Privileged Access Management (PAM) is essential in cybersecurity, especially given that 74% of breaches involve unauthorized access to privileged accounts. Securing these accounts is critical to prevent brute-force attacks, password compromises, and compliance violations. CyberArk has long been a frontrunner in PAM, offering key features like threat detection and password vaulting. Yet, as cyber threats evolve, it’s crucial to assess innovative alternatives to CyberArk that offer advanced, adaptive PAM capabilities.
This guide provides an in-depth comparison of top CyberArk alternatives, detailing the capabilities each solution brings to modern PAM challenges.
Choosing the Optimal CyberArk Alternative
In selecting a CyberArk alternative, it’s vital to evaluate features addressing core PAM needs, such as account discovery, password management, session monitoring, compliance, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Below are the primary criteria and top alternatives:
Key PAM Features to Consider
- Account Discovery – Essential for identifying privileged accounts across IT infrastructure and bringing them under PAM oversight.
- Password Vaulting – Central to PAM, ensuring secure storage of credentials with strict access controls.
- Session Monitoring – Provides real-time insights into privileged account usage, enabling immediate responses to suspicious activity.
- Reporting and Compliance – Facilitates detailed reporting and auditing, aiding in compliance and risk management.
- Adaptive MFA – Enhances security by dynamically enforcing authentication requirements based on access risk.
- Principle of Least Privilege – Restricts account access to only essential privileges, reducing potential exposure to malicious actors.
Top CyberArk Alternatives for PAM
1. Silverfort
- Pros: Silverfort automatically detects and classifies all privileged users and can apply Just-In-Time (JIT) policies across all users. Silverfort enforces real-time access control and MFA, offering seamless integration across legacy, hybrid, and cloud ecosystems.
- Cons: Requires IT resources for deployment.
- Best For: Organizations seeking a scalable, automated solution that supports quick deployment.
- Pricing: Contact Silverfort for details.
2. HashiCorp Vault
- Pros: Delivers cloud-native secret management, securing passwords, tokens, and encryption keys. Credentials are securely managed and destroyed post-session.
- Cons: Requires the Boundary solution to fully enable PAM capabilities. Lacks in-depth compliance reporting.
- Best For: Large organizations with complex infrastructures needing cloud-native secrets management.
- Pricing: Free for up to 25 secrets; paid plans start at $1.58/hour for dedicated hosting.
3. JumpCloud
- Pros: Cloud-based PAM offering centralized management, incorporating MFA, SSO, and session monitoring.
- Cons: Limited feature set, complex user interface, and lacks a fully cloud-native password manager.
- Best For: Small to mid-sized businesses seeking cloud-based identity management.
- Pricing: Free for up to 10 users/devices; paid plans from $3/user per month.
4. BeyondTrust
- Pros: Supports least-privilege enforcement, robust auditing, and incident response.
- Cons: High licensing costs, and the interface can be cumbersome.
- Best For: Enterprises with remote workforces needing versatile PAM features.
- Pricing: Typically starts around $75,000/year.
5. Delinea
- Pros: Manages both on-premises and cloud access, with secure SSH and RDP support and detailed reporting.
- Cons: Limited third-party integrations and primarily Windows-focused.
- Best For: Enterprises needing centralized access management.
- Pricing: Quote-based.
6. One Identity Safeguard
- Pros: Offers session recording, vaulting, and single-account access management.
- Cons: Integration limitations and complex interface.
- Best For: Large organizations needing comprehensive access control.
- Pricing: Request via website.
7. Okta Advanced Server Access (ASA)
- Pros: Cloud-native PAM for hybrid setups, integrates smoothly with existing tools.
- Cons: Lacks RDP auditing and can be costly with a complex setup.
- Best For: Cloud-centric organizations.
- Pricing: $14/resource/month, with additional costs for advanced features.
Selecting the Right CyberArk Alternative
By selecting a PAM solution tailored to your unique security landscape, you can strengthen privileged access protection, support compliance, and detect real-time threats. Each solution presents distinct strengths: from Silverfort’s unified identity protection to HashiCorp’s robust secrets management, enabling organizations to fortify PAM according to their operational needs.
Silverfort offers a comprehensive approach to PAM, combining adaptive MFA, automated account discovery, and in-depth monitoring to secure critical systems and meet modern security standards. Schedule a demo today to learn how Silverfort can help secure your organization’s privileged access in a scalable, adaptive, and streamlined manner.