Synchronization overview

Synchronization keeps data consistent across disparate resources. Within IDM, we refer to two resource types—_managed resources_ (stored in the IDM repository) and external resources. An external resource can be any system that holds identity data, such as ForgeRock Directory Services (DS), Active Directory, a CSV file, a JDBC database, and so on.

IDM connects to external resources through connectors. Synchronization across resources happens when managed resources change, or when IDM discovers a change on a system resource. There are various synchronization mechanisms that ensure data consistency.