To get the most out of this book

This book assumes that readers are already familiar with at least one of the cloud platform service providers discussed – AWS, Microsoft Azure, and GCP. Therefore, we’ve made a few assumptions about your existing knowledge and experience:

• Basic understanding of cloud computing: You should understand the fundamentals of cloud computing, including Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) concepts
• Familiarity with one or more cloud platforms: Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP is helpful, as many concepts in this book build upon the services and architecture of these platforms

Products covered in the book	Requirements
Azure AD	Azure AD Premium P1
Okta Workforce Identity	An Okta Standard account
Okta Customer Identity	An Okta Developer or Enterprise account
ForgeRock – Access Manager	A ForgeRock software platform account
Ping Identity – PingFederate	A Ping Identity account
AWS	An AWS root account
Google Cloud Identity	Google Cloud Identity or Workspace account
Keycloak	The Keycloak server’s latest version (version 21.1.1 was used in this book)
Duo	A Duo Essentials account
1Kosmos – BlockID	A BlockID account
BehavioSec	A BehavioSec account

Knowing how to utilize Java and Docker for deploying applications is a helpful skill while reading this book. Some products we’ll discuss can be locally installed and run as standalone Java applications or as Docker containers:

• Java Platform: Many enterprise-level applications, including some IAM products we will explore, are built with Java due to its robustness, portability, and scalability. Understanding how Java applications are deployed will give you a solid grasp of these solutions’ underlying structure and functioning.
• Docker containers: Docker is a popular platform that uses containerization to package an application and its dependencies into a single object. Docker can simplify the deployment process and eliminate the “but it works on my machine” problem, making it an excellent tool for deploying applications for testing and development. Understanding how to pull, run, and manage Docker containers can significantly simplify installing and running the software products discussed in this book.
• Running servers: Certain products, such as Keycloak, run on a server that can be initiated using Java or run inside a Docker container. Understanding how to start these servers using either of these methods is essential for installing and testing these products in a local environment.
• Troubleshooting and customization: Understanding Java and Docker deployment also aids in troubleshooting any issues that might arise during the installation or operation of the software. Furthermore, if the product is open source, you can customize it to suit your needs better, and understanding the deployment process will be crucial for this.