12 Best Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions for Enterprises

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a cybersecurity approach that uses a combination of strategies and tools to control, monitor, and secure access to an organization’s most critical assets. By managing these elevated permissions, businesses can better protect themselves from external attacks and internal threats.

These special credentials, known as privileged accounts, are used by system administrators, applications, and other human and non-human users to perform administrative tasks.

When users accumulate more access rights than they need for their jobs, it results in “privilege creep,” which increases the risk of data breaches from insider threats and gives attackers more opportunities to move through a network if an account is compromised.

Here is why PAM is essential for modern enterprises

• It helps prevent data breaches by securing the powerful credentials that cybercriminals frequently target.
• PAM is a fundamental part of a Zero Trust security model, ensuring that all access requests are verified before being granted.
• It assists organizations in meeting compliance requirements for regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and PCI DSS.
• It offers a way to secure privileged access across diverse IT environments, including cloud, hybrid, and DevOps pipelines.

In this post, we will look at the 12 Best Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions for Enterprises.

1. ManageEngine PAM360

ManageEngine PAM360 is an enterprise-level Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution. It gives IT teams a single place to control and monitor privileged access across their entire infrastructure.

The platform brings together essential PAM tools with detailed monitoring and analytics. This helps organizations better integrate privileged access security into their main IT management tasks.

It is a complete solution designed to manage the full lifecycle of privileged accounts.

Key Features

• AI-Powered Behavioral Analytics: Uses AI and machine learning to spot unusual user activity and flag potential security risks.
• Just-in-Time (JIT) Controls: Provides temporary, elevated privileges for user accounts and offers specific, time-limited access to sensitive systems.
• DevOps and Application Credential Security: Secures the credentials used by automated systems, applications, scripts, and CI/CD pipelines to prevent attacks.
• Session Monitoring and Recording: Allows for live monitoring, shadowing, and recording of all privileged sessions, which can be played back for audits and security investigations.
• SSH Key and SSL Certificate Management: Automates the management of SSH keys and SSL/TLS certificates to help prevent attacks based on impersonation.

Pros

• It offers a wide range of features on one platform, including a password vault, session auditing, and built-in reporting tools.
• The interface is easy to use, and the deployment process is often quicker compared to other solutions.
• It connects smoothly with other ManageEngine products like ServiceDesk Plus and OpManager, as well as third-party SIEM and ticketing systems.

Cons

• Some users find that its performance can be limited when managing a very large number of servers.
• The setup documentation can be difficult to follow, sometimes requiring extra time to resolve issues.
• There are occasional problems with integrating certain third-party applications, which may need manual adjustments to sync properly.

2. CyberArk Privileged Access Manager

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager is a leading security solution for large organizations that need to manage access to their critical systems.

It provides a central platform to secure accounts with high-level permissions across different environments, including on-premises and cloud setups.

The system helps companies control and monitor who can access sensitive data, ensuring that only authorized users can perform specific actions.

It isolates and records privileged activities to create a detailed audit trail for compliance and security checks. This approach helps protect against internal and external threats by managing credentials, sessions, and access policies from a single point.

Key Features

• Privileged Account Discovery & Lifecycle Management: It automatically finds, secures, and manages all privileged accounts and credentials throughout your IT infrastructure.
• Enterprise Password Vault: This feature uses a secure, tamper-proof vault to store and automatically rotate passwords and other credentials based on set policies.
• Privileged Session Manager (PSM): It isolates privileged sessions to prevent malware from spreading and records every keystroke and screen action for real-time monitoring and auditing.
• Privileged Threat Analytics (PTA): It uses behavioral analytics to identify and alert security teams to abnormal user activity that could signal a threat.

Pros

• It offers a wide range of security features, including just-in-time access and management for machine secrets like API keys.
• The platform provides strong compliance and auditing tools, with detailed session recordings and access reports that help meet regulatory requirements.
• Its design supports large, global companies with a scalable framework and integrates with many third-party applications and systems.

Cons

• User reviews consistently point out that it is one of the more expensive options available for privileged access management.
• The system is known for its complex setup and ongoing management, which often calls for specialized training or professional services.
• Its capabilities are divided among several different products, which can lead to higher costs and a more complicated implementation.

3. BeyondTrust PAM

BeyondTrust PAM is a security platform that offers a set of tools for managing passwords, controlling user permissions on endpoints, and securing remote connections.

The platform gives organizations clear visibility into who is accessing critical systems and helps enforce least privilege policies across different IT setups, including cloud and on-premise systems.

It works by centralizing control over accounts with elevated permissions to reduce security risks. The goal is to provide secure access for administrators, developers, and third-party vendors without granting excessive permissions.

Key Features

• Password Safe: This feature automates the management and rotation of passwords and other credentials for privileged accounts to prevent unauthorized use.
• Endpoint Privilege Management: It lets you remove default administrator rights from users but grants elevated access for specific applications when necessary.
• Privileged Remote Access: The platform secures, manages, and audits remote connections for internal teams and external partners without needing a VPN.
• Session Monitoring: It allows for real-time viewing and recording of sessions involving privileged accounts to help with security audits and incident investigations.

Pros

• The platform provides a complete picture of your organization’s security by offering detailed insights into user access and privilege pathways.
• It supports flexible deployment, allowing you to run it on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid model that suits your IT strategy.
• The system is built to scale, making it a good fit for large companies with growing security requirements.

Cons

• Its extensive features can make the initial setup and day-to-day management difficult for teams without specialized knowledge.
• The overall cost, which includes implementation and ongoing maintenance, is often reported to be high.
• Some find the user interface to be dated, and functionality is spread across multiple licenses, which can increase both cost and complication.

4. One Identity PAM

One Identity PAM provides a unified platform for managing privileged passwords, controlling sessions, and analyzing user behavior.

It is recognized for its straightforward architecture and flexible deployment, available as an on-premise appliance, a cloud-based service, or a hybrid model.

The solution helps organizations secure and monitor privileged access across various systems to reduce security risks and meet compliance standards.

It gives administrators granular control over who can access what, while tracking all activity for auditing purposes.

Key Features

• Safeguard for Privileged Sessions: This feature controls, monitors, and records privileged user sessions, and the recorded content is indexed for quick searching during audits.
• Safeguard for Privileged Passwords: It automates the storage, release, and rotation of privileged credentials using role-based access controls and defined approval workflows.
• Safeguard for Privileged Analytics: The platform uses user behavior analytics to spot unusual patterns and identify potential threats from both inside and outside the organization.
• Secure Remote Access: It offers detailed, command-level control and protocol filtering for remote administrators and third-party vendors, ensuring they only access what they need.

Pros

• Users often praise the platform for its simpler setup and management compared to more complex alternatives on the market.
• It offers flexible deployment options, including on-premises, hybrid, and SaaS models, which can fit different company needs.
• The system includes a transparent mode that allows for complete session control without changing the end-user’s normal workflow, a feature especially useful for VDI environments.

Cons

• The session and password management tools are separate solutions that are integrated, which can make administration and maintenance more challenging.
• Some users have reported that the user interface can be complex and that performance may be affected when the system is under a heavy workload.

5. Okta Privileged Access

Okta Privileged Access is a modern, cloud-native PAM solution that is part of the Okta Workforce Identity Cloud. It helps organizations adopt a Zero Trust security approach by removing permanent credentials.

Instead, it provides just-in-time, policy-driven access to important infrastructure. This method strengthens security by granting access only when it is needed and for a limited time.

Key Features

• Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: This feature grants temporary, time-bound access to resources like servers, Kubernetes clusters, and databases, which removes the need for standing privileges.
• Ephemeral Credentials: It issues short-lived credentials that expire after a session, lowering the risk of credential theft.
• Policy-Based Access Control: Administrators can create dynamic policies that use user context, such as location or time, to control access to resources.
• Session Recording and Auditing: The solution provides real-time recording and auditing of privileged sessions, which helps with compliance and forensic analysis.

Pros

• It integrates smoothly with the broader Okta identity ecosystem, providing unified governance and visibility.
• Its cloud-native architecture is scalable, user-friendly, and effective for securing remote work and DevOps workflows.
• The solution simplifies compliance with regulations such as SOX and HIPAA by offering clear audit trails and session recordings.

Cons

• It can be an expensive option, particularly for smaller organizations.
• The access controls are mainly focused on servers and may lack native support for some web applications and databases.
• Being part of the Okta ecosystem is a major benefit, but it may be less suitable for organizations that are not already invested in Okta’s platform.

6. WALLIX Bastion

WALLIX Bastion is an end-to-end Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution that provides session management, access control, and password management capabilities.

It is designed with a strong focus on compliance, making it a suitable choice for regulated industries that require strict security and detailed audit trails.

The platform helps organizations secure access to critical IT and operational technology (OT) assets by monitoring and recording all privileged activities.

Its modular design allows companies to implement features one at a time to build a sustainable security framework.

Key Features

• Real-time privileged session monitoring and recording: The solution monitors privileged sessions in real time and records them for later analysis, helping to detect malicious activity and terminate suspicious connections.
• Access control permissions and policy enforcement: Administrators can set granular authorization rules to supervise access to critical systems and enforce the principle of least privilege.
• Credential and password management: It securely stores passwords and SSH keys in an encrypted vault and automates password rotation based on time or usage.
• Single sign-on (SSO) capabilities: The platform integrates with web SSO technologies to simplify user access while maintaining security.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): WALLIX Bastion supports various authentication methods, including RADIUS and PKI, to add an extra layer of security for privileged access.
• User management and role-based access control: It allows for the management of privileged user accounts and the enforcement of role-based access controls to limit permissions to what is necessary.
• Compliance management and audit trails: The system generates detailed reports and dashboards to help meet compliance requirements and provides audit trails that can be integrated with SIEM solutions.
• Secure remote access capabilities: It provides secure and agentless access for remote users and third-party vendors without requiring a VPN connection.

Pros

• It offers a wide array of tools, including comprehensive session monitoring and detailed auditing features.
• The solution is often highlighted for its competitive pricing structure compared to other major PAM vendors.
• Users frequently praise its intuitive and modern user interface, which simplifies navigation and management.
• Its strong compliance features, including detailed reporting, make it a good option for organizations in highly regulated sectors.

Cons

• The platform does not support password rotation for many types of machine or service accounts, which can be a limitation in automated environments.
• Its customer base is primarily concentrated in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region, which may affect support and community resources in other areas.
• It currently lacks Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) functionality, which is important for managing permissions in complex cloud environments.
• The system has limited capabilities for automatically discovering privileged accounts across the network.

7. IBM Security Verify Privilege

IBM Security Verify Privilege is an enterprise-grade solution for managing privileged accounts, enforcing least privilege, and monitoring high-risk user activity in large, hybrid IT environments.

The platform provides centralized control and visibility through components like the Privilege Vault, which secures passwords and other secrets, and the DevOps Vault, which manages credentials for automated pipelines.

It helps organizations protect critical resources from security threats and credential misuse by managing and auditing privileged accounts throughout their lifecycle.

The technology, powered by Delinea, is designed to support zero trust security strategies by ensuring that users only have access to what they need.

Key Features

• Credential Vaulting: This feature securely stores privileged account passwords and other secrets in a centralized, encrypted vault to protect them from unauthorized access.
• Session Monitoring: The platform records and monitors privileged sessions in real time, providing a detailed audit trail of all actions performed with elevated rights.
• DevOps Support: It includes a DevOps Vault designed to centralize and manage secrets used in high-velocity CI/CD pipelines, providing automated logging and access enforcement.

Pros

• The platform offers a scalable architecture that is well-suited for large, complex enterprise environments.
• It is designed to support modern security approaches like Zero Trust and is built for hybrid cloud deployments.
• The solution integrates with other products in the IBM Security portfolio, which can help create a more unified security system.

Cons

• Users report that the initial setup and ongoing administration can be difficult and may require specialized technical skills.
• The licensing model is often seen as complex, and the overall cost can be high, making it a better fit for larger organizations.

8. StrongDM

StrongDM is a Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) platform known for its dynamic, just-in-time access controls and proxy-based architecture.

It centralizes access to various infrastructure components such as databases, servers, and Kubernetes clusters, making it a popular choice for modern DevOps and engineering teams.

The platform combines authentication, authorization, networking, and observability into a single solution, providing secure and auditable access for the precise amount of time it is needed.

It is designed to work with both modern and legacy systems, allowing organizations to apply consistent security policies across their entire infrastructure.

Key Features

• Dynamic Access Control: It provides policy-based, on-demand access to infrastructure resources, allowing for temporary access grants and real-time revocations.
• Real-time Session Logging: StrongDM logs every query, SSH command, and action, offering complete auditability and visibility into user activities.
• Proxy-based Architecture: The platform simplifies deployment across cloud and on-premise environments by acting as a proxy, which removes the need to install agents on every endpoint.
• Credential Injection: It securely injects credentials at the time of connection, ensuring that users never see or handle them directly, which reduces the risk of exposure.

Pros

• The platform is known for its fast and easy deployment, often taking only minutes to set up across different types of infrastructure.
• Users frequently highlight the intuitive interface and excellent customer support as key benefits.
• It is specifically built for modern DevOps workflows, with strong support for just-in-time (JIT) access and infrastructure as code.

Cons

• The initial configuration of roles and access rules can be complex for organizations with intricate permission structures.
• While it supports a wide range of modern technologies, integration with certain legacy enterprise systems may be more limited.
• The service can experience occasional downtime, which may impact development team productivity.

9. ARCON Privileged Access Management

ARCON Privileged Access Management is an AI-powered solution that offers real-time monitoring and helps organizations comply with various security frameworks.

It is designed to manage and secure privileged accounts across complex IT environments, including on-premises, cloud, and DevOps pipelines.

The platform provides a centralized way to control access, monitor user activity, and manage credentials to protect against security threats.

It uses automation and analytics to identify and respond to potential risks, making it suitable for large enterprises with advanced security needs.

Key Features

• AI-powered security for privileged accounts: The system uses an AI-powered risk assessment engine and user behavior analytics to learn user habits and flag any deviations that might indicate a threat.
• Real-time monitoring and alerting: It offers real-time monitoring of privileged sessions, allowing administrators to track activities and receive immediate alerts about suspicious behavior.
• Compliance framework support: The solution helps organizations meet regulatory requirements like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR by providing detailed audit trails and reports.
• Session recording and auditing: All privileged sessions are recorded in both video and text formats, creating a comprehensive audit trail for security reviews and investigations.
• Automation and analytics emphasis: ARCON PAM automates tasks like password rotation and provides analytics to help identify and manage security risks effectively.
• Complex enterprise environment support: The platform is built to handle the security challenges of large, distributed IT environments, including multi-cloud and hybrid data centers.

Pros

• The platform has strong automation and analytics capabilities that help streamline security operations and risk management.
• Its AI-driven threat detection can identify unusual user behavior and potential security risks before they cause damage.
• ARCON PAM is designed to support the complex security needs of large enterprises with diverse IT infrastructures.
• It offers comprehensive features to help organizations comply with a wide range of industry regulations and security standards.

Cons

• The platform has fewer ready-made integration options compared to some of the larger, more established market leaders.
• Some users have suggested that the documentation and customer support resources could be improved for a better user experience.

10. Senhasegura PAM

Senhasegura Privileged Access Manager is a comprehensive solution designed to cover the entire lifecycle of privileged access, including real-time identity tracking, credential security, and cloud integrations.

The platform offers a unified approach to managing privileged accounts by combining identity management, access control, and detailed auditing of all user activities.

It is built to protect IT infrastructure from data breaches and help organizations meet compliance requirements such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and HIPAA.

The system’s architecture allows for fast deployment even in complex, multi-datacenter environments, providing granular control without needing to install agents on target devices.

Key Features

• Secure vault and password manager: It stores privileged credentials in a secure, encrypted vault and automates password rotation based on organizational policies.
• SSH key management: The platform manages and controls trust relationships between SSH keys and systems to secure automated and administrative access.
• Enhanced auditing, reporting, and compliance: Every privileged session is recorded in both video and text formats, providing detailed audit trails to meet compliance demands.
• Behavioral analysis: It identifies and responds to changes in user behavior and access patterns to detect potential threats in real time.
• Session monitoring, recording, and control: Administrators can monitor user sessions live and have the ability to pause or terminate any suspicious activity immediately.
• Workflow automation: The solution automates routine IT and security tasks, which helps reduce the manual workload for technical teams.
• Approval workflows: It allows organizations to set up multilevel approval processes for users who need to view a password or start a remote session.
• Granular access control: The platform enables precise control over user permissions for systems like Windows, Linux, and databases without requiring agent installation.
• Account and discovery: It can automatically map and identify all connected assets and credentials in an environment, a feature rated as best-in-class by Gartner.
• Superior video storage capacity: The solution offers significantly more video storage capacity for session recordings compared to many competing products.

Pros

• The platform provides complete coverage of the privileged access lifecycle, from discovery to auditing.
• Users frequently praise the intuitive and easy-to-use interface, which helps speed up adoption and daily tasks.
• It is known for its fast deployment, even in complex environments with multiple data centers across different countries.
• Its asset and credential discovery capabilities are considered among the best in the market.
• The solution is built to handle many simultaneous sessions, which is important for large organizations.
• Senhasegura consistently receives high customer ratings, including a 5.0 on Gartner Peer Insights.

Cons

• While recognized as a global leader, the company has a smaller footprint compared to some of its larger competitors.
• Some find that pricing information is not always transparent or readily available to the public.
• The amount of publicly available technical documentation is somewhat limited compared to other market leaders.

11. MiniOrange PAM Solution

The miniOrange PAM solution is a unified and scalable platform created for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.

It focuses on providing a good user experience and simplified deployment through an agentless architecture that does not require installing software on every endpoint.

The platform helps organizations manage, monitor, and secure privileged accounts with features like just-in-time access and real-time session monitoring.

It is designed to help companies enforce least privilege policies, reduce their attack surface, and meet compliance regulations.

Key Features

• Credential vaulting with automated password rotation: It securely stores privileged credentials in a central vault and automates password changes to improve security.
• Just-in-Time (JIT) access for temporary privilege elevation: The platform provides users with temporary, on-demand access to critical resources for a limited time.
• Granular access control based on roles and policies: Administrators can define specific access permissions for different users and roles to enforce the principle of least privilege.
• Real-time session monitoring and recording: It allows security teams to monitor privileged sessions live and records them for auditing and threat investigation.
• Privileged account discovery across endpoints and servers: The solution can automatically find and manage privileged accounts across various servers and devices.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for secure access: It adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to sensitive systems.
• Endpoint privilege management for remote devices: The platform manages and secures privileges on endpoints like Windows, macOS, and Linux devices by removing local admin rights.
• Integration with SIEM, IAM, and ITSM platforms: It integrates with existing security and IT tools to create a more connected security infrastructure.
• Compliance-ready audit logs and reporting tools: The solution generates detailed logs and reports that help organizations meet compliance standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

Pros

• Its agentless architecture simplifies deployment and reduces the management overhead across different environments.
• The platform offers strong support for hybrid and cloud-native setups, making it flexible for modern IT infrastructures.
• Users often find the interface and centralized dashboard to be intuitive and easy to use.
• It is recognized for its competitive pricing and flexible licensing models, which can be appealing for businesses of different sizes.
• The solution is scalable and can be used by both small to medium-sized businesses and large enterprises.
• miniOrange is actively developing features related to Zero Trust principles and adaptive access controls.

Cons

• Some advanced customization options are still in the planning phase and may not be fully available yet.
• Certain enterprise-grade features might be limited to higher-priced business tiers, requiring additional investment.

12. HashiCorp Boundary

HashiCorp Boundary is an identity-aware proxy built for modern cloud environments, offering secure, least-privileged access to dynamic infrastructure.

It uses identity-driven controls to replace traditional methods like VPNs and bastion hosts, providing a more streamlined way to manage user access.

The platform centralizes authentication and authorization, granting users just-in-time access to specific systems like virtual machines, databases, and Kubernetes clusters.

By integrating with identity providers and automating the discovery of new resources, it simplifies access workflows for developers and operations teams.

Key Features

• Identity-based access with dynamic host discovery: It grants access based on user identity and roles, while automatically discovering and cataloging new infrastructure targets.
• Session recording capabilities: The enterprise version of Boundary can record user sessions, providing a detailed audit trail of all actions taken during a connection.
• Just-in-Time credential injection for passwordless access: It integrates with HashiCorp Vault to inject temporary credentials directly into sessions, so users never have to see or handle them.
• Seamless integration with HashiCorp Vault and Terraform: Boundary works closely with Vault for dynamic credentials and can be managed as code using Terraform, which automates its configuration.
• Single sign-on through trusted identity providers: The platform supports single sign-on by integrating with identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, and others that use OpenID Connect.
• Support for VMs, databases, and Kubernetes clusters: It provides a unified way to access a variety of infrastructure types across different cloud and on-premise environments.
• Open-source flexibility with enterprise features: Boundary is available as an open-source tool, with an enterprise version that offers additional features like session recording and dedicated support.

Pros

• Its identity-driven approach to access control is well-suited for modern, Zero Trust security models.
• The architecture is designed to scale across multi-cloud and hybrid environments with dynamic infrastructure.
• It offers strong integration with other HashiCorp tools like Vault and Terraform, creating a unified workflow for infrastructure management.
• Its open-source foundation provides flexibility and allows for community contributions and transparency.
• The platform is ideal for DevOps teams because it automates access and integrates with infrastructure-as-code practices.

Cons

• Users have noted that the setup can be complex, and its API-focused nature may present a learning curve compared to more traditional solutions.
• While it excels at identity-based access, it may not have all the advanced features of traditional PAM tools that focus heavily on credential vaulting.

Conclusion

Selecting the right Privileged Access Management solution involves matching a tool’s strengths to your organization’s specific security needs.

Established enterprise platforms like CyberArk and BeyondTrust offer extensive security controls, while modern solutions like StrongDM and HashiCorp Boundary provide dynamic, developer-focused access for cloud environments.

Many top tools, including Okta and ManageEngine PAM360, now emphasize Just-in-Time (JIT) access and AI-driven analytics to reduce risks.

Platforms such as One Identity and MiniOrange offer flexible deployment models for on-premise or cloud setups, ensuring a good fit for different IT infrastructures.

Ultimately, your decision will balance factors like the comprehensive lifecycle management of Senhasegura, the compliance focus of WALLIX, the enterprise integration of IBM, and the AI-powered features of ARCON.