Seamless CIAM Migration from Okta, Ping, or Homegrown Solutions

Moving to a new CIAM provider doesn't have to be painful. Whether you're migrating from Okta, Ping Identity, or a homegrown identity system, the right approach depends on your access to password hashes, your customer experience goals, and your security requirements.

Which migration approach is right for you

Every business has different needs when it comes to migrating customer identities. Here are three proven ways to make the move.

1. Bulk import with password hashes

For organizations that can access password hashes from their legacy CIAM provider or homegrown system, bulk import offers a one-time, large-scale migration with minimal user impact.

How it works: customer data, including identity information and password hashes, is exported from the legacy system, then imported into Strivacity in bulk. Customers sign in as usual, no password reset needed. See the technical walkthrough in Strivacity's bulk import documentation.

Why you'll like it: no disruption, since users keep their passwords; fast and efficient, since a one-time transfer eliminates operational complexity; and it eliminates legacy system dependencies entirely.

Heads up: not all CIAM providers make password hashes accessible. If yours does, check which hashing algorithms they support (Strivacity works with SHA256, Drupal-compatible SHA512, SHA1 MD5, Argon2, BCrypt and more).

2. Just-in-time (JIT) migration

If you can't access password hashes, JIT migration lets you move users over gradually as they sign in, without forcing password resets.

How it works: when a customer signs in, their identity is retrieved from the old system, authenticated, and migrated to Strivacity in real time. Passwords remain intact. Once migrated, all future sign-ins occur within Strivacity, allowing decommissioning of the old system over time. 

Full mechanics are covered in Strivacity's JIT migration documentation.

Why you'll like it: customers don't notice the migration; it moves users gradually, avoiding IT overload; and passwords are verified before migration for a security-first approach.

Considerations: we recommend your old CIAM system stay active for at least 60-90 days while customers transition.

3. Bulk migration without password hashes

If you can't access password hashes and need to migrate everyone at once, customers will have to reset their passwords, creating real friction.

Challenges: customer frustration from forced resets, higher support costs as IT and support teams get swamped with reset requests, and increased churn risk as customers may abandon accounts rather than reset.

Finding the silver lining: while not ideal, this can be a viable option when executed strategically. It provides a clean slate for security improvements, ensures outdated or compromised credentials aren't carried over, and enables stronger authentication methods like passkeys or MFA going forward. A well-communicated reset process can even re-engage inactive customers.

Strivacity makes migration easy

With Strivacity Journey Builder, you get out-of-the-box plug-ins and a low-code approach to orchestrate user flows and manage even the trickiest migration scenarios.

Our Lifecycle Event Orchestration takes things a step further. It lets you validate passwords via REST API, so users don't have to reset them if password hashes aren't available. And if password hashes are available, we fully support password hash portability, meaning customers can sign in without noticing a thing.

Whether you're leaving Okta, Ping Identity, or homegrown CIAM, we offer a variety of flexible options that make migration simple, secure, and seamless.

Results teams have seen

A CISO at a top-ranked university described retiring 80% of custom code after replacing Ping Identity, with meaningful cost savings and improved conversion. A CISO at a top 20 US bank cited $2M in savings compared to prior Okta and Ping Identity spend. Mohegan's migration went live within weeks, at lower cost, without adding headcount to manage it.

These results reflect specific migration paths and starting points, not a universal outcome. Download the Strivacity Customer Identity Migration Guide for a step-by-step breakdown, expert tips, and essential checklists.

FAQ

Can customer passwords migrate to a new CIAM provider without forcing a reset?

Yes, if the vendor supports password hash portability. Bulk import with password hashes and just-in-time migration both let customers keep their existing passwords and sign in as usual, with no reset required.

How long does a CIAM migration from Okta or Ping Identity take?

It depends on the approach and how many systems are involved. Migrations with accessible password hashes typically take days to weeks. Without hash access, a bulk reset-based migration is faster to execute but creates more customer friction.

What are the three ways to migrate customer identities to a new CIAM provider?

Bulk import with password hashes, just-in-time (JIT) migration, and bulk migration without password hashes. The right one depends on your access to password hashes, your customer experience goals, and your security requirements.

What happens if I can't access my current provider's password hashes?

Just-in-time migration lets you move customers over gradually as they sign in, without forcing a reset. If you need everyone migrated at once and hashes aren't available, a bulk reset-based migration is the remaining option, though it creates more customer friction.

How long should I keep my old CIAM system running during a migration?

For just-in-time migration, we recommend keeping the old system active for at least 60-90 days while customers transition over, then decommissioning it once migration is substantially complete.