Trends Report

Oracle Buys Sun Microsystems — And Its Identity Management Portfolio

What To Look For From Oracle, And How To Respond

October 13th, 2009
Andras Cser, Vice President, Principal Analyst
Andras Cser Vice President, Principal Analyst
With contributors:
Jonathan Penn , John Rymer , Allison Viglianti

Summary

Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems' identity management (IAM) portfolio was largely unintended — the assets that lured Oracle to buy Sun were Java and its hardware business. Once the acquisition closes, Forrester expects that Oracle will migrate certain functionality areas (access recertification, parts of role management, connector technology, workflow, etc.) from Sun's products into the next major release of Oracle's products. Forrester also expects Oracle will provide long-term support for the current Sun IAM portfolio, as it did similarly in the BEA acquisition, but will not significantly enhance the Sun IAM stack beyond 18 to 24 months after the acquisition. Oracle and Sun IAM customers should press for details on how and when key features will migrate over from Sun to Oracle. In the time remaining before acquisition closes, existing or new Sun customers should press for contractual safeguards that their Sun investment remains viable and sufficiently supported.

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