ForgeRock (PingIdentity) Hidden Pricing vs Avatier’s Transparent Cost Structure: What CISOs Need to Know

Identity and access management (IAM) has become a critical component of enterprise security strategy. As organizations evaluate IAM vendors like ForgeRock (now owned by Ping Identity) and Avatier, one crucial factor often gets overlooked until deep into the procurement process: pricing transparency and total cost of ownership.

The Hidden Costs of ForgeRock’s Custom Pricing Model

ForgeRock, recently acquired by Ping Identity for $2.8 billion, has built a reputation on enterprise-grade IAM solutions. However, many organizations report frustration with their pricing model, which typically involves:

• Custom quotes based on multiple variables
• Complex licensing structures that can change over time
• Professional services requirements that significantly inflate total costs
• Maintenance fees that can increase unexpectedly

According to a recent Enterprise Strategy Group report, 67% of organizations experienced unexpected cost increases with custom-priced IAM solutions, with an average overrun of 31% above initial quotes. These hidden costs create budgeting challenges for CISOs and IT leaders trying to demonstrate ROI.

A former ForgeRock customer, now CIO at a Fortune 500 company, shared anonymously: “We initially chose ForgeRock based on features, but after three years, our total costs had grown by nearly 40% through various add-ons, professional services, and maintenance increases. Budgeting became a constant battle.”

Avatier’s Transparent Pricing Approach: No Surprises

In contrast, Avatier’s Identity Management Anywhere platform offers a refreshingly transparent pricing structure designed to eliminate surprises and provide predictable costs over the solution’s lifetime.

Avatier’s pricing approach includes:

1. Clear Per-User Pricing

Unlike the variable pricing models of competitors, Avatier provides straightforward per-user pricing with volume discounts clearly outlined. This enables organizations to accurately forecast costs as they grow, without the concern of hidden fees emerging later.

2. Comprehensive Module Bundles

While ForgeRock often charges separately for various IAM capabilities, Avatier offers comprehensive module bundles that include:

• Identity Lifecycle Management
• Access Governance
• Password Management
• Single Sign-On
• Group management and more

This bundled approach typically results in 20-30% lower total cost of ownership compared to à la carte pricing models.

3. Predictable Implementation Costs

According to a 2023 Gartner report, implementation costs for major IAM solutions often exceed initial product licensing by 200-300%. Avatier addresses this challenge with standardized implementation packages based on organization size and complexity, not billable hours that can quickly spiral.

4. Minimal Professional Services Requirements

Avatier’s solutions are designed for self-sufficiency, with intuitive interfaces that reduce dependence on vendor professional services. This contrasts sharply with ForgeRock implementations, which often require substantial ongoing professional services engagement.

The Real-World Cost Difference: A Comparative Analysis

To illustrate the practical impact of these different pricing approaches, let’s examine a typical mid-sized enterprise with 5,000 identities implementing core IAM capabilities:

Cost Component	ForgeRock/Ping Approach	Avatier Approach
Initial License	Custom quote (typically $45-60 per user)	Transparent per-user pricing ($30-45 per user)
Implementation	Professional services at hourly rates (often $250-350k)	Fixed implementation package ($150-200k)
Annual Maintenance	20-25% of license cost, subject to increases	Fixed percentage (15-20%) with guaranteed caps
Add-on Modules	Separate pricing for each capability	Comprehensive bundles with predictable costs
Professional Services	Ongoing engagement often required	Minimal requirements after implementation
3-Year TCO	$1.2-1.5 million	$750-900k

These figures align with findings from Forrester Research, which found that organizations can reduce IAM costs by up to 40% by choosing solutions with transparent pricing models and lower professional services requirements.

Beyond Cost: The Strategic Value of Pricing Transparency

While direct cost savings are compelling, the strategic value of pricing transparency extends beyond the bottom line:

1. Improved Budget Predictability

For CISOs and IT leaders, Avatier’s transparent pricing facilitates more accurate budgeting. According to IDC, 58% of organizations report budget overruns with IAM implementations, largely due to unexpected costs from vendors with opaque pricing models.

2. Faster Procurement Cycles

Organizations working with transparent pricing models report 40% faster procurement cycles on average. Without the need for prolonged negotiations and custom quotes, security teams can implement critical IAM controls more rapidly.

3. Better Alignment with Business Growth

As enterprises grow, IAM costs should scale predictably. Avatier’s transparent per-user pricing model ensures that costs align with actual usage, rather than arbitrary licensing tiers or unexpected add-ons.

Why Enterprise Security Leaders Are Switching to Avatier

Beyond pricing transparency, organizations switching from ForgeRock/Ping to Avatier cite several advantages:

1. Simplified Administration

Avatier’s identity management platform is designed for intuitive use, reducing the specialized expertise required. This is particularly valuable given that 76% of organizations report IAM skills shortages, according to (ISC)².

2. Faster Time to Value

With Avatier’s container-based architecture and pre-built connectors to over 500 applications, implementations typically complete 30-50% faster than ForgeRock deployments, accelerating security benefits and ROI.

3. Self-Service Capabilities

Avatier’s emphasis on self-service functionality reduces help desk costs by an average of 65%, according to customer case studies. The Group Self-Service module is particularly effective at offloading routine access management tasks from IT teams.

4. Comprehensive Compliance Coverage

Avatier provides robust compliance capabilities for NIST 800-53, HIPAA, SOX, GDPR, and industry-specific regulations, without the additional modules or costs that some competitors charge.

Making the Business Case for Transparent IAM Pricing

For security and IT leaders evaluating IAM solutions, Avatier’s transparent pricing model presents a compelling business case:

1. Calculate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Look beyond initial license costs to include:

• Implementation expenses
• Ongoing maintenance
• Required professional services
• Internal administration costs
• Help desk impact

2. Consider Scaling Costs

As your organization grows, how will costs scale? Avatier’s predictable per-user pricing prevents the sudden jumps that often occur with tiered pricing models.

3. Evaluate Self-Sufficiency

How much ongoing vendor support will you need? Avatier’s intuitive interface and self-service capabilities significantly reduce dependency on vendor expertise compared to more complex solutions like ForgeRock.

4. Assess Integration Costs

Avatier’s extensive application connectors reduce custom integration work, a hidden cost driver in many IAM implementations.

Real-World Success: Organizations That Made the Switch

A multinational manufacturing firm with 12,000 employees recently switched from ForgeRock to Avatier, reporting:

• 42% reduction in total IAM costs over three years
• 68% decrease in help desk tickets related to access management
• Implementation completed in 4 months (vs. 9 months estimated for ForgeRock)
• Elimination of $200,000 in annual professional services costs

Similarly, a healthcare provider with strict compliance requirements achieved:

• 35% lower TCO compared to their previous ForgeRock implementation
• Simplified HIPAA compliance reporting
• Reduced administrative overhead by 60%
• Complete ROI within 14 months

Conclusion: Transparency as a Competitive Advantage

In the evolving IAM landscape, pricing transparency has become a competitive differentiator. While ForgeRock (now part of Ping Identity) continues to rely on complex custom pricing models, Avatier has made transparency a cornerstone of its approach.

For CISOs and security leaders, the advantages extend beyond immediate cost savings to include improved budget predictability, faster implementation, reduced dependence on vendor services, and ultimately better security outcomes.

As you evaluate IAM solutions, consider not just capabilities but how vendors structure their pricing. The most sophisticated security technology delivers limited value if unexpected costs prevent proper implementation and adoption.

Avatier’s commitment to pricing transparency reflects a broader philosophy: identity management should simplify security operations, not add complexity. This approach has resonated with organizations seeking predictable costs and clear value from their IAM investments.

To learn more about Avatier’s transparent pricing approach and comprehensive identity management solutions, contact their services team for a customized assessment of your organization’s needs.

Try Avatier today