ForgeRock vs. Avatier: Understanding the True Cost of Professional Services in Identity Management

Implementing an identity and access management (IAM) solution involves more than just licensing software. The professional services, implementation support, and ongoing maintenance significantly impact total cost of ownership (TCO) and time-to-value. This analysis compares ForgeRock (now part of Ping Identity) and their professional services approach with Avatier’s more inclusive support model, revealing substantial differences that affect both budgeting and deployment success.

The Hidden Costs of ForgeRock Professional Services

ForgeRock, recently acquired by Ping Identity for $2.8 billion, operates on a professional services model that often surprises customers with additional costs beyond the initial software investment. According to industry analysis, professional services can represent 2-3 times the cost of software licenses for complex IAM implementations.

ForgeRock’s approach typically includes:

1. Tiered Support Packages: Basic support covers limited hours and channels, while premium packages (often necessary for enterprise deployments) add significant costs.
2. Implementation Consultants: Billed at rates ranging from $200-$350 per hour, these specialists are usually required for successful deployments.
3. Custom Integration Development: Additional fees apply for connecting to legacy or custom applications, often at premium rates.
4. Training Costs: Specialized courses for administrators and developers range from $2,500-$5,000 per person.
5. Post-Implementation Support: After initial deployment, ongoing customizations and optimizations incur further professional services fees.

According to a Forrester Research study, companies implementing enterprise IAM solutions often underestimate implementation costs by 40-60%, with professional services being the primary source of budget overruns.

Avatier’s Comprehensive Support Approach: Services Included, Not Added

Avatier’s approach to professional services represents a fundamental departure from the traditional IAM vendor model, providing comprehensive support as part of the software licensing agreement rather than as costly add-ons.

Implementation Assistance Included

Unlike ForgeRock’s à la carte approach, Avatier includes essential implementation services with your license:

1. Project Scoping and Design: Avatier’s experts help design your implementation based on your specific requirements.
2. Configuration Support: Technical assistance to properly configure the platform for your environment.
3. Integration Guidance: Support for connecting to common enterprise applications and directories.
4. Knowledge Transfer: Training for administrators to ensure self-sufficiency.

This inclusive approach delivers several key benefits:

• Predictable Budgeting: No surprise professional services costs after purchase
• Faster Time-to-Value: Implementation begins immediately without procurement delays
• Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Eliminating separate professional services contracts can reduce TCO by 30-40%

Customer Implementation Experience: ForgeRock vs. Avatier

ForgeRock Implementation Reality

Customers implementing ForgeRock typically experience a multi-phase process with associated professional services at each stage:

1. Discovery Phase: Consulting engagement to determine requirements ($15,000-$30,000)
2. Architecture Design: Professional services to design the solution ($25,000-$50,000)
3. Implementation: Technical consultants to deploy the solution (Often $100,000+)
4. Testing and Validation: Quality assurance services ($15,000-$30,000)
5. Knowledge Transfer: Training for staff ($10,000-$20,000)
6. Post-Implementation Support: Ongoing assistance ($3,000-$10,000 monthly)

These costs can quickly escalate, especially for enterprises with complex environments or specific compliance requirements. A mid-sized enterprise implementation can easily exceed $200,000 in professional services alone.

Avatier’s Streamlined Implementation

Avatier’s Identity Management services include critical implementation assistance without the hefty price tag:

1. Included Onboarding: Dedicated specialists guide your team through implementation
2. Application Connectors: Pre-built connectors for major applications are included
3. Configuration Assistance: Help setting up workflows, policies, and automation
4. Knowledge Transfer: Training is part of the implementation process
5. Go-Live Support: Dedicated assistance during critical deployment phases

The result is an implementation process that typically costs 50-70% less than comparable ForgeRock deployments while delivering faster time-to-value.

Beyond Implementation: Ongoing Support Differences

The cost differences extend well beyond initial implementation. ForgeRock’s model requires ongoing professional services engagement for:

• Version Upgrades: Often requiring consultant assistance
• New Application Integrations: Additional professional services for each new system
• Feature Optimization: Paid consulting to leverage new capabilities
• Compliance Updates: Separate engagements for regulatory changes

In contrast, Avatier includes:

• Regular Version Updates: Assistance with upgrades included in support
• New Connector Support: Help implementing additional application connections
• Feature Enablement: Guidance on leveraging new capabilities
• Compliance Configuration: Support for adapting to regulatory changes

Calculating the TCO Difference

When evaluating ForgeRock versus Avatier, organizations must consider the full 3-5 year cost picture. A typical enterprise deployment comparison reveals:

ForgeRock (5-Year TCO):

• Software Licenses: $500,000
• Professional Services: $350,000-$750,000
• Staff Training: $30,000-$50,000
• Ongoing Customization: $100,000-$200,000
• Total: $980,000-$1,500,000

Avatier (5-Year TCO):

• Software Licenses (with included services): $500,000-$600,000
• Additional Professional Services: $50,000-$100,000
• Staff Training: Included
• Ongoing Customization Support: Included
• Total: $550,000-$700,000

The difference represents a 40-55% TCO savings with Avatier’s model.

Specialized Industry Requirements: Where Support Models Matter Most

For organizations in highly regulated industries, professional services requirements become even more critical and potentially expensive.

Healthcare Organizations (HIPAA Compliance)

Healthcare providers implementing ForgeRock often require specialized consultants familiar with HIPAA requirements, adding $50,000-$100,000 to implementation costs.

Avatier’s HIPAA-compliant solution includes compliance-specific implementation guidance, significantly reducing these specialized costs while ensuring proper security controls are implemented.

Financial Services (SOX, GLBA, PCI)

Financial institutions typically spend 30-40% more on ForgeRock professional services due to complex compliance requirements and high-security environments.

Avatier’s financial services implementation includes industry-specific compliance guidance as part of the standard support package, helping banks and financial institutions achieve compliance without extensive consulting engagements.

Deployment Options and Associated Professional Services

ForgeRock’s Cloud Transition Costs

As ForgeRock pushes customers toward cloud deployments, many organizations face significant professional services costs to migrate from on-premises installations. These migration projects typically cost $75,000-$150,000 in professional services alone.

Avatier’s Flexible Deployment Support

Avatier supports multiple deployment models with included implementation assistance:

• On-Premises: Traditional deployment with full support
• Private Cloud: Assistance configuring for your cloud environment
• Identity-as-a-Container: Support for modern container deployments
• Hybrid Models: Help implementing across multiple environments

This flexibility allows organizations to choose the right deployment strategy without incurring additional professional services costs.

Making an Informed Decision: Beyond Initial Price Quotes

When evaluating ForgeRock and Avatier, organizations should consider:

1. Request All-Inclusive Pricing: Ask ForgeRock for a comprehensive quote including all required professional services for successful implementation.
2. Define Success Criteria: Establish clear implementation milestones and determine which vendor includes the services needed to achieve them.
3. Consider Staff Resources: Evaluate the internal resources required under each vendor’s model and associated costs.
4. Assess Time-to-Value: Calculate how quickly each solution can be implemented given their professional services approach.
5. Evaluate Long-Term Support: Consider the ongoing professional services requirements for each option.

Conclusion: The True Value Proposition

The difference between ForgeRock and Avatier extends far beyond feature comparisons or initial license costs. The fundamental approach to professional services represents a philosophical difference that impacts:

• Budget predictability
• Implementation timelines
• Long-term relationship costs
• Internal resource requirements

While ForgeRock offers a robust identity platform, its professional services model creates significant additional costs that must be factored into any evaluation. Avatier’s inclusive approach delivers comparable (or superior) capabilities with dramatically lower TCO and fewer implementation obstacles.

For organizations seeking enterprise-grade identity management without the professional services premium, Avatier represents a compelling alternative that delivers comprehensive functionality with predictable costs and included implementation support.

To learn more about how Avatier can provide enterprise-grade identity management with included implementation services, visit Avatier’s Identity Management Services page.

Try Avatier today