From 5 auth vendors to 1 platform: a consolidation case study

From 5 auth vendors to 1 platform: a consolidation case study

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline operations and reduce costs. One significant challenge many organizations face is managing multiple authentication vendors. This case study explores how a company successfully consolidated five different authentication vendors into a single self-hosted platform, achieving significant cost savings and operational efficiency. The journey involved Bastionary, a robust self-hosted platform that integrates authentication, billing, licensing, and feature flags management.

Timeline of Consolidation

The consolidation process took approximately six months, starting with an audit of existing systems and ending with the full deployment of Bastionary. The timeline included the following key phases:

1. Initial Audit (Month 1): Identifying the five different authentication vendors in use, including Auth0, Stripe, LaunchDarkly, Keygen, and Okta.
2. Planning and Design (Months 2-3): Designing the architecture for Bastionary to replace the existing systems.
3. Implementation (Months 4-5): Deploying Bastionary and migrating data from the old systems.
4. Testing and Optimization (Month 6): Testing Bastionary to ensure it met all requirements and optimizing for performance.

Cost Savings Achieved

The consolidation resulted in substantial cost savings for the company. Here are some specific figures:

• Auth0: $1,200/month
• Stripe: $800/month
• LaunchDarkly: $1,500/month
• Keygen: $1,000/month
• Okta: $2,000/month
• Bastionary (self-hosted): $1,000/month

By consolidating to Bastionary, the company saved $4,500 per month in authentication vendor costs. Additionally, they eliminated the need for separate billing and licensing fees associated with each vendor.

Lessons Learned

Here are some key insights and lessons learned from this consolidation case study:

1. **Understand Your Needs**: Before choosing a platform, it's crucial to understand your specific requirements. Bastionary offers a comprehensive solution that addresses authentication, billing, licensing, and feature flags management, making it an ideal choice for many businesses.

2. **Plan and Design Carefully**: A well-thought-out plan and design phase can save time and resources in the long run. The company took the time to carefully design the architecture for Bastionary, ensuring it met all their needs.

3. **Choose the Right Platform**: Bastionary is a self-hosted platform, which means it offers greater control and customization compared to managed services. This can be particularly beneficial for businesses with unique requirements.

4. **Focus on Security**: Security should always be a top priority when managing authentication systems. Bastionary provides robust security features to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

5. **Monitor and Optimize**: After deployment, it's essential to monitor the platform's performance and make necessary optimizations. This will help ensure that Bastionary continues to meet your needs as your business grows and evolves.

Conclusion

Consolidating multiple authentication vendors into a single self-hosted platform like Bastionary can lead to significant cost savings and operational efficiency. By carefully planning and designing the consolidation process, businesses can achieve a seamless transition and enjoy the benefits of a unified platform. If you're looking to streamline your authentication systems and reduce costs, Bastionary may be the solution you've been searching for.