In the interview with Martin Schau, CEO of intension GmbH based in Ostfildern

In a time when digital identities are becoming a central security issue for companies, one topic is increasingly coming into focus: digital sovereignty. This is exactly where the interview with Martin Schau comes in – one of the key figures behind intension GmbH, which positions itself as a European alternative to established platforms like Okta or Auth0.

The company from Ostfildern near Stuttgart stands for a clear mission: independence, transparency and control in the field of Identity & Access Management (IAM). With an open, Keycloak-based architecture, intension offers a powerful SSO and authentication platform that is not only fully GDPR-compliant, but also consistently relies on open source – without any vendor lock-in. For companies, this means maximum flexibility with high security at the same time.

A decisive advantage lies in the business model: Instead of user-based billing (MAU costs), which can quickly become confusing as usage grows, intension relies on predictable cost structures. Combined with individual project support, this creates an approach that combines technology with partnership collaboration on an equal footing.

Since its founding in 1999 – initiated by Martin Schau and four computer science students from the University of Stuttgart – the company has developed into an established specialist with over 25 years of expertise. Today, around 40 employees work to support companies in securely digitalizing their services. As a partner of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, intension also combines practical relevance with support for young talent.

In the interview, Martin Schau will not only provide insights into the technological orientation and the advantages of Keycloak-based solutions – from “Keycloak as a Service” to “Keycloak PLUS” to “easyCloak” – but also share personal perspectives: from jazz piano to wing foiling, from the entrepreneurial spirit to strategic corporate management.

Get ready for a discussion about the future of digital identities, European values in IT, and the question of why real sovereignty is more than just a buzzword.

Silicon Valley Europe: Mr. Schau, with intension GmbH you consciously position yourselves as a European alternative to solutions like Okta or Auth0. What exactly do you do differently – and why is this particularly relevant right now?

Martin Schau: We rely on Keycloak as an open-source foundation and give customers full control: their own realms for logical separation of identity spaces, any number of applications and identity providers, as well as custom themes and extensions – without proprietary dependencies.

In addition, we offer a transparent pricing model that is not based on user numbers but on the required performance – making growth predictable.

Many IAM decisions today are security and operations decisions. Updates, availability, and operations become more complex with increasing usage. That’s why we combine our Keycloak Managed Service (Keycloak as a Service) with customized project support – for example, during integration, migration, and connections.

Our approach is: retain open-source freedom without having to bear the operational effort yourself.

Silicon Valley Europe: Digital sovereignty is currently one of the most hotly debated topics in IT. What does this term mean to you in the context of Identity & Access Management?

Martin Schau: Digital sovereignty means to us: full control over identities, data, and operations – technically, organizationally, and legally.

It becomes evident in whether a company can always freely decide where and how its identity platform is operated.

Silicon Valley Europe: Your platform is fully GDPR-compliant and operated in Germany. What advantages does this offer companies – particularly compared to international providers?

Martin Schau: Customers can specifically control hosting and data regions – for example, by operating in German data centers or other desired regions.

Additionally, we offer highly available setups as well as SLA-backed support through our own experts.

In the IAM space, it’s not just about features but verifiable operations – security, availability, and clear processes.

Silicon Valley Europe: You consistently rely on open source and deliberately avoid vendor lock-in. Why do you see this approach as a decisive competitive advantage?

Martin Schau: Open source means transparency, extensibility, and portability – and thus true freedom of choice. In our model, customers remain fully on Keycloak, with full API access and customization options. At the same time, they can flexibly decide whether to use additional services such as Managed Service, Keycloak PLUS, or easyCloak.

Silicon Valley Europe: An interesting point is your pricing model without MAU costs. How does this predictability change your customers’ decision-making processes?

Martin Schau: We don’t charge per user, but rather based on performance. Especially with B2B portals or CIAM scenarios, user numbers are difficult to predict. With user-based models, growth quickly becomes a cost risk. Our approach provides planning security: companies can promote adoption without having to fear cost increases with every scaling.

Silicon Valley Europe: In addition to the technology, you also emphasize project support on equal terms. How does your approach here differ from traditional software providers?

Martin Schau: We don’t just deliver software, but also support our customers with integration, migration, and expansion – including custom extensions, theming, and best practices. IAM only becomes successful when it works in real-world operations – not just in the demo.

Silicon Valley Europe: Your solutions are based on Keycloak and include offerings such as “Keycloak as a Service”, “Keycloak PLUS”, and “easyCloak”. Who are these solutions particularly suitable for – and how do they differ from one another?

Martin Schau: Keycloak as a Service: For companies that want full control but prefer to outsource operations.

Keycloak PLUS: For complex requirements in the B2B IAM sector, e.g., with advanced features such as authorization, auditing, user lifecycle, and organizational structures.

easyCloak: For departments that want to handle administrative tasks intuitively – without in-depth Keycloak expertise.

Silicon Valley Europe: You bring over 25 years of experience in the IAM field. How has the market changed during this time – and where do you currently see the biggest challenges for companies?

Martin Schau: Today, the challenge is no longer just introducing single sign-on, but reliably operating identities as a central platform.

For many digital business processes, IAM is now critical infrastructure – with requirements for security, compliance, and availability.

Silicon Valley Europe: You co-founded the company back in 1999. What motivated you then – and what still drives you today?

Martin Schau: Our vision was clear from the start: a digital world that people can trust. This led to our mission of supporting digitalization with secure and reliable software.

This idea was the foundation of our first projects – and it still drives us today. We are convinced that our work makes a real contribution to making digital processes secure and trustworthy.

Silicon Valley Europe: In addition to your role as Managing Director, you are also actively involved in many things in your private life – from jazz piano to wing foiling. How do you balance this with your entrepreneurial day-to-day work?

Martin Schau: In jazz, you learn to listen to others and react flexibly – which also helps in strategy and leadership.

Being out in nature puts me completely in the moment. That creates distance and clarity. Afterward, I often make decisions in a more structured way and with an expanded view of the overall situation.

Silicon Valley Europe: Looking ahead: What role will Identity & Access Management play in the next five to ten years?

Martin Schau: We see a clear trend toward stronger yet user-friendly security mechanisms—such as passkeys and multi-factor authentication.

IAM is increasingly evolving from a mere login topic into a central platform for digital business models. Partners, customers, devices, and services—everything is based on identities and access control.

Silicon Valley Europe: And finally: What advice would you give to companies that are currently working to secure their digital services?

Martin Schau: If identities are not operated securely and reliably, business operations cannot function stably—which is why IAM is now a management decision. In my view, several key points are important:

• Plan operations early: Availability, updates, monitoring, and clear processes are crucial.

• Treat IAM as a critical component of digital business processes.

• Ensure sovereignty: through admin rights, API access, expandability, and flexible hosting options.

• Make costs predictable: through usage-based models instead of purely user-dependent billing.

• Consider user-friendliness: self-service and delegation reduce effort and accelerate processes.

• Rely on professional support: especially for integration, migration, and topics like SCIM or MFA to reduce risks and project durations.

Silicon Valley Europe: Many thanks for this truly exciting interview in these turbulent times.