined the implementation process itself, shifting from consultant-dependent deployments to customer-empowered implementations:

• Intuitive administration interface: Non-technical staff can configure most aspects of the system
• Guided workflow setup: Step-by-step configuration of approval chains and provisioning processes
• Visual policy builder: Security policies created through intuitive interfaces rather than custom code
• Automated testing tools: Built-in validation reduces QA cycles

4. Accelerated Adoption Through User Experience

A critical factor in IAM project timelines is user adoption. Avatier addresses this through:

• Consumer-grade user experience: Intuitive interfaces require minimal training
• Mobile-first approach: Identity Anywhere enables access via smartphone, tablet, or desktop
• Chatbot integration: Users can request access through familiar platforms like Teams, Slack, or custom chatbots
• Automated workflows: Self-service functions reduce help desk involvement

The Business Impact: Comparing 18 Months vs. 14 Days

The business implications of accelerated IAM deployment extend far beyond scheduling considerations:

1. Security Risk Reduction

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach 2023 Report, organizations with fully deployed IAM solutions experienced breach costs that were $1.8 million lower than those without mature identity security. For organizations waiting 18 months for ForgeRock implementation, this represents a substantial window of increased vulnerability.

Avatier’s 14-day deployment means organizations can:

• Close critical identity vulnerabilities within weeks, not months or years
• Implement least-privilege access policies immediately
• Address compliance requirements quickly
• Respond to audit findings rapidly
• Deploy MFA and adaptive authentication before the next security incident

2. Financial Benefits

The cost difference between extended and rapid implementations is substantial:

• Consulting costs: ForgeRock implementations typically require 2,000+ consulting hours compared to Avatier’s 40-80 hours
• Internal resource allocation: 18-month projects can consume 25-50% of IT team capacity
• License utilization: Organizations pay for ForgeRock licenses during the entire implementation period, often with limited functionality
• ROI timeline: Security and efficiency benefits begin generating returns in weeks rather than years

An IDC study found that organizations implementing modern IAM solutions achieved an average three-year ROI of 172%. With Avatier’s accelerated deployment, this ROI timeline shifts dramatically forward compared to traditional implementations.

3. Competitive Advantage

Agility provides competitive advantage. Organizations waiting 18 months for identity management capabilities face significant disadvantages:

• Delayed digital transformation initiatives
• Slower business process improvements
• Extended timeline for enabling secure partner and customer access
• Limited ability to adapt to changing business requirements

Case Study: Financial Services Firm Switches from ForgeRock to Avatier

A Fortune 500 financial services organization had invested 11 months into a ForgeRock implementation with an estimated 9 months remaining before full deployment. Facing mounting costs and security concerns, they evaluated alternative solutions.

After selecting Avatier’s Identity Anywhere for Financial solution, the organization achieved:

• Full implementation within 14 days, including connections to 87 applications
• 40% cost reduction compared to projected ForgeRock completion costs
• 92% decrease in help desk tickets for access-related issues
• Compliance with SEC and FINRA regulatory requirements
• Self-service access requests implemented across 12,000 employees

The organization’s CISO noted: “We went from monthly status meetings discussing implementation delays to weekly reports on security improvements. The contrast was remarkable.”

Why CISOs and IT Leaders Are Making the Switch

Security leaders cite several key factors when explaining their decision to switch from ForgeRock to Avatier:

1. Evolving Security Requirements

The rapid evolution of security threats means that solutions designed today may be addressing yesterday’s problems by the time they’re implemented 18 months later. Avatier’s rapid deployment model ensures organizations implement the most current security capabilities.

2. Resource Allocation

Extended IAM projects consume significant IT resources that could be directed toward other security initiatives. Avatier’s efficient implementation frees these resources for additional security enhancements.

3. Compliance Pressure

With regulatory frameworks like GDPR, CCPA, and industry-specific regulations imposing strict identity management requirements, organizations need rapid compliance capabilities. Avatier’s Access Governance solutions provide immediate compliance benefits.

4. Cost Containment

As economic pressures mount, CISOs face increasing scrutiny over extended, expensive projects. Avatier provides predictable, contained implementation costs with faster time-to-value.

Making the Transition: ForgeRock to Avatier Migration

For organizations currently in the midst of extended ForgeRock implementations or those experiencing challenges with existing deployments, Avatier offers streamlined migration paths:

1. Parallel implementation: Deploy Avatier alongside existing identity systems
2. Phased migration: Transition specific functions to Avatier while maintaining others
3. Clean-slate approach: Complete replacement with accelerated data migration

Avatier’s professional services team provides specialized migration tools and methodologies specifically designed for ForgeRock transitions, minimizing disruption while accelerating security benefits.

Conclusion: Redefining IAM Implementation Expectations

The contrast between ForgeRock’s 18-month implementation timeline and Avatier’s 14-day deployment represents a fundamental shift in identity and access management. Organizations no longer need to accept extended vulnerability periods, massive consulting engagements, and delayed ROI as inevitable aspects of IAM implementation.

By leveraging container technology, pre-built integrations, and intuitive self-service capabilities, Avatier has redefined what’s possible in enterprise identity management. The question for security leaders is no longer how to manage extended implementation timelines, but why they should accept them at all.

For organizations evaluating IAM solutions or currently struggling with lengthy implementations, the choice is increasingly clear: wait 18 months for security capabilities or implement comprehensive identity management in just 14 days.

The identity security benefits your organization needs aren’t 18 months away—they’re just two weeks from today.

Try Avatier today