Websites using Keycloak

Okay, let s break down Keycloak, covering its overview, revenue (or lack thereof, since it s open source), alternatives, pricing (again, open-source caveats), and customer care details.

Keycloak Overview

• What it is: Keycloak is an open-source Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution. It s a powerful platform designed to simplify securing applications and services with features like:
  • Single Sign-On (SSO): Users log in once and can access multiple applications without needing to re-authenticate.
  • Identity Brokering: Integrates with existing identity providers (e.g., Google, Facebook, Active Directory, LDAP) to allow users to log in with their existing accounts.
  • Social Login: Enable users to log in using their social media accounts.
  • User Federation: Connect to existing user directories like LDAP or Active Directory.
  • Authorization: Fine-grained access control based on roles, attributes, and policies.
  • User Management: Centralized management of user accounts, groups, and roles.
  • Admin Console: Web UI for managing realms, users, clients, roles, and configurations.
  • Standards-Based: Supports industry standards like OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and SAML.
• Use Cases:
  • Securing web applications, mobile apps, and APIs.
  • Implementing SSO for enterprise applications.
  • Managing user identities in cloud environments.
  • Centralizing authentication and authorization across multiple systems.
• Benefits:
  • Open Source & Free: No licensing costs.
  • Centralized Authentication: Simplifies user management and security.
  • Standard Protocols: Ensures interoperability with other systems.
  • Highly Customizable: Can be adapted to specific needs.
  • Developer-Friendly: Provides APIs and SDKs for integration.
  • Active Community: Large and active community provides support and contributions.
• Who uses it: Organizations of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises, across various industries.

Revenue

• Keycloak itself, as an open-source project backed by Red Hat, does not directly generate revenue in the traditional sense. You don t buy a Keycloak license.
• Red Hat s Involvement: Red Hat is the primary sponsor and contributor to Keycloak. Red Hat generates revenue through:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) subscriptions: Keycloak can be deployed on RHEL, and companies pay for RHEL subscriptions, which include support and updates.
  • Red Hat Consulting: Red Hat offers consulting services to help organizations implement and manage Keycloak.
  • Red Hat Training: Red Hat provides training courses on Keycloak.
  • Red Hat SSO: Red Hat SSO is a supported and hardened version of Keycloak.

Alternatives

Here are some popular alternatives to Keycloak, categorized by type:

• Open Source:
  • WSO2 Identity Server: A comprehensive open-source IAM platform.
  • Gluu Server: Open-source IAM with a focus on security and privacy.
  • Authentik: Open-source Identity Provider with support for various authentication methods.
• Commercial/SaaS (Software as a Service):
  • Okta: A leading cloud-based IAM platform.
  • Auth0 (now part of Okta): A popular developer-focused IAM platform.
  • Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): Microsoft s cloud-based IAM solution, often used with Azure services.
  • Ping Identity: A comprehensive IAM platform for enterprises.
  • ForgeRock: Another enterprise-grade IAM platform.
  • AWS Cognito: Amazon s IAM service for AWS applications.

Key Factors When Choosing an Alternative:

• Open Source vs. Commercial: Open source offers flexibility and cost savings, but requires more in-house expertise. Commercial solutions provide support and managed services.
• Features: Consider the specific features you need, such as SSO, MFA, social login, user management, and authorization.
• Integration: Ensure the IAM solution integrates well with your existing applications and infrastructure.
• Scalability: Choose a solution that can scale to meet your growing needs.
• Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface and good documentation can save time and effort.
• Cost: Consider the total cost of ownership, including licensing fees (if any), implementation costs, and ongoing maintenance.

Pricing

• Keycloak (Open Source): Free to download and use. However, you ll incur costs related to:
  • Infrastructure: Servers, storage, and networking to host Keycloak.
  • Implementation: Time and effort to install, configure, and integrate Keycloak.
  • Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance, updates, and security patches.
  • Support (Optional): If you need commercial support, you can purchase it from Red Hat or a third-party vendor.
• Commercial Alternatives: Pricing varies widely based on the vendor, features, number of users, and usage. Typically, they use:
  • Per-User Pricing: A monthly or annual fee for each active user.
  • Tiered Pricing: Different pricing tiers based on the features and number of users.
  • Usage-Based Pricing: Pricing based on the number of authentications or API calls.
  • Custom Pricing: Negotiated pricing for large enterprises with specific requirements.

Customer Care Details

• Keycloak (Open Source):
  • Community Support:
    • Keycloak Mailing Lists: Active mailing lists for users and developers.
    • Stack Overflow: A popular Q&A site for technical questions.
    • GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features.
    • Keycloak Documentation: Comprehensive documentation on the Keycloak website.
  • Commercial Support (Red Hat):
    • Red Hat offers support subscriptions for organizations that need enterprise-level support. This includes access to Red Hat s support portal, phone and email support, and service level agreements (SLAs).
  • Third-Party Consultants: Many consulting firms offer Keycloak implementation and support services.
• Commercial Alternatives:
  • Commercial IAM vendors typically provide comprehensive customer support, including:
    • Phone Support: 24/7 or business hours phone support.
    • Email Support: Email support with guaranteed response times.
    • Live Chat Support: Real-time support via chat.
    • Support Portals: Online portals with knowledge bases, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides.
    • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Guaranteed uptime and response times.
    • Dedicated Account Managers: For larger customers, dedicated account managers provide personalized support.
    • Training and Documentation: Comprehensive training materials and documentation.

In Summary

Keycloak is a powerful and flexible open-source IAM solution that s a great choice for organizations that want control and customization. However, you need in-house expertise to manage it. Commercial alternatives offer ease of use and managed services but come at a cost. Choose the solution that best fits your needs and budget.