ForgeRock Projects Take 18 Months While Avatier Delivers in Just 14 Days: The ROI Gap in Identity Management

The time-to-value for identity and access management (IAM) solutions has become a critical decision factor for enterprises. While ForgeRock (now part of Ping Identity following their $2.8 billion acquisition) often requires extensive 18-month implementation timelines, Avatier’s innovative approach delivers complete IAM solutions in just 14 days. This dramatic difference in deployment speed translates directly to ROI, operational efficiency, and security posture—factors that increasingly matter to CISOs and IT leaders navigating complex digital transformation initiatives.

The Cost of Waiting: ForgeRock’s 18-Month Implementation Reality

ForgeRock implementations typically extend 12-18 months before organizations see tangible benefits. This extended timeline isn’t just an inconvenience—it represents significant financial and security costs:

• Delayed Security Benefits: According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, organizations with fully deployed IAM solutions experience 50% lower breach costs. Each month without comprehensive IAM protection potentially costs organizations hundreds of thousands in increased risk exposure.
• Implementation Resource Drain: ForgeRock deployments typically require 3-5 full-time technical resources dedicated to the project, representing $450,000-$750,000 in labor costs alone for the implementation period.
• Expensive Professional Services: ForgeRock customers often report professional services costs exceeding 2-3x the software licensing costs, with some enterprises investing $1-2 million in implementation services.
• Extended Time-to-Value: With ROI calculations starting only after full deployment, the 18-month implementation delay significantly diminishes the total value of the investment over a standard 3-year contract term.

Industry experts note that long implementation timelines have become an unfortunate standard in the IAM industry. As one Gartner analyst observed, “Many enterprises budget for IAM implementations in years rather than months, creating a significant lag between investment and realized security benefits.”

Avatier’s Disruptive 14-Day Implementation Approach

In stark contrast to these extended timelines, Avatier’s Identity Management Services deliver fully operational IAM solutions in just 14 days. This dramatic acceleration is possible through several innovative approaches:

1. Container-Based Deployment Architecture

Avatier pioneered Identity-as-a-Container (IDaaC) technology, allowing organizations to deploy full IAM infrastructure in hours rather than months. This containerized approach enables:

• Instant infrastructure deployment: No waiting for hardware procurement or complex infrastructure setup
• Pre-configured environments: Eliminating weeks of environmental setup and configuration
• Simplified scaling: Expanding capacity without lengthy deployment cycles

2. Pre-Built Integration Library

While ForgeRock customers often spend months building custom connectors, Avatier’s approach includes:

• Extensive application connector library: Over 500+ pre-built connectors to common enterprise applications
• Codeless integration framework: Simple configuration instead of complex coding
• Rapid connection to existing identity sources: Days instead of weeks to connect to directories and identity stores

3. Workflow Automation from Day One

Avatier’s implementation methodology prioritizes delivering immediate operational value through:

• No-code workflow automation: Business processes automated through configuration, not development
• Self-service capabilities: Immediate deployment of password management, access requests, and group management
• Built-in compliance frameworks: Pre-configured ruleset templates for common regulations

4. Results-Driven Implementation Methodology

Avatier’s professional services approach is fundamentally different from traditional vendors:

• Outcome-based engagement: Focus on operational capabilities, not billable hours
• Agile implementation sprints: Two-week delivery cycles with tangible results
• Business-focused configuration: Prioritizing organizational needs over technical complexity

Real-World Impact: The Cost Difference in Numbers

The financial impact of these different implementation approaches is substantial:

Implementation Factor	ForgeRock (18 Months)	Avatier (14 Days)	Difference
Time to First Value	6-12 months	14 days	5-11.5 months sooner
Internal Resources Required	3-5 FTEs	1 FTE	2-4 fewer staff
Professional Services Cost	2-3x license cost	0.5x license cost	75-83% less
Total Implementation Cost	$1M-$2M+	$100K-$200K	80-90% savings
Time to Full ROI	24-30 months	2-3 months	21-28 months sooner

These differences translate into dramatically better business outcomes. A mid-sized enterprise implementing Avatier’s Identity Anywhere Lifecycle Management solution typically experiences:

• Immediate operational improvements: Within the first month versus waiting a year or more
• 85% faster time to security compliance: Critical regulatory requirements met in weeks instead of quarters
• 75% lower implementation costs: Resources directed to innovation rather than deployment
• Dramatically improved ROI: Full payback period measured in months instead of years

Why Implementation Speed Matters: Beyond Just Time Savings

The business impact of accelerated IAM implementation extends far beyond just saving time—it fundamentally changes the security posture and operational efficiency of the organization:

1. Security Risk Reduction

According to a recent Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, 99.9% of compromised accounts didn’t use multi-factor authentication. Every day without comprehensive IAM increases breach risk. Avatier’s rapid implementation means:

• Immediate MFA enforcement across the organization
• Faster privileged access security implementation
• Quicker detection and remediation of potential security issues
• Reduced window of vulnerability during deployment

2. Compliance Acceleration

Regulatory pressures continue mounting, with organizations facing expanding compliance requirements. A HIPAA violation can cost $50,000 per violation, while GDPR infractions can reach €20 million or 4% of annual revenue. Avatier’s rapid deployment means:

• Faster implementation of access certification processes
• Earlier compliance with segregation of duties requirements
• More rapid establishment of governance frameworks
• Quicker time to demonstrable compliance

3. Operational Efficiency Gains

Every month without automated IAM processes costs organizations in both direct and indirect efficiency losses. According to Forrester Research, the average cost of a manual password reset is $70, while provisioning a new employee manually can cost over $400 in staff time.

Avatier customers typically report:

• 95% reduction in password reset support tickets within the first month
• 85% faster employee onboarding processes
• 70% reduction in access request processing time
• 90% decrease in time spent on access certification campaigns

Choosing Speed Without Sacrificing Capability

A common misconception is that faster implementation necessarily means reduced functionality. However, Avatier’s approach delivers comprehensive IAM capabilities without the extended timeline:

• Complete IAM functionality: Full lifecycle management, access governance, and password management
• Enterprise-grade security: Zero-trust architecture, robust authentication options, and comprehensive audit trails
• Scalable architecture: Supporting organizations from 1,000 to 1,000,000+ identities
• Advanced governance features: Sophisticated risk analysis, certification campaigns, and separation of duties enforcement

Making the Switch: From ForgeRock to Avatier

Organizations considering transitioning from ForgeRock to Avatier often worry about the complexity of switching IAM platforms. However, Avatier’s methodology includes:

• Comprehensive migration tooling: Automated transfer of identity data, access rights, and policies
• Parallel operation capability: Running alongside existing systems during transition
• Phased implementation approach: Prioritizing critical functions first
• Knowledge transfer focus: Ensuring internal teams can maintain the solution post-implementation

The Future of IAM Implementation: Why 14 Days Is Becoming the New Standard

The IAM market is evolving rapidly, with implementation speed becoming a key differentiator. According to industry analysts, organizations increasingly expect:

• Immediate time-to-value from security investments
• Simplified deployment models that don’t require specialized expertise
• Cloud-native solutions that bypass traditional implementation challenges
• Solutions that adapt to business needs rather than forcing business process changes

Avatier’s 14-day implementation approach represents this new standard—delivering enterprise-grade IAM capabilities without the traditional implementation burden.

Conclusion: Time Is Money, Security, and Opportunity

In identity management, the 18-month gap between ForgeRock’s implementation timeline and Avatier’s 14-day delivery represents more than just time—it’s a fundamental difference in how quickly organizations can improve their security posture, achieve compliance, and realize operational efficiencies.

For CISOs and IT leaders making IAM decisions, the question becomes clear: can your organization afford to wait 18 months for identity management benefits that could be delivered in two weeks?

As security threats evolve daily and compliance requirements tighten, Avatier’s approach offers a compelling alternative to the traditional “wait and see” implementation model that has dominated the IAM industry for too long.

The choice between 18 months and 14 days isn’t just about patience—it’s about recognizing that in today’s security landscape, time itself is perhaps your organization’s most precious and vulnerable resource.

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