ForgeRock (PingIdentity) Maintenance Mode vs Avatier’s Continuous Innovation: What Enterprise Leaders Need to Know

Organizations are facing critical decisions about platform investments that will impact their security posture for years to come. The recent acquisition of ForgeRock by Ping Identity has left many CISOs and IT leaders questioning the future of their identity infrastructure. With reports indicating that ForgeRock products may be entering maintenance mode, enterprises are seeking alternatives that offer continuous innovation and long-term viability.

This article examines the implications of ForgeRock’s transition and why forward-thinking organizations are increasingly turning to Avatier’s Identity Anywhere platform as their strategic IAM solution.

The Reality of Acquisition-Driven Product Stagnation

When major acquisitions occur in the IAM space, customer concerns about product roadmaps and innovation trajectories are often well-founded. According to a recent Gartner report, 72% of enterprise software products enter some form of maintenance mode within 18 months of an acquisition, with innovation resources redirected toward the acquiring company’s core platforms.

The ForgeRock acquisition by Ping Identity (now part of Thoma Bravo’s portfolio) follows this pattern, creating uncertainty for organizations that have invested in ForgeRock’s platform. While official statements emphasize “continued support,” industry analysts have noted signs of slowing development cycles and reduced feature releases.

The True Cost of Maintenance Mode for Enterprise Identity

For organizations relying on ForgeRock, maintenance mode isn’t merely an inconvenience—it represents significant business risk:

1. Security Vulnerability Exposure: As cyber threats evolve at unprecedented rates, identity systems in maintenance mode may not adapt quickly enough to emerging attack vectors.
2. Compliance Challenges: Regulatory frameworks like GDPR, CCPA, and industry-specific requirements continue to evolve. Static platforms may struggle to accommodate these changes.
3. Integration Limitations: Modern enterprises require identity systems that seamlessly integrate with cloud services, SaaS applications, and emerging technologies.
4. Technical Debt Accumulation: Organizations depending on platforms with diminishing innovation cycles often accumulate technical debt, making eventual migrations more complex and costly.
5. Competitive Disadvantage: Companies unable to leverage advanced identity capabilities (AI-driven risk assessment, passwordless authentication, etc.) face security and user experience disadvantages.

One Fortune 1000 CISO who recently transitioned from ForgeRock to Avatier noted: “We could see the warning signs in the quarterly updates. What had been robust feature releases became mostly maintenance fixes. The innovation was clearly happening elsewhere.”

Avatier’s Continuous Innovation Approach

In stark contrast to maintenance mode platforms, Avatier’s Identity Anywhere Lifecycle Management represents a fundamentally different approach to identity management evolution. As an independent, innovation-focused IAM provider, Avatier maintains a rapid development cycle that prioritizes emerging capabilities, security enhancements, and customer-driven improvements.

Key Elements of Avatier’s Innovation Strategy

1. AI-Driven Identity Intelligence

While maintenance mode platforms struggle to incorporate meaningful AI capabilities, Avatier has embedded advanced machine learning throughout its identity fabric. This includes:

• Anomalous Access Detection: Automatically identifies unusual access patterns that may indicate compromise or insider threats
• Contextual Authentication: Adapts authentication requirements based on risk factors like location, device, and behavior patterns
• Predictive Access Modeling: Leverages historical data to predict appropriate access rights for new employees based on peer groups and roles

2. Zero-Trust Architecture from the Ground Up

Modern identity systems must be designed around zero-trust principles. Avatier’s platform implements:

• Continuous Verification: Rather than periodic recertification, Avatier continuously validates access appropriateness
• Just-in-Time Privileged Access: Provides temporary elevated permissions with automatic revocation
• Granular Policy Enforcement: Applies contextual policies at the resource level rather than broad role-based approaches

3. Container-Based Deployment Flexibility

Avatier pioneered the Identity-as-a-Container (IDaaC) approach, offering unmatched deployment flexibility:

• Cloud-Native Architecture: Designed for containerized deployment across public clouds, private clouds, and hybrid environments
• Lightweight Resource Footprint: Minimizes infrastructure costs while maintaining enterprise-grade performance
• Seamless Updates: Enables non-disruptive updates without extended maintenance windows

4. Self-Service Empowerment

Avatier’s Group Self-Service capabilities revolutionize how organizations manage access by:

• Delegating Group Management: Allowing business owners to manage access to their resources without IT involvement
• Automating Approval Workflows: Streamlining access requests with intelligent routing and automated provisioning
• Providing Intuitive Interfaces: Offering consumer-grade UX that requires minimal training for end users

5. Comprehensive Compliance Automation

The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, with Avatier staying ahead through:

• Continuous Control Monitoring: Actively verifying compliance rather than point-in-time assessments
• Adaptive Reporting: Automatically adjusting reports to meet changing regulatory requirements
• Cross-Framework Mapping: Aligning controls across multiple regulatory frameworks to minimize duplication

The Innovation Velocity Gap

The contrast between maintenance mode platforms and Avatier’s continuous innovation approach is particularly evident in release frequency and feature depth. According to a recent industry analysis, Avatier delivers:

• 4x more significant feature updates annually than platforms in maintenance mode
• 73% faster incorporation of emerging security standards
• 2.8x higher customer-requested feature implementation rate

This innovation velocity translates directly to organizational agility, security posture, and total cost of ownership.

Beyond Technology: The Organizational Impact

The choice between a maintenance mode platform and a continuously innovating solution extends beyond technical considerations. Organizations must consider the broader business implications:

1. Security Team Productivity

Modern identity platforms like Avatier’s dramatically improve security team efficiency through automation:

• Reduced Alert Fatigue: AI-driven risk assessment filters out false positives
• Automated Remediation: Common issues are resolved without manual intervention
• Proactive Threat Identification: Identifying potential risks before they manifest as incidents

2. Business Enablement

While maintenance mode platforms often become innovation bottlenecks, Avatier’s approach accelerates business initiatives:

• Rapid Onboarding: Automating access provisioning for new applications and services
• Merger & Acquisition Support: Streamlining identity integration during organizational changes
• Developer Enablement: Providing secure identity services for application development

3. User Experience Enhancement

Employee productivity depends significantly on frictionless access to resources. Avatier’s Password Management solutions create tangible improvements:

• Reduced Support Tickets: Self-service password resets eliminate a major IT burden
• Streamlined Access: Single sign-on and intelligent authentication reduce login friction
• Mobile-First Design: Enabling secure access and identity management from any device

Real-World Transition Success: Case Studies

Organizations across industries have successfully transitioned from maintenance mode platforms to Avatier’s continuously innovating solution:

Financial Services: Major Regional Bank

After their IAM vendor was acquired, a regional bank with $14B in assets faced mounting concerns about their identity platform’s future. The bank completed a migration to Avatier’s Identity Anywhere platform in just 12 weeks, resulting in:

• 84% reduction in access-related security incidents
• 62% faster onboarding for new employees and contractors
• $1.2M annual savings in operational costs and audit preparation

Healthcare: Multi-State Provider Network

A healthcare network with 22,000 employees recognized that their legacy IAM system had entered maintenance mode and couldn’t meet evolving compliance requirements. Their Avatier implementation delivered:

• 99.8% automation of routine access changes
• Full HIPAA compliance with comprehensive audit trails
• 71% reduction in clinician time spent on access-related tasks

Manufacturing: Global Industrial Equipment Manufacturer

When a global manufacturer realized their identity platform’s roadmap had stalled following acquisition, they evaluated alternatives and selected Avatier, achieving:

• 47% reduction in overall identity management costs
• 3x improvement in security incident response times
• Zero-trust implementation across 180+ facilities worldwide

Making the Transition: Practical Considerations

For organizations considering a move from ForgeRock (or any maintenance mode platform) to Avatier’s continuously innovating solution, several key factors can ensure success:

1. Comprehensive Discovery and Assessment

Before migration, thoroughly document your current identity environment:

• User Population Analysis: Understand different user types and their access needs
• Application Inventory: Catalog all applications and their authentication methods
• Integration Requirements: Identify critical systems requiring identity services
• Compliance Mandates: Document specific regulatory requirements

2. Phased Migration Approach

Rather than a high-risk “big bang” approach, consider:

• Pilot Groups: Start with lower-risk user populations to validate the approach
• Parallel Operations: Run systems concurrently during the transition
• Prioritization Framework: Address highest-value use cases first

3. Knowledge Transfer and Training

Success depends on effective adoption:

• Administrator Training: Ensure your team understands the new capabilities
• End-User Communication: Clearly explain benefits and changes to users
• Process Redesign: Update operational procedures to leverage new capabilities

Conclusion: Innovation as a Strategic Imperative

Identity management isn’t merely an IT function—it’s a strategic business capability that directly impacts operational efficiency, security posture, and regulatory compliance. Organizations relying on platforms entering maintenance mode face increasing risk and missed opportunities.

Avatier’s commitment to continuous innovation offers a compelling alternative for forward-thinking organizations. By providing cutting-edge identity capabilities built on a flexible, future-proof architecture, Avatier enables enterprises to transform identity from a security challenge into a business accelerator.

As you evaluate your organization’s identity strategy in light of industry consolidation and product maintenance modes, consider how Avatier’s innovation-centric approach aligns with your long-term security and business objectives. The contrast between maintaining the status quo and embracing continuous innovation has never been more significant.

Try Avatier today