ForgeRock
ForgeRock was an identity and access management software company whose product portfolio is now integrated into Ping Identity.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
ForgeRock was an identity and access management software company established in Norway in February 2010 by former Sun Microsystems employees. Its formation followed Oracle's acquisition of Sun and the planned phase-out of Sun identity software in favor of Oracle's internally developed products. The new company was created to continue developing and commercially supporting software associated with Sun's identity-management projects, while also maintaining community-oriented open-source versions. The company developed a portfolio for managing digital identities, authentication, authorization, directories, and access to applications and services. Its principal offering was the ForgeRock Identity Platform, a suite composed of Access Management, Identity Management, Directory Services, and Identity Gateway. The platform was designed for enterprise deployments spanning web applications, mobile environments, cloud services, application programming interfaces, and connected-device or Internet of Things scenarios. This made ForgeRock relevant to organizations needing to manage both workforce identities and customer or consumer identities across multiple channels. ForgeRock's technology portfolio was closely associated with open-source projects. Access Management was based on OpenAM, Identity Management on OpenIDM, Directory Services on OpenDJ, and Identity Gateway on OpenIG. The community editions made source code available under the Common Development and Distribution License, while enterprise capabilities and support were provided through commercial licensing. This combination gave the company an open-source heritage while positioning its commercial platform as an enterprise-grade identity and access management offering. ForgeRock expanded through venture financing before entering the public markets. In April 2020, it announced a Series E financing of $93.5 million, bringing the company's stated cumulative funding to $230 million. ForgeRock subsequently completed an initial public offering in September 2021 and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FORG. Its public-company period was relatively brief. On October 11, 2022, Thoma Bravo agreed to acquire ForgeRock in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion. The acquisition was completed on August 23, 2023. Following completion, ForgeRock was merged into Ping Identity, another identity and access management company in the Thoma Bravo portfolio. ForgeRock therefore no longer operates as an independent publicly traded company. Its products and capabilities continue to be developed within Ping Identity's broader portfolio. The brand's business significance lies in its role in commercializing open-source identity technologies and in helping enterprise customers manage authentication, authorization, directories, and digital access across increasingly distributed technology environments.
History
ForgeRock emerged from the transition that followed Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems. Sun had developed identity-related software, but after the acquisition those products were scheduled to be phased out in favor of Oracle's own offerings. In response, a group of former Sun employees established ForgeRock in Norway in February 2010. The new company sought to continue developing the relevant software rather than allow the projects and their surrounding communities to disappear. The company's early identity was therefore shaped by open-source software and by the practical needs of organizations that wanted continuity, support, and commercially backed development. ForgeRock's product family was associated with several open-source projects: OpenAM provided the foundation for Access Management, OpenIDM for Identity Management, OpenDJ for Directory Services, and OpenIG for Identity Gateway. ForgeRock combined these technologies into an integrated enterprise platform covering authentication, authorization, identity lifecycle processes, directory operations, and gateway functions for applications and APIs. The ForgeRock Identity Platform was intended for organizations operating across web, mobile, cloud, and connected-device environments. Access Management addressed the control of access to applications and services. Identity Management handled identity-related administration and lifecycle functions. Directory Services supplied an LDAP directory capability, while Identity Gateway mediated web and API traffic. ForgeRock's model distinguished between a community edition, whose source code was available under the Common Development and Distribution License, and commercial enterprise offerings that required a paid license. ForgeRock financed its expansion through private investment. In April 2020, the company announced a $93.5 million Series E round and reported total funding of $230 million. It then entered the public markets in September 2021, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FORG. The listing represented a major transition from open-source-rooted startup to publicly traded enterprise-software company. The independent public-company phase ended when Thoma Bravo agreed to acquire ForgeRock on October 11, 2022, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion. The acquisition was completed on August 23, 2023. After closing, ForgeRock was merged into Ping Identity, another identity and access management business owned by Thoma Bravo. ForgeRock ceased to operate as an independent company, while its technology and product capabilities continued to be developed within Ping Identity's combined portfolio.
- 2023
Acquisition closes and ForgeRock joins Ping Identity
[1]The acquisition is completed and ForgeRock is merged into Ping Identity.
- 2022
Thoma Bravo announces acquisition agreement
[1]Thoma Bravo agrees to acquire ForgeRock in an approximately $2.3 billion all-cash transaction.
- 2021
Public listing
[1]ForgeRock goes public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FORG.
- 2020
Series E financing
[1]ForgeRock announces $93.5 million in Series E funding and reports total financing of $230 million.
- 2010
ForgeRock is founded
[1]Former Sun Microsystems employees establish ForgeRock in Norway after Oracle's acquisition of Sun and the planned phase-out of Sun's identity software.
Products and positioning
Enterprise identity and access management provider combining open-source foundations with commercially licensed software and support.
Identity and access management platform
ForgeRock Identity Platform
ForgeRock's principal enterprise platform combined access management, identity management, directory services, and identity gateway capabilities. It was designed to help organizations manage digital identities and access rights across web applications, mobile services, cloud environments, APIs, and connected devices. The platform reflected ForgeRock's open-source heritage while offering commercially licensed enterprise software.
Access management
ForgeRock Access Management
ForgeRock Access Management, based on the OpenAM open-source project, provided functionality for controlling access to applications and services. Its role within the broader platform was to support authentication and authorization workflows for enterprise environments and digital services.
Identity management
ForgeRock Identity Management
ForgeRock Identity Management was based on the OpenIDM open-source project. It addressed the administration and management of digital identities, forming the identity-lifecycle component of the ForgeRock platform and complementing its access, directory, and gateway products.
Directory service
ForgeRock Directory Services
ForgeRock Directory Services, based on the OpenDJ open-source project, provided an LDAP directory service for storing and retrieving identity and account information. It supplied a directory foundation for the platform's identity and access management functions.
Identity gateway
ForgeRock Identity Gateway
ForgeRock Identity Gateway was based on the OpenIG open-source project. It operated as an identity-aware gateway for web traffic and application programming interfaces, extending identity and access controls to applications and services that needed an intermediary layer.
Brand decisions
2022
Agreement to sell ForgeRock to Thoma BravoM&ABackground
After becoming a public company in 2021, ForgeRock agreed to be acquired by private-equity firm Thoma Bravo in an approximately $2.3 billion all-cash transaction.
Action taken
ForgeRock accepted Thoma Bravo's acquisition agreement announced on October 11, 2022.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in August 2023, and ForgeRock was merged into Ping Identity.
Announced transaction value. $2.3 billion (October 11, 2022 announcement)
Recent events
- 2023
ForgeRock acquisition completed and company merged into Ping Identity[1]
M&A · Other
Thoma Bravo announced completion of the acquisition on August 23, 2023. ForgeRock was then merged into Ping Identity, with both product portfolios continuing under the combined organization.
- 2022
Thoma Bravo agrees to acquire ForgeRock[1]
M&A
Thoma Bravo agreed on October 11, 2022, to purchase ForgeRock in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion.
- 2021
ForgeRock becomes a publicly traded company[1]
Other
ForgeRock completed its public listing in September 2021 and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FORG.
- 2020
ForgeRock announces $93.5 million Series E financing[1]
Other
ForgeRock announced a Series E financing of $93.5 million and stated that the round brought its total funding to $230 million.
Sources4 sources
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