What Is Privileged Access?

“Privileged access” refers to the elevated access permissions that IT and security admins can assign to user accounts, that give those accounts administrative levels of access to critical systems and applications.

What Are Privileged Accounts?

Most organizations organize their systems in tiers, according to the severity of the consequences should the system be breached or misused; the higher the tier, the more damage a breach would cause. Privileged accounts, such as domain admin or local administrator accounts, are granted higher levels of permissions than standard user accounts. These permissions give them administrative levels of access to high-tier systems. If a cybercriminal were to compromise a privileged account by stealing or cracking its credentials, they could: Access critical business systems and applications undetected Make changes to the account or to business data

What Are Standing Privileges?

“Standing privileges” are elevated access privileges that are always on. If a user has standing privileges, it means that they always have those privileges assigned to their account, even if they’re not currently using them. A user may not even be aware that they have those privileges. A common example of standing privilege is the “admin” account that often comes pre-made with a new laptop or desktop, or when you install a new cloud application. The problem: If an attacker were to compromise a privileged account by stealing or hacking the user’s login credentials, they would be able to use that account to access critical business resources multiple times. The solution: The best way to mitigate risk associated with standing privileges is by implementing a “just-in-time” approach to elevating access privileges, also known as the “principle of least privilege.” This principle states that IT, security, and compliance teams should only grant elevated permissions when they’re needed, and for the amount of time they’re needed. Once the user logs out of the system, the elevated permissions and revoked. In other words, every user has just enough access to do their job at all times. So, if an attacker compromises an account with just-in-time privileges, they’ll only be able to utilize those elevated permissions once— this greatly limits the amount of damage they can do.

What Is Privileged Access Management (PAM)?

Privileged access management (PAM) is the process of identifying privileged users and ensuring they have a reasonable level or access, or revoking levels of access that are unnecessary. This stops cybercriminals from being able to access privileged accounts by greatly reducing the time period during which the credentials are valid.

How Do PAM Tools Work?

Privileged access management (PAM) software enables IT and security teams to assign, monitor, and secure privileged access to high-tier business systems and applications. This involves: Securely elevating privileges in line with the principle of least privilege Eliminating standing privileges Monitoring user activity within high-tier systems To achieve this, PAM tools usually work in one of two ways: The PAM solution stores privileged login credentials in a secure vault that is only accessible after identity has been verified through multi-factor authentication. This ensures that only legitimate, authorized users can access privileged credentials. Some PAM solutions give users access to the credential vault; others inject the credentials directly into the user’s login session once they’ve authenticated, so that they never see the credentials. This prevents users from exposing credentials in a phishing attack. In both cases, the PAM solution logs who requested access, when, from where, and for how long. The PAM solution offers a system by which users can submit a request for elevated privileges on-demand. The solution then notifies IT or security admins of the request, and they can grant or deny the user access on a case-by-case basis or set up automatic, role-based provisioning. The best PAM tools also enable admins to monitor a user’s activities during their privileged session. This can help identify malicious activity and can also be used for regulatory compliance and auditing. The level of monitoring varies between solutions; some offer activity logs, while others offer full video recordings and keystroke monitoring.

What Are The Benefits Of Privileged Access Management (PAM)?

There are numerous benefits to implementing a PAM solution: Control access to your data. By reducing the number of accounts that have elevated privileges, a PAM solution can help you minimize the likelihood of an attacker gaining access to a privileged account using stolen credentials. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of a data breach, or a malware attack that requires elevated privileges to run, such as an SQL injection. Identify compromised accounts. PAM solutions provide greater visibility into account use, thereby making it much easier to spot an attack. Reduce repeat attacks. By eliminating standing privileges and rotating login credentials in between privileged sessions, PAM solutions prevent attackers from using the same credentials to access your company’s systems twice, greatly limiting the damage they can do. Prove compliance. PAM solutions generate reports explaining which users have elevated access privileges and for which applications. These reports should detail when those privileges are used, and what activities the user performs during a privileged session. These reports can be used to prove compliance with strict data protection regulations such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOX—all of which require that businesses apply least-privilege access policies to critical accounts containing sensitive data.

PAM Vs. IAM: What's The Difference?

Identity and access management (IAM) and privileged access management (or privileged identity management) are similar, but not the same. IAM is a series of tools and processes (such as multi-factor authentication and single sign-on) that are used to verify and authorize users across an entire organization. This enables IT and security teams to control who can access what, from which locations, when, and how. In IAM, the verification process usually takes place when a user first signs into their user account. A user’s credentials (including alternative authentication factors) are used to verify their identity. PAM is a subset of IAM that focuses solely on privileged users who need to access more sensitive data. In PAM, verification takes place when a user tries to access a specific resource. And while PAM solutions often include MFA as a means of verifying users before they can be granted elevated privileges, PAM ultimately bases its identity validation on attributes, rather than credentials. IAM gives authorized users access. PAM gives users just enough access.

What Other Types Of Access Management Are There?

The Top 11 Identity And Access Management Solutions The Top 8 Customer Identity And Access Management (CIAM) Solutions The Top 7 Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) Solutions The Top 5 Credential Management Solutions The Top 10 Identity Verification Software The Top 10 Fraud Detection and Prevention Solutions The Top 9 Solutions To Stop Account Compromise The Top 5 Decentralized Identity Solutions The Top 7 Know Your Business (KYB) Solutions The Top 10 KYC (Know Your Customer) Solutions The Top 10 Alternatives To Microsoft Azure Active Directory The Top 10 Alternatives To Okta Workforce Identity The Top 10 Alternatives To RSA SecurID The Top 10 Alternatives To Delinea PAM

Top Privileged Access Management Solutions

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ARCON | Privileged Access Management

ARCON|PAM is a privileged access management solution that secures and manages the lifecycle of privileged accounts. It offers robust protection against insider threats and credential-related breaches through its comprehensive features.

Why We Picked ARCON|PAM: We like the solution’s just-in-time access feature, which minimizes the threat surface by granting access as needed. Additionally, its MFA-protected password vault automates password management, enhancing security.

ARCON|PAM Standout Features: The solution includes a secure password vault with strong, dynamic password generation and storage, accessible only via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). It supports just-in-time access, automatic password rotation, advanced session monitoring, and a reporting engine with analytics. Integrations include native support for One-Time-Password (OTP) validation and Single Sign-On (SSO).

What’s Great:

Just-in-time access reduces the threat surface
MFA-protected vault automates password management
Native OTP validation and SSO integration
Advanced session monitoring and reporting
24/7 support for all clients

What To Consider:

May need customization for specific enterprise needs

Pricing: Pricing information is available from ARCON upon request.

Best suited for: ARCON|PAM is ideal for organizations of any size seeking a scalable, robust PAM solution with comprehensive protection against insider threats and credential breaches.

BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access

BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access enables organizations to manage and audit internal and third-party privileged access without a VPN. It securely stores passwords in a cloud-based or on-appliance vault and injects credentials directly into user sessions.

Why We Picked BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access: We appreciate the credential injection feature that prevents exposure during sign-in. Additionally, the platform’s strong session management capabilities provide granular visibility into privileged activity.

BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access Best Features: Key features include secure credential storage in a cloud-based or on-appliance vault, integration with BeyondTrust’s PasswordSafe, credential injection, and robust session management with audit trails and session forensics. The solution offers deployment flexibility with desktop consoles for Windows, Mac, and Linux, a web-based console, and a mobile app for remote access approval and monitoring.

What’s great:

Eliminates credential exposure during sign-in
Offers flexible deployment options
Provides detailed audit trails and session forensics
Supports remote access approval and monitoring

What to consider:

May require time to setup and configure for complex use cases

Pricing: Contact BeyondTrust for pricing details.

Who it’s for: BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access is ideal for organizations with remote workers needing secure access to privileged systems. It suits businesses requiring robust visibility and control over privileged access across various environments.

Broadcom Symantec Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Symantec Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a robust solution designed to enhance security by monitoring and governing access to high-tier corporate accounts. It reduces the risk of credential-related breaches and ensures compliance with industry standards.

Why We Picked Symantec PAM: We appreciate its ability to not only secure user accounts with preventative measures but also respond to breaches with built-in behavioral analytics and automated remediation workflows.

Symantec PAM Best Features: The solution stores privileged credentials in an encrypted vault accessible only after identity verification. It records user sessions, assessing risk and triggering automatic mitigation for anomalous behaviors. Key features include multi-factor authentication, machine learning-powered activity monitoring, and full session audit data, including video recordings. Integrations are strong with other Broadcom/Symantec security technologies.

What’s great:

2FA-protected vault secures root, admin passwords, and SSH keys
Continuous monitoring compares actions to historical behaviors
Automatic remediation for detected suspicious activities
Full audit data with video recordings stored securely
Streamlines automated user provisioning and access governance

What to consider:

May be complex to implement, aimed at large enterprise deployments

Pricing: Available from Broadcom’s partners and distributors upon request.

Who it’s for: Symantec PAM is ideal for large enterprises aiming to prevent credential-related breaches and lateral account compromise attacks, especially those already using Broadcom/Symantec security technologies.

CyberArk Privileged Access Management

CyberArk Privilege Access Manager (PAM) delivers multi-layered security for privileged accounts, enabling IT teams to secure, manage, and record account activities. It isolates credentials in a secure vault and continuously scans the network to detect and manage privileged access attempts.

Why We Picked CyberArk PAM: We like CyberArk’s ability to prevent repeat attacks by terminating sessions and automatically rotating credentials upon detecting suspicious behavior. Its continuous network scanning effectively identifies and manages privileged access.

CyberArk PAM Best Features: Key features include credential isolation in a secure vault, continuous network scanning for privileged access detection, automatic session termination based on risk levels, credential rotation, and full video playback and keystroke monitoring for each session. It supports on-prem, cloud, and SaaS deployment options.

What’s great:

Strong prevention of repeat attacks through session termination and credential rotation
Continuous scanning to detect and manage privileged access
Comprehensive session monitoring with video playback and keystroke logging
Flexible deployment options including on-prem, cloud, and SaaS
Centralized management and reporting for clear visibility into system access

What to consider:

Complex setup requirements might require additional time and expertise

Pricing: CyberArk PAM is available as a self-hosted solution starting at $112/user, or as a SaaS solution via the Azure marketplace from $17,800.00/one-time payment for 1 year.

Who it’s for: CyberArk PAM is best suited for enterprises needing a robust, flexible privileged access management solution with strong session monitoring and remediation capabilities across various deployment environments.

Delinea Secret Server

Delinea Secret Server enables organizations to monitor, manage, and secure access to their most sensitive corporate databases, applications, and network devices. It stores all privileged credentials in an encrypted, centralized vault accessible only through two-factor authentication, ensuring users can view only the passwords necessary for their roles.

Why We Picked Delinea Secret Server: We appreciate its strong focus on authorization, allowing detailed control over what activities users can perform once logged into privileged accounts. The solution’s granular access controls align with the principle of least privilege.

Delinea Secret Server Best Features: Key features include secure storage of privileged credentials, two-factor authentication for access, granular access controls, policy controls for password complexity and rotation, on-demand privilege provisioning, custom workflows for access delegation, and session recording for monitoring and auditing. Integrations support a wide range of systems, applications, and security tools.

What’s great:

Emphasizes authorization, managing user activities post-login
Granular access controls adhere to the principle of least privilege
Supports on-demand and just-in-time privilege provisioning
Robust session recording for accountability and compliance
Custom workflows automate access requests

What to consider:

May require additional configuration for complex environments

Pricing: Available from Delinea upon request.

Who it’s for: Delinea Secret Server is ideal for enterprises seeking to secure and centrally manage access to critical systems, accounts, and applications, ensuring compliance with data protection standards and preventing account takeover attacks.

ManageEngine PAM360

ManageEngine PAM360 is a comprehensive privileged access management (PAM) solution that automates access management and ensures compliance readiness for securing critical systems, applications, and services.

Why We Picked ManageEngine PAM360: We appreciate PAM360’s ability to automatically discover and onboard privileged users and accounts, enabling immediate identification of standing privileges across the network. Its just-in-time access and least privilege workflows streamline access provisioning.

ManageEngine PAM360 Best Features: Key features include automatic discovery and onboarding of privileged accounts, just-in-time access with least privilege workflows, secure credential vault with AES-256 encryption, full audit trails, real-time session recording, session shadowing, and regulatory compliance support for NIST, PCI-DSS, FISMA, HIPAA, SOX, and ISO-IEC 27001. Integrations include seamless compatibility with ManageEngine’s other products.

What’s great:

Comprehensive solution covering all aspects of privileged access management
Automates access provisioning with least privilege workflows
Robust session monitoring and auditing capabilities
Strong regulatory compliance support

What to consider:

May require additional configuration for complex environments

Pricing: ManageEngine PAM360 is available as a subscription from $7,995/year (billed annually), or as a perpetual license from $19,995 with support from $3,999.

Who it’s for: ManageEngine PAM360 is best suited for organizations needing comprehensive privileged access management, especially those in regulated industries like healthcare, government, and financial services. It’s particularly valuable for existing ManageEngine customers.

Saviynt Cloud PAM

Saviynt Cloud PAM integrates Privileged Access Management with Identity Governance and Administration, offering just-in-time access to assets across on-prem, web, and cloud environments. It eliminates standing privileges and streamlines access management with a user-friendly interface.

Why We Picked Saviynt Cloud PAM: We appreciate its ease of setup and management, which does not compromise on security. The solution’s real-time discovery of accounts, workloads, and entitlements simplifies the setup process.

Saviynt Cloud PAM Key Features: The platform supports policy-based lifecycle management for privileged identities, provisioning least-privilege time-bound or temporary role-based access. It includes a secure password vault for credentials, keys, and tokens, with options for password rotation and role-based access controls. Additional features include AI-informed security and compliance reporting, zero-footprint session monitoring, keystroke logging, and a risk scoring system for automatic session termination.

What’s Great:

User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop workflows
Real-time account, workload, and entitlement discovery
Comprehensive security with password rotation and role-based access
Granular reporting on privileged access data
Effective risk management with automatic session termination

What To Consider:

Advanced features may require additional configuration
Pricing information is available only upon request

Pricing: Contact Saviynt directly for pricing details.

Best suited for: Saviynt Cloud PAM is ideal for organizations seeking a comprehensive yet easy-to-use privileged access management solution. It’s particularly beneficial for those prioritizing both security and usability.

10.

One Identity Safeguard

One Identity Safeguard is a Privileged Access Management (PAM) suite that offers modules for password management, session monitoring, and threat detection. It enables organizations to secure, control, and audit access to critical resources throughout the session.

Why We Picked One Identity Safeguard: We appreciate its ability to reduce user friction across multiple platforms and its comprehensive session recording and analysis capabilities.

One Identity Safeguard Best Features: The suite includes a secure password vault, session management, threat detection, and user behavior analytics. Key features are centralized authentication, single sign-on (SSO), machine learning for user activity analysis, and customizable access controls for just-in-time or least-privileged access. Integrations support multiple environments and platforms.

What’s great:

Streamlines access to privileged and non-privileged resources from a single account
Stores credentials securely in a centralized vault with SSO
Utilizes machine learning to monitor and analyze user behavior during sessions
Offers robust, customizable access controls at the user level
Provides searchable session recordings for auditing and investigations

What to consider:

Complex setups may require additional configuration

Pricing: Pricing information is available from One Identity on request.

Who it’s for: One Identity Safeguard is best suited for large enterprises needing powerful tools to control and monitor privileged access across multiple platforms with minimal user friction.

Other Identity And Access Management Services

We researched lots of PAM solutions while we were making this guide. Here are a few other tools worth your consideration:

Foxpass Privileged Access Management

Scalable PAM with a user-friendly interface, easy integration and cloud-based LDAP, RADIUS and SSH Key management.

Bravura Security Bravura Privilege

Password randomization and encryption, one-time access, and credential rotation to secure shared accounts.

WALLIX Bastion

Powerful password management and PEDM that ensures secure privileged access for both internal and remote employees.

The Top 10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions

Why should you trust this Shortlist?

This article was written by the Deputy Head of Content at Expert Insights, who has been covering cybersecurity, including privileged access management, for over 5 years. This article has been technically reviewed by our technical researcher, Laura Iannini, who has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.

Research for this guide included:

Conducting first-hand technical reviews and testing of several dozen leading identity providers
Interviewing executives in the privileged access management space, as well as the wider identity and access management and user authentication industries, for first-hand insight into the challenges and strengths of different solutions
Researching and demoing over 50 identity and access management solutions in several categories over several years
Speaking to several organizations of all sizes about their PAM challenges and the features that are most useful to them
Reading third-party and customer reviews from multiple outlets, including paid industry reports

This guide is updated at least every 3 months to review the vendors included and ensure that the features listed are up to date.

Who is this Shortlist for?

We recommend that all organizations control privileged access using a strong privileged access management solution, but particularly larger enterprises and organizations operating within heavily regulated industries. This list has therefore been written with a broad audience in mind.

How was the Shortlist picked?

When considering PAM solutions, we evaluated providers based on the following criterion:

Features: Based on conversations with vendors, end customers, and our own testing, we selected the following key features :

Support for “just-in-time” or “zero standing privilege” (ZSP) access that only grants users the minimum level of privilege they need to carry out their task, and only for as long as they actively need it.
A credential vault that encrypts and securely stores privileged credentials.
Password management with credential rotation after each privileged session, to prevent users (and attackers) from being able to sign into a critical system multiple times, using the same credentials.
In-built multi-factor authentication (MFA) or integrations with MFA providers to verify users’ identities before they’re granted access to high-tier systems, and to verify admins’ identities before signing into the PAM solution and granting other users’ elevated privileges.
Session management and tracking either via a breadcrumb-based audit trail or full session recording, to enable IT and security admins to detect anomalous or malicious activity in real-time and prove compliance with data protection standards such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOX.
Real-time alerts that notify admins of anomalous account activity, and on-demand access requests.
In-depth reporting into privileged access across the organization, including who has access to which systems, and when a user “checks out” a password from the credential vault or is assigned elevated privileges by an admin.

Market perception: We reviewed each vendor included on the Shortlist to ensure they are reliable, trusted providers in the market. We reviewed their documentation, third-party analyst reports, and—where possible—we have interviewed executives directly.

Customer usage: We use market share as a metric when comparing vendors and aim to represent both high market share vendors and challenger brands with innovative capabilities. We have spoken to end customers and reviewed customer case studies, testimonials, and end user reviews.

Product heritage: Finally, we have looked at where a product has come from in the market, including when companies were founded, their leadership team, their mission statements, and their successes. We have also considered product updates and how regularly new features are added. We have ensured all vendors are credible leaders with a solution we would be happy to use ourselves.

Based on our experience in the identity and broader cybersecurity market, we have also considered several other factors, such as the benefit of consolidating multiple features into a single platform, the quality of the admin interface, the customer support on offer, and other use cases.

There are over 400 vendors in the user authentication market. This list is designed to be a selection of the best PAM providers. Many leading solutions have not been included in this list, with no criticism intended.

How to Choose the Right PAM Solution?

Selecting the right Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution involves aligning the tool with your organization’s security, compliance, and operational needs. Consider these key steps to make an informed choice:

Assess Your Privileged Access Environment: Evaluate the number and types of privileged accounts (human, machine, service) across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid systems, and identify critical assets requiring protection.
Define Compliance and Security Goals: Factor in regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA) and security priorities like zero-trust or least-privilege to ensure robust access control and auditability.
Prioritize Scalability: Choose a solution that supports your current infrastructure and can scale to accommodate cloud adoption, DevOps workflows, or growing endpoint numbers.

Focus on critical features to ensure secure management and monitoring of privileged access:

Credential Vaulting and Rotation: Look for encrypted password vaults with automated credential rotation and just-in-time (JIT) access to minimize standing privileges.
Session Monitoring and Recording: Prioritize tools with real-time session tracking, keystroke logging, and video recording for auditing and rapid threat detection.
Granular Access Controls: Ensure role-based access control (RBAC) and least-privilege enforcement, with support for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO).
Integration Capabilities: Verify compatibility with SIEM, IAM, and DevOps tools (e.g., Kubernetes, AWS) to streamline workflows and enhance threat response.

Balance functionality with usability to maximize adoption and efficiency:

User-Friendly Interface: Avoid complex platforms that overwhelm admins, opting for intuitive dashboards and automated workflows for access requests and approvals.
Vendor Support Quality: Select providers with responsive support, detailed documentation, and professional services for smooth deployment and issue resolution.
Testing and Trials: Use demos, free trials, or user reviews to validate ease of use, integration, and performance before committing.

Summary and Key Takeaways

Our guide to the leading Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions provides a comprehensive overview of platforms designed to secure and monitor privileged accounts across diverse IT environments. The article evaluates tools based on features like encrypted credential vaulting, real-time session monitoring, granular access controls, and integrations with SIEM and IAM systems, catering to organizations of all sizes. It underscores the importance of combining robust security with scalability and usability to mitigate risks like credential theft, ensure compliance, and support modern cloud and DevOps workflows in a zero-trust landscape.

Key Takeaways:

Robust Privilege Control: Top PAM solutions secure human and machine accounts with JIT access, MFA, and automated credential management to reduce attack surfaces.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Choose platforms with session recording and analytics to detect anomalies and simplify compliance audits.
Scalability and Integration: Prioritize tools that integrate with cloud, DevOps, and security ecosystems while scaling to meet evolving infrastructure needs.

What Do You Think?

We’ve explored the leading PAM solutions, highlighting how these tools help organizations secure privileged accounts, enforce least-privilege, and maintain compliance. Now, we’d love to hear your perspective—what’s your experience with PAM platforms? Are features like automated credential rotation, real-time session monitoring, or cloud integrations critical for your organization’s security strategy?

Selecting the right PAM solution can transform how you protect critical systems, but challenges like deployment complexity or user adoption can arise. Have you found a standout platform that’s strengthened your security posture, or encountered hurdles with scalability or usability? Share your insights to help other organizations navigate the PAM landscape and choose the best tool for their needs.

Let us know which solution you recommend to help us improve our list!

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Written By

Caitlin Harris Deputy Head Of Content

Caitlin Harris is the Deputy Head of Content at Expert Insights. As an experienced content writer and editor, Caitlin helps cybersecurity leaders to cut through the noise in the cybersecurity space with expert analysis and insightful recommendations. Prior to Expert Insights, Caitlin worked at QA Ltd, where she produced award-winning technical training materials, and she has also produced journalistic content over the course of her career. Caitlin has 8 years of experience in the cybersecurity and technology space, helping technical teams, CISOs, and security professionals find clarity on complex, mission critical topics like security awareness training, backup and recovery, and endpoint protection. Caitlin also hosts the Expert Insights Podcast and co-writes the weekly newsletter, Decrypted.

Technical Review

Laura Iannini Cybersecurity Analyst

Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful. Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.

The Top 10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions

Discover the top privileged access management solutions. Explore features such as password management, role-based security, real-time notifications, and reporting.