Reducing Technical Debt: Why ForgeRock Customers Are Switching to Avatier’s Flexible Identity Platform

Technical debt has emerged as a significant challenge for enterprise security teams. While many organizations initially select platforms based on features or market presence, the long-term implications of technical debt often become apparent only years later—when upgrade costs, compatibility issues, and maintenance requirements begin to mount.

According to Gartner, organizations that effectively manage technical debt can reduce IT maintenance costs by 50%, accelerate their digital transformation initiatives, and improve operational efficiency. This is particularly relevant in the identity management space, where system longevity and upgrade paths directly impact security posture and operational efficiency.

ForgeRock (recently acquired by Ping Identity) has established itself as a significant player in the identity management market. However, many customers are discovering that what initially appeared to be a flexible, customizable platform can evolve into a system burdened with technical debt, particularly when upgrades become necessary.

Understanding Technical Debt in ForgeRock Implementations

Technical debt in IAM systems occurs when short-term customization decisions create long-term maintenance challenges. For ForgeRock deployments, this often manifests in several key areas:

1. Custom Code Dependencies

ForgeRock’s platform allows for extensive customization through coding. While this provides flexibility, it creates upgrade complications when custom code must be reworked for compatibility with new versions.

A 2023 Ponemon Institute study found that organizations spend an average of 33% of their IAM budget on maintaining and upgrading existing systems—with heavily customized environments requiring up to 50% more resources during major version upgrades.

2. Complex Upgrade Paths

Many ForgeRock customers report lengthy upgrade projects requiring specialized consultants. These upgrades can take months rather than days, especially in environments with significant customizations.

3. Resource-Intensive Testing Cycles

Each ForgeRock upgrade typically necessitates comprehensive testing of all customizations, integrations, and workflows—consuming valuable IT resources that could be directed toward innovation.

4. Integration Fragility

Custom integrations built for specific ForgeRock versions often break during upgrades, requiring additional development work to restore functionality.

Avatier’s Configuration-First Approach: Eliminating Technical Debt

In contrast to code-heavy identity platforms, Avatier’s Identity Anywhere platform employs a configuration-first architecture that fundamentally changes how organizations manage their identity infrastructure over time.

Configuration vs. Customization: The Critical Distinction

Avatier’s approach centers on the principle that powerful identity management capabilities should be achievable through configuration rather than coding. This philosophy manifests in several key advantages:

1. Upgrade-Friendly Architecture

Avatier’s Identity Anywhere Lifecycle Management platform preserves all configurations during upgrades. While ForgeRock customers often face weeks or months of upgrade projects, Avatier customers typically complete upgrades in hours or days. Configuration settings, workflows, and integrations remain intact through version changes, dramatically reducing upgrade complexity and risk.

According to industry analyst firm KuppingerCole, configuration-based IAM platforms like Avatier’s can reduce upgrade costs by up to 70% compared to heavily customized solutions.

2. Reduced Dependency on Specialized Skills

ForgeRock implementations typically require developers with specialized skills in ForgeRock’s technologies. This creates knowledge silos and increases personnel risk. Avatier’s configuration-based approach allows administrators to implement complex workflows without coding, reducing reliance on specialized developers.

3. Faster Time-to-Value for New Capabilities

When new identity management capabilities emerge, organizations using configuration-based platforms can implement them more quickly. An IDC survey found that organizations using configuration-based identity platforms implemented new security features 2.3 times faster than those using heavily customized solutions.

Real-World Impact: Calculating the Cost of Technical Debt

The financial impact of technical debt in identity management systems extends far beyond licensing costs:

1. Upgrade Project Costs

ForgeRock customers frequently report upgrade projects costing $100,000 to $500,000 for enterprise deployments, depending on customization complexity. These projects often require:

• External consultants with specialized expertise
• Extended testing phases
• Remediation of broken customizations
• Production deployment support

By comparison, Avatier’s upgrade model preserves configurations, reducing these costs by 60-80% for comparable environments.

2. Extended Maintenance Windows

Organizations using heavily customized identity platforms report maintenance windows of 12-48 hours for major upgrades. Avatier’s configuration-preservation approach typically reduces this to 2-4 hours, minimizing business disruption.

3. Delayed Security Improvements

Perhaps most concerning is the security impact of delayed upgrades. Organizations with high technical debt in identity systems often delay security patches and feature upgrades due to the complexity involved. According to a 2022 IBM Security study, organizations that delay security upgrades face a 43% higher probability of experiencing an identity-related breach.

Avatier’s Approach to Sustainable Identity Management

Beyond eliminating technical debt, Avatier’s Identity Management Architecture delivers several distinct advantages that address the challenges faced by ForgeRock customers:

1. Container-Based Deployment Options

Avatier pioneered the Identity-as-a-Container (IDaaC) approach, allowing organizations to deploy identity management services as containers in any environment. This architecture supports:

• Rapid deployment and scaling
• Consistent environments across development, testing, and production
• Simplified upgrades through container orchestration

2. AI-Enhanced Identity Governance

While many vendors discuss AI capabilities, Avatier has embedded practical AI applications throughout its platform:

• Intelligent access recommendations based on peer analysis
• Anomalous access detection
• Risk-based authentication decisions
• Automated access reviews and certification

3. Comprehensive Application Connectivity

One area where ForgeRock has traditionally excelled is connectivity to diverse applications. Avatier matches this capability with Top Identity Management Application Connectors that provide out-of-the-box integration with hundreds of cloud and on-premises applications.

Rather than requiring custom code for these integrations, Avatier’s connector framework uses configuration to establish secure, reliable connections that survive through version upgrades.

4. Mobile-First Identity Management

Avatier’s mobile-first approach ensures that all identity management functions—from approvals to self-service—are fully accessible on mobile devices. This mobile capability extends to advanced functions like:

• Biometric authentication
• Location-based access policies
• Push notifications for time-sensitive approvals
• QR code-based passwordless login

Migration Pathways: From ForgeRock to Avatier

Organizations considering a transition from ForgeRock to Avatier often question the migration complexity. Avatier has developed a structured migration methodology that minimizes disruption while preserving existing identity data and policies.

The migration process typically includes:

1. Discovery and Assessment: Mapping current ForgeRock configurations, customizations, and integrations to Avatier capabilities
2. Migration Planning: Creating a phased approach that prioritizes critical identity functions
3. Data Migration: Transferring identity data, access policies, and historical records
4. Parallel Operation: Running systems in parallel during transition to ensure continuity
5. Cutover: Gradually shifting identity operations to the Avatier platform

Case Study: Financial Services Firm Reduces Technical Debt

A global financial services organization with over 25,000 employees encountered significant challenges maintaining their heavily customized ForgeRock environment. After three years of operation, they faced an upgrade project estimated at $450,000 and requiring 8 months to complete.

After evaluating alternatives, they selected Avatier’s Identity Anywhere platform. Key outcomes included:

• Migration completed in 12 weeks versus the 32 weeks estimated for the ForgeRock upgrade
• 73% reduction in identity management operational costs
• 94% reduction in upgrade complexity for subsequent version changes
• Enhanced compliance capabilities for financial regulations
• Improved user experience through mobile-first design

Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Identity Foundation

As identity management continues to grow in strategic importance, organizations must evaluate not just current capabilities but long-term sustainability. The technical debt accumulated in customized identity platforms represents a significant but often hidden cost that impacts agility, security, and operational efficiency.

Avatier’s configuration-first approach offers a compelling alternative for organizations seeking to escape the technical debt trap. By preserving configurations through upgrades, enabling non-developers to implement complex workflows, and delivering enterprise-grade capabilities without customization, Avatier provides a sustainable foundation for identity management.

For organizations currently evaluating their ForgeRock environment or facing an upcoming upgrade cycle, the question becomes clear: Is maintaining your current technical debt the right path forward, or is it time to consider a more sustainable alternative?

To learn more about how Avatier can help your organization reduce technical debt while enhancing identity capabilities, explore our identity management services or request a personalized demonstration of the Identity Anywhere platform.

Try Avatier today