Identity & Access with Open Source and Enterprise Platforms
Identity projects rarely start with the product. They usually start with too many local accounts, separated user stores, missing single sign-on, manual provisioning, inconsistent groups and unclear responsibilities.
ForgeOne therefore separates identity source, directory, identity provider, applications and infrastructure. This creates a target model for SSO, federation, Linux identity, directory services and access policies.
ForgeOne designs Identity & Access architectures with Keycloak, Red Hat build of Keycloak, FreeIPA, Red Hat Identity Management and Univention Corporate Server.
Orientation
ForgeOne connects customer requirements, architecture roles, products and target models into a practical identity roadmap.
Typical identity problems
Users are managed separately across systems, passwords and accounts differ, joiner/mover/leaver processes remain manual and local server accounts grow without control.
Applications also support different identity protocols, environments span Linux, Windows and cloud, SSO is missing and the separation between identity store and identity provider is unclear.
Directory vs. identity provider
The important decisions come from roles, not product lists.
Keycloak / Red Hat build of Keycloak
Identity provider for authentication, SSO, federation, OIDC, OAuth 2.0, SAML, MFA and application access.
FreeIPA / Red Hat Identity Management
Directory and Linux identity management for users, groups, hosts, Kerberos, LDAP, DNS, HBAC, sudo policies and SSSD.
Univention Corporate Server
Broader identity and directory platform for central organization, domain services, heterogeneous environments, application integration and SSO.
Products in this group
The products are deliberately not interchangeable: they take different roles in identity architectures.
Keycloak
Open-source identity provider for SSO, federation and application authentication.
Red Hat build of Keycloak
Enterprise Keycloak in the Red Hat lifecycle and support context.
FreeIPA
Open-source Linux identity management with Kerberos, LDAP, HBAC, sudo and SSSD.
Red Hat Identity Management
Enterprise Linux identity management for RHEL/Linux infrastructures.
Univention Corporate Server
Central identity and directory platform for heterogeneous IT and integrated applications.
Common architecture models
ForgeOne does not generally replace existing landscapes, but integrates and modernizes step by step.
FreeIPA + Keycloak
Open-source Linux identity plus application SSO with clear role separation.
Red Hat IdM + Red Hat build of Keycloak
Enterprise Red Hat identity architecture: IdM for Linux identities, RHBK for application authentication.
Univention Corporate Server
Broader central platform for directory, domain, application integration and Keycloak based SSO.
Integrate existing Active Directory
AD remains an integration scenario, not a ForgeOne product: LDAP federation, coexistence, SSO and gradual modernization.
What ForgeOne delivers
From assessment to operations, the focus is architecture, migration, integration and secure operability.
Analysis & Assessment
Capture identity sources, protocols, risks, lifecycle and migration paths.
Solution Design & Planning
Plan target architecture, role model, federation, policies and operating processes.
Implementation & Migration
Implement identity stores, providers, clients, federation and migration in a controlled way.
Automation & Integration
Automate enrollment, policies, client configuration and operating processes.
Support & SLA
Secure updates, monitoring, backup, troubleshooting and continuous improvement.
Related solution areas
Identity sits between security, Linux, platform operations and collaboration.
Security & Identity
Architecture problem around SSO, directory, access and identity lifecycle.
Linux & Infrastructure
Linux identity, SSSD, enrollment and central server authentication.
Container & Platform Engineering
Keycloak and RHBK in Kubernetes/OpenShift architectures.
Collaboration
SSO for OpenProject, XWiki, grommunio, Nextcloud and other platforms.
FAQ
Are the five products interchangeable?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
No. Keycloak/RHBK are identity providers for applications. FreeIPA/Red Hat IdM are directory and Linux identity systems. UCS can be a broader identity/directory platform for heterogeneous environments.
Does existing Active Directory have to be replaced?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
No. Active Directory can be integrated, federated or modernized step by step. ForgeOne evaluates the right coexistence or migration strategy.
What is the first step?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
An identity assessment clarifies user sources, protocols, applications, Linux/Windows scope, risks, lifecycle and operating responsibility.
Recommended next step
From the product group, the path leads into assessment, delivery or operations.
Clarify current state
Assess environment, risks, maturity and priorities.
Plan delivery
Clarify architecture, migration, integration and operating model.
Validate security
Review architecture, configuration and hardening at a point in time.
Structure your identity landscape cleanly
Want to connect users, systems and applications through a central identity architecture? ForgeOne analyzes your existing identity landscape and develops a suitable approach for directory services, SSO and access control.