Earl PerkinsWell, it’s funny what a couple of days will do to blog news– information ages fast. The first webcast has occurred regarding what will happen in the post Oracle+Sun world (Orasuncle? Oraclsun? Probably will settle on Oracle). What can we deduce from the news and the impact on our predictions Gartner has made about Sun IAM’s future?
1- The prediction (regarding coexistence of suites for some time) holds up pretty well, though there are no specifics regarding how long this may take. The comments regarding “integrate into” or “incorporated into” set off some red lights, mainly because there are different forms of integration and different ways to go about it. At first glance, the product architectures of the IAM systems aren’t that similar, and the question inevitably arises “why integrate them”? Sure, you don’t want Sun customers to run if you even discuss “Sun-setting” the products, but by the same token there’s quite a bit that can be done simply with pricing and marketing, rather than going through the technical pain of merging feature sets into the Oracle products. Perhaps this is the kind of integration Oracle is considering. In any case, we’ll need more information, not just from a timeline perspective, but as to the type of integration and incorporation occurring;
2- The naming of Sun Role Manager as Oracle Identity Analytics appears to be confirmation that Oracle recognizes the current value of the original Vaau acquisition and is “incorporating” it into the overall Oracle IAM suite immediately. More importantly, it’s confirmation that an evolving, more distinct function set within IAM is appearing that focuses on “intelligence”, i.e. the logging, correlation, analysis, and reporting of identity information to constituents who “subscribe” to it. Gartner has identified this area as IAM intelligence for IT management and support. Both Gartner and Burton believe the product to be a participant in the identity and access governance area, which expands IAM intelligence into a broader responsibility to include business users of IAM. IAM intelligence has been embedded predominantly in the administration and access products of IAM up to this point. It now appears to be coming into its own, and Oracle is positioning itself to move into an aggressively competitive role in this area;
3- Having any kind of ambitious strategy to realize integration or alignment of two company IAM strategies involves one key point– getting existing IAM customers to buy into the upgrade opportunity. Integration and incorporation are in name only unless an existing Sun or Oracle IAM customer takes the necesary steps toward that integration or future state Oracle wishes to provide. There will have to be an extensive incentive to get those customers moving in an economy like this, and a practical incentive that offers compelling functionality. This doesn’t count the marketing dance necessary to tell the tale of two suites to potential new customers to encourage them to buy, though Oracle has made it clear that the Oracle suite remains the flagship. In any case, such incentives will likely put pressure on the general IAM market prices by pushing them downward as those incentives go into play– possible good news for old and new IAM customers alike.
I think the bottom line of all of this that we’re living in an exciting inflection point and period in IAM. While I would hold the champagne until we know more about this integration and consolidation work (and its viability), the outcome of this acquisition will have relatively profound effects on the market, realign competition and affect pricing and available options for solutions. Buckle your seatbelt.
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