A Bright Future Beyond Sunsetting Platforms: Taking Control of Your Identity Journey

In the world of Identity Governance, we often find ourselves focused on the technical “how”, but at the heart of every identity program are our business partners who use it.  

For many of our clients, an identity management platform has been a constant and reliable companion for years.  So when that trusted platform reaches a significant milestone, such as an announced sunset, it can leave you scrambling to determine the best next steps. 

Such is the case with Oracle Identity Manager (OIM). Oracle 12c will begin its sunset at the end of 2026. (The end of Premier Support for the 12c stack is December 2026. Extended Support is scheduled to end December 2027). 

This milestone represents the perfect opportunity to take a fresh look at how identities are managed within your organization. The chance to validate that the path you’re on truly serves your team’s mission today and into the future. 

Now is the time to take stock of the opportunities, risks, roadblocks/hurdles and changes to your business since you first implemented your identity platform. Once that’s done, plan a path forward to better meet current and future business needs. Is AI a factor? What about OT and IoT devices? Is your workforce remote? There have been so many changes that rely on identity governance and management.

Choose to Do Nothing

Of course, some may opt to stay on a legacy system that is no longer supported, but that can lead to a few hurdles:

• Security Gaps: Without new patches, the environment becomes harder to secure.
• Administrative Overhead: The team will spend more time “fixing” and “patching” rather than “governing” identities.
• Increased Costs: Extended support costs are higher while delivering less support.

Build a Bright Future

To move forward and ensure your environment is properly securing identities and access, start by…

Understanding the Timeline: It’s important to take proactive ownership of your migration timeline, before it’s a last-minute rush. This is the best way to ensure security and compliance remain intact, and you’re not backed into a less-than-optimal situation.  

Choosing the Right Path Forward: Modern identity is changing, and choosing the right solution for your business requires strategic analysis and decision making.  

With solutions maturing and incorporating modern AI capabilities, a different direction may be the best choice for your business and your identity program. It could:

• Remove the Infrastructure Burden: Modern IGA solutions are moving to be cloud native.  Instead of managing heavy servers and complex middleware, you can focus on users and their access.
• Reduce Manual Processes: Modern solutions use automation and AI capabilities to spot risks. These new capabilities equal fewer manual clicks thereby leaving your identity team members more time to focus on scaling your identity program across more of the business.
• Prioritize Simplicity over Complexity: Moving away from custom, code-heavy, legacy connectors allow your team to manage user identities with high degrees of confidence. There is no need for years of coding experience and specialized training.  

Secure Your Mission (which is our mission, too!)

Planning an identity solution migration is a big step. You don’t have to face it alone.  Whether migrating to a new solution, simplifying processes or completely reimagining your governance strategy, GuidePoint can help you create a program that fosters trust, compliance, security, and connectivity across your business. 

The best time to start discovering your path is today.  By creating a transition plan now, you ensure a more frictionless experience and a secure foundation for your business.  

Want to learn how to build an identity solution that truly fits your future? Reach out to GuidePoint Security’s Identity and Access Management team.