Migration Freedom: Why Enterprises Switch from ForgeRock to Avatier’s Identity Management Platform

The decision to migrate from one identity management platform to another isn’t taken lightly. With Ping Identity’s acquisition of ForgeRock in 2023, many organizations are reassessing their identity management strategies and exploring alternatives that offer greater flexibility, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.

This comprehensive analysis examines why enterprises are increasingly choosing to migrate from ForgeRock (now Ping Identity) to Avatier’s Identity Management Anywhere platform, and how this migration path offers unprecedented freedom and advantages for organizations seeking to enhance their identity governance and access management capabilities.

The Changing Identity Management Landscape

The identity management market continues to experience significant consolidation, with Ping Identity’s $2.8 billion acquisition of ForgeRock being one of the most notable recent examples. According to KuppingerCole, the identity and access management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2022 to 2027, reaching $25.6 billion by 2027.

This consolidation trend often raises concerns among customers about the future of their existing identity solutions, including:

• Potential price increases
• Reduced innovation focus
• Uncertainty about product roadmaps
• Support continuity challenges
• Integration complexities with existing systems

These concerns are driving many ForgeRock customers to explore alternative solutions like Avatier that offer more flexibility, innovative capabilities, and clearer upgrade paths.

Key Challenges with ForgeRock Post-Acquisition

While ForgeRock has historically been a strong player in the identity management space, the acquisition by Ping Identity has introduced several uncertainties:

1. Complex and Resource-Intensive Implementation

ForgeRock implementations are known for their complexity, often requiring specialized expertise and significant professional services engagement. According to Gartner, ForgeRock deployments typically take 1.5 to 2 times longer than industry averages, with many enterprises reporting implementation timeframes of 12+ months.

2. High Total Cost of Ownership

The total cost of ownership (TCO) for ForgeRock solutions has been a common pain point. Between licensing costs, professional services, and ongoing maintenance, many organizations report ForgeRock deployments costing 30-40% more than comparable solutions over a three-year period.

3. Integration Limitations

Despite ForgeRock’s open platform claims, customers frequently report challenges integrating with modern cloud applications and legacy systems simultaneously. This creates silos within identity infrastructure that contradict the unified identity vision most enterprises seek.

4. Uncertainty Around Product Roadmap

With the Ping Identity acquisition, questions remain about which features will be prioritized, which might be deprecated, and how existing ForgeRock customers will be transitioned to new offerings.

Why Enterprises Choose Avatier Over ForgeRock

Avatier’s Identity Management Anywhere platform addresses these challenges with a distinctly different approach to identity management that resonates with organizations seeking flexibility and efficiency.

1. Container-Based Architecture for Unparalleled Deployment Flexibility

Avatier pioneered the concept of Identity-as-a-Container (IDaaC), offering organizations unprecedented deployment flexibility. Unlike ForgeRock’s more rigid deployment models, Avatier can be deployed:

• On-premises in private data centers
• In public cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• In hybrid configurations
• As a fully managed SaaS offering

This container-based approach allows for deployment in air-gapped environments, crucial for organizations in defense, government, and highly regulated industries. According to a recent IDC survey, 87% of enterprises now prefer container-based applications for their flexibility and reduced infrastructure dependencies.

2. Simplified Implementation and Rapid Time-to-Value

While ForgeRock implementations often extend beyond 12 months, Avatier customers typically achieve full implementation in 60-90 days. This dramatic reduction in time-to-value is achieved through:

• Pre-built application connectors for rapid integration
• No-code/low-code configuration interfaces
• Intuitive workflow designers
• Self-service implementation options

These capabilities enable organizations to realize ROI from their identity investment significantly faster than with ForgeRock’s solution.

3. Superior User Experience Through Self-Service

Avatier’s platform is designed around the principle of self-service, significantly reducing help desk tickets and improving user satisfaction. Key features include:

• Intuitive mobile-first interfaces
• AI-assisted access request recommendations
• Natural language processing for service catalog navigation
• Chatbot integration for common identity tasks

In fact, organizations implementing Avatier’s self-service capabilities report an average 70% reduction in identity-related help desk tickets and a 40% improvement in user satisfaction scores.

4. Comprehensive Compliance Management

For regulated industries, Avatier offers purpose-built compliance solutions that exceed ForgeRock’s capabilities:

• Pre-configured compliance frameworks for HIPAA, SOX, GDPR, FISMA, and NIST 800-53
• Automated certification campaigns with intelligent sampling
• Continuous control monitoring with real-time alerts
• Comprehensive audit trails and evidence collection

These capabilities are particularly valuable for healthcare organizations seeking HIPAA compliance, financial institutions navigating SOX requirements, and government agencies addressing FISMA mandates.

The Migration Process: From ForgeRock to Avatier

Avatier has developed a structured migration methodology specifically designed for ForgeRock customers, minimizing disruption while maximizing the value of existing identity data:

1. Discovery and Assessment

The migration journey begins with a comprehensive assessment of your current ForgeRock implementation, identifying:

• Active identity stores and their schema
• Current workflows and approval processes
• Integration points with applications and systems
• Compliance requirements and reporting needs
• Pain points in the current implementation

2. Migration Planning

Based on the assessment, Avatier develops a tailored migration plan that includes:

• Data migration strategies and tools
• Phased implementation approach
• User training and communication plans
• Parallel operation periods where necessary
• Success metrics and validation criteria

3. Implementation and Data Transfer

Avatier’s implementation team executes the migration plan, focusing on:

• Clean data transfer with validation
• Configuration of equivalent (or enhanced) workflows
• Integration with existing application ecosystem
• User acceptance testing
• Performance optimization

4. Validation and Cutover

Before final cutover, comprehensive validation ensures:

• All identity processes function as expected
• Performance meets or exceeds requirements
• Compliance reporting works correctly
• User experience meets expectations
• Support systems are in place

Real-World Migration Success Stories

Financial Services: Global Bank Reduces IAM Costs by 42%

A global financial institution with over 40,000 employees migrated from ForgeRock to Avatier, achieving:

• 42% reduction in total cost of ownership over three years
• Implementation completed in 75 days (vs. estimated 14 months for ForgeRock upgrade)
• 89% reduction in access certification effort through intelligent automation
• Improved compliance posture with automated SOX controls

Healthcare: Regional Hospital System Accelerates Provisioning by 87%

A 12-hospital healthcare system transitioned to Avatier’s platform, realizing:

• 87% faster user provisioning for clinical staff
• 94% reduction in privileged access management overhead
• Seamless integration with Epic and other clinical systems
• Full HIPAA compliance with comprehensive audit capabilities

Manufacturing: Global Producer Unifies Identity Across 27 Countries

A manufacturing leader consolidated multiple identity solutions, including ForgeRock, into Avatier’s unified platform:

• Single identity platform spanning 27 countries and 85,000 users
• 71% reduction in identity-related help desk tickets
• Standardized access governance across all regions
• Integration with manufacturing-specific applications and OT systems

Cost Considerations: TCO Analysis

When comparing ForgeRock and Avatier on total cost of ownership, Avatier consistently delivers superior value:

Cost Component	ForgeRock	Avatier	Savings
Initial License/Subscription	Higher base cost with complex user-based tiers	Simplified pricing model with predictable scaling	25-35%
Implementation	Typically requires extensive professional services	Self-service options with minimal professional services	40-60%
Ongoing Maintenance	Higher annual maintenance fees	Lower maintenance costs with automated updates	30-45%
Internal Resources	Requires dedicated identity specialists	Can be managed by existing IT staff	35-50%
Training	Extensive specialized training needed	Intuitive interfaces require minimal training	40-60%

Making the Decision: Evaluating Your Migration Options

As you consider migrating from ForgeRock to Avatier, consider these key questions:

1. What is your organization’s cloud strategy? Avatier’s container-based architecture provides unmatched flexibility for any cloud journey.
2. How important is self-service to your organization? If reducing help desk burden is a priority, Avatier’s self-service capabilities deliver significant advantages.
3. What are your specific compliance requirements? Avatier’s purpose-built compliance solutions may offer advantages for highly regulated industries.
4. What is your timeline for migration? Avatier typically offers much faster implementation timeframes than ForgeRock upgrades.
5. What is your total cost tolerance? Avatier consistently delivers lower TCO compared to ForgeRock solutions.

Conclusion: Freedom to Choose the Right Identity Solution

As the identity management landscape continues to evolve through consolidation and technological advancement, organizations deserve the freedom to choose solutions that best meet their specific needs without being locked into restrictive ecosystems.

Avatier’s Identity Management Anywhere platform offers ForgeRock customers a compelling alternative that delivers:

• Greater deployment flexibility through container-based architecture
• Faster implementation and time-to-value
• Enhanced user experience through intuitive self-service
• Comprehensive compliance capabilities
• Lower total cost of ownership

By migrating to Avatier, organizations can break free from the constraints and uncertainties of the ForgeRock ecosystem while advancing their identity management capabilities to address today’s complex security challenges.

For a personalized assessment of your ForgeRock to Avatier migration path, contact Avatier’s identity experts today.