Top 10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Tools: Features, Pros, Cons and Comparison

Posted on February 23, 2026February 23, 2026 | by khushboo

Introduction

Privileged Access Management (PAM) tools protect the most powerful accounts in your organization, such as administrators, root users, database owners, cloud superusers, and service accounts that can change systems or access sensitive data. These accounts are a prime target because one successful takeover can lead to full environment compromise. PAM reduces that risk by controlling how privileged access is granted, limiting how long it lasts, recording what happens during privileged sessions, and keeping privileged credentials out of human hands whenever possible.

PAM matters because modern environments have more privilege paths than ever: cloud consoles, Kubernetes clusters, CI/CD pipelines, SaaS admin portals, remote support tools, and hundreds of APIs. If privileged access is always “on,” shared through spreadsheets, or protected only by passwords, attackers and insider threats have an easier path to impact. A good PAM program enforces least privilege, just-in-time elevation, strong approvals, and clear audit trails without slowing down legitimate operations.

Common use cases include:

Protecting domain admin, root, and cloud superuser accounts
Managing and rotating privileged passwords and secrets
Granting temporary admin access for approved tasks
Recording privileged sessions for audits and investigations
Controlling vendor and third-party privileged remote access
Securing DevOps secrets and service account credentials

What buyers should evaluate:

Vault strength for credential storage and rotation
Just-in-time access, approvals, and time-bound elevation
Session recording and command-level auditing options
Privileged remote access without exposing credentials
Support for cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments
Coverage for endpoints, servers, databases, network devices, and SaaS
Integration with identity systems, ticketing, and monitoring tools
Reporting quality for audits and compliance needs
Ease of onboarding assets and managing policies at scale
Operational overhead, deployment complexity, and admin experience

Best for: Security teams, IT operations, infrastructure teams, and compliance-driven organizations that must control admin access across servers, cloud, networks, and business-critical platforms.

Not ideal for: Very small environments with minimal privileged accounts and no compliance needs, or teams that already run fully automated infrastructure with no interactive privileged access and use dedicated secrets controls only.

Key Trends in Privileged Access Management

More focus on just-in-time elevation instead of standing admin accounts
Privileged access moving toward brokered sessions with no password exposure
Increased coverage for cloud roles, APIs, and container platforms
Stronger controls for vendor access with time limits and approvals
More automation for credential rotation across diverse systems
Better analytics for detecting risky privileged behavior and policy drift
Session recording becoming more searchable and audit-friendly
Wider integration with ITSM workflows and change approval processes
Growth of privileged access pathways through DevOps pipelines and secrets
More emphasis on least privilege at the endpoint level for everyday users

How These Tools Were Selected

Widely recognized PAM capability and adoption signals across industries
Coverage across vaulting, session management, and just-in-time access
Strength of integration options with identity, ITSM, and monitoring systems
Flexibility for hybrid environments and mixed technology stacks
Practical governance features for audits, approvals, and reporting
Reliability expectations for high-availability access workflows
Ability to scale onboarding of systems, accounts, and policies
Support maturity, documentation depth, and partner ecosystem strength
Suitability for different segments from SMB to enterprise
Balanced mix of classic PAM suites and modern access-broker approaches

Top 10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Tools

1.CyberArk Privileged Access Manager

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager is a long-established PAM platform designed to secure privileged credentials, broker privileged access, and provide strong auditing and governance across enterprise environments.

Key Features

Central vaulting for privileged credentials
Automated password rotation and credential lifecycle controls
Privileged session brokering with strong access controls
Session recording and detailed audit trails
Approval workflows and policy-based access rules
Coverage for enterprise servers, directories, and infrastructure platforms

Pros

Strong breadth across classic PAM requirements
Mature auditing and governance workflows for regulated environments

Cons

Setup and ongoing administration can be complex
Best results often require careful architecture and rollout planning

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
MFA support through integrations, RBAC, audit logs, encryption controls. Certifications and specific attestations: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Works well in large environments where identity, ticketing, and monitoring tools must connect into privileged workflows.

Directory integrations for identity mapping and policy enforcement
ITSM workflow integrations for approvals and change processes
Export options for security monitoring and audit reporting

Support & Community
Strong enterprise support ecosystem and broad implementation partner availability; documentation is extensive.

2.BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access

BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access focuses on controlling and auditing privileged remote sessions to systems, with strong controls for vendors, support teams, and administrators.

Key Features

Brokered privileged remote access to systems
Session monitoring and recording options
Credential injection patterns that reduce password exposure
Policy-based access controls and approvals
Strong support for third-party and vendor access workflows
Centralized auditing and reporting

Pros

Strong fit for controlling remote privileged access
Practical vendor access controls with clear oversight

Cons

Some environments may still need a separate vault-first PAM layer
Policy design requires discipline to avoid access sprawl

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
RBAC, audit logs, encryption, session controls. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Commonly integrates with identity systems, ticketing workflows, and monitoring solutions.

Directory integrations for user identity and group-based policy
ITSM workflows for approvals and ticket-bound access
Logging exports for security operations visibility

Support & Community
Enterprise support model with strong documentation and deployment guidance.

3.Delinea Secret Server

Delinea Secret Server is a vault-focused PAM tool designed to manage privileged credentials, rotate secrets, and support controlled access workflows for teams and enterprises.

Key Features

Centralized storage for privileged passwords and secrets
Automated rotation and credential lifecycle controls
Role-based access controls for vault items
Approval workflows for high-risk secret access
Audit trails and reporting for secret usage
Integration patterns for scripts and automation workflows

Pros

Strong vault and secret governance for privileged credentials
Practical for teams needing structured secret sharing and rotation

Cons

Full PAM coverage may require additional session controls depending on needs
Scaling connectors and policies can take time in large environments

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
Encryption, RBAC, audit logs, MFA via integrations. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Often used as the vault layer integrated into IT and DevOps processes.

Integrations with directories for access control mapping
Automation hooks for secret retrieval and rotation workflows
Export options for monitoring and audit reporting

Support & Community
Documentation is solid; support tiers vary by plan; community and partner presence is established.

4.One Identity Safeguard

One Identity Safeguard is a PAM platform that combines credential vaulting with session controls and policy-based approvals, often used for enterprise governance and audit needs.

Key Features

Vaulting and automated credential rotation
Privileged session management with recording
Approval workflows and time-bound access patterns
Policy enforcement for privileged tasks and accounts
Reporting for audits and compliance workflows
Integration support for enterprise identity environments

Pros

Good balance of vaulting and session controls
Strong governance patterns for audit-driven environments

Cons

Implementation can be complex in heterogeneous environments
Ongoing tuning is needed to keep policies aligned to real operations

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
RBAC, audit logs, encryption, access policy controls. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Designed to integrate with identity and operations workflows for controlled elevation and oversight.

Directory integrations for identity mapping and policy enforcement
ITSM and workflow alignment for approvals and accountability
Log exports for monitoring and investigations

Support & Community
Enterprise support model with structured documentation; community footprint varies by region.

5.WALLIX Bastion

WALLIX Bastion is a PAM solution focused on privileged session brokering, session recording, and controlled access to critical infrastructure, commonly used in security-sensitive environments.

Key Features

Privileged session brokering for controlled access
Session recording and detailed auditing
Credential management patterns (varies by setup)
Policy-based access controls for privileged tasks
Strong oversight for external and internal admin access
Reporting tools for audit and compliance workflows

Pros

Strong session-focused visibility for privileged actions
Useful for environments needing strict access traceability

Cons

Some vault and secret workflows may require additional configuration
Onboarding diverse systems can take careful planning

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
RBAC, audit logs, encryption, session controls. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Often integrates with directories and security monitoring workflows for broader visibility.

Directory integrations for identity mapping
Workflow integration options vary by deployment
Monitoring exports for security operations

Support & Community
Support model is established; documentation is available; ecosystem strength varies by region.

6.ARCON Privileged Access Management

ARCON Privileged Access Management provides vaulting, access control, and session oversight capabilities, often selected by organizations looking for broad PAM coverage with structured policies.

Key Features

Privileged credential vaulting and management
Session monitoring and recording options
Role-based access controls and approvals
Policy enforcement for privileged workflows
Audit trails for investigations and compliance
Coverage across infrastructure and administrative tools

Pros

Broad PAM feature coverage for many environments
Useful governance structure for controlling privileged actions

Cons

Integration depth and rollout effort can vary by environment
Advanced use cases may require careful connector and policy work

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
RBAC, audit logs, encryption. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Designed to connect to identity systems and infrastructure access points.

Directory integrations for user mapping and policy
Integration options for admin tools and remote access workflows
Reporting and export patterns for audit needs

Support & Community
Support availability varies by region and plan; documentation is available.

7.ManageEngine PAM360

ManageEngine PAM360 is a PAM tool focused on vaulting, password rotation, and controlled access, often appealing to teams that want practical privileged governance with straightforward administration.

Key Features

Central vault for privileged passwords and keys
Automated credential rotation workflows
Role-based access controls and approvals
Audit logs and reporting for credential usage
Integration with IT operations workflows (varies by setup)
Coverage for common infrastructure systems and admin accounts

Pros

Practical for teams needing structured vaulting and rotation
Often easier to adopt for mid-sized environments

Cons

Session brokering depth may be less than session-first specialists
Advanced enterprise workflows may require extra planning

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
Encryption, RBAC, audit logs, access controls. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Often used in IT operations stacks where credential governance must connect into daily processes.

Directory integrations for access control mapping
Workflow alignment with IT operations tools depends on setup
Export options for audit and monitoring

Support & Community
Good documentation; support tiers vary; community footprint is solid among IT operations users.

8.HashiCorp Vault

HashiCorp Vault is a secrets management platform often used as the foundation for controlling machine credentials and dynamic secrets, and it can complement PAM by reducing long-lived privileged credentials.

Key Features

Central secrets storage with access policies
Dynamic secrets and short-lived credentials (varies by integration)
Strong API-driven workflows for automation
Encryption and key management patterns
Audit logging for secret access requests
Integrations with infrastructure and DevOps workflows

Pros

Strong for DevOps and machine identity use cases
Helps reduce standing privileged credentials through short-lived access

Cons

Not a full PAM suite for interactive privileged sessions by itself
Requires engineering effort to integrate and operate reliably

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
Encryption, access policies, audit logs. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Often used where automation, infrastructure, and pipelines need secrets without human password sharing.

Integrates with common cloud and infrastructure systems
API-first model supports automation and custom workflows
Often paired with session management tools for full PAM coverage

Support & Community
Strong documentation and community; enterprise support tiers vary by plan.

9.Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management

Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management controls privileged role activation and time-bound elevation in Microsoft-centered environments, helping reduce standing admin access through approvals and temporary role activation.

Key Features

Time-bound privileged role activation workflows
Approval steps and access justification options
Role assignment governance and review workflows
Alerts and reporting for privileged role usage
Integration alignment with Microsoft identity and access policies
Useful for controlling admin access in Microsoft ecosystems

Pros

Strong fit for Microsoft role governance and temporary elevation
Reduces standing admin access through controlled activation

Cons

Best suited to Microsoft-centered environments
Broader infrastructure session controls may require additional tools

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
RBAC, audit logs, role governance controls, policy alignment through identity platform. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Commonly used alongside Microsoft identity controls and security operations workflows.

Works well with directory-driven access models
Integrates with monitoring and alerting patterns in Microsoft ecosystems
Often paired with vaulting and session tools for full PAM coverage

Support & Community
Extensive documentation and large enterprise support footprint.

10.StrongDM

StrongDM is an access-broker approach that centralizes and audits access to infrastructure like databases and servers, reducing direct credential sharing by routing access through a controlled gateway.

Key Features

Centralized access gateway for infrastructure resources
Short-lived access patterns depending on configuration
Detailed auditing of access activity
Role-based access control for infrastructure targets
Simplified onboarding for engineers and operators
Integration patterns for identity providers and workflows

Pros

Reduces credential sprawl by brokering access
Clear access visibility for databases and infrastructure resources

Cons

May not replace full vaulting and rotation needs in all environments
Coverage depends on the infrastructure types you must control

Platforms / Deployment
Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid

Security & Compliance
RBAC, audit logs, access controls, encryption patterns. Certifications: Not publicly stated here.

Integrations & Ecosystem
Often used with identity providers and engineering workflows to make access safer and easier to manage.

Identity provider integrations for centralized authentication
Integrations with common infrastructure resources
Logging exports for security visibility and audits

Support & Community
Documentation is practical; support tiers vary; community footprint is growing.

Comparison Table

Tool Name	Best For	Platform(s) Supported	Deployment	Standout Feature	Public Rating
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager	Large enterprise PAM programs	Web, Windows, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Vault plus session governance depth	N/A
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access	Vendor and remote admin oversight	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Brokered remote privileged sessions	N/A
Delinea Secret Server	Vaulting and secret rotation governance	Web, Windows, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Strong credential vault workflows	N/A
One Identity Safeguard	Vault plus session control balance	Web, Windows, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Approvals and session recording	N/A
WALLIX Bastion	Session control and audit traceability	Web, Windows, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Strong session monitoring and recording	N/A
ARCON Privileged Access Management	Broad PAM controls with governance	Web, Windows, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Policy-driven privileged oversight	N/A
ManageEngine PAM360	Practical vaulting for mid-sized teams	Web, Windows, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Vaulting and rotation with simpler admin	N/A
HashiCorp Vault	DevOps secrets and dynamic credentials	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Dynamic secrets for automation	N/A
Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management	Temporary role elevation governance	Web	Cloud, Hybrid	Time-bound privileged role activation	N/A
StrongDM	Brokered access to databases and infra	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Cloud, Self-hosted, Hybrid	Central gateway with audit trails	N/A

Evaluation and Scoring

Weights used: Core features (25%), Ease of use (15%), Integrations and ecosystem (15%), Security and compliance (10%), Performance and reliability (10%), Support and community (10%), Price and value (15%).

Tool Name	Core	Ease	Integrations	Security	Performance	Support	Value	Weighted Total
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager	9	6	9	9	9	8	6	7.9
BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access	8	7	8	8	8	8	7	7.7
Delinea Secret Server	8	7	8	8	8	7	7	7.6
One Identity Safeguard	8	6	8	8	8	7	6	7.3
WALLIX Bastion	7	6	7	8	8	7	6	7.0
ARCON Privileged Access Management	7	6	7	8	7	7	7	7.0
ManageEngine PAM360	7	7	7	7	7	7	8	7.2
HashiCorp Vault	8	5	9	9	8	8	7	7.5
Microsoft Entra Privileged Identity Management	7	7	8	8	8	8	7	7.5
StrongDM	7	8	7	8	8	7	7	7.4

How to interpret the scores:

These numbers compare tools relative to each other within this list, not as absolute grades.
A higher weighted total suggests a stronger balance across common PAM selection needs.
Some tools score lower on ease because PAM can be inherently complex in large environments.
Use the scores to shortlist options, then validate with a pilot covering onboarding, approvals, session recording, and reporting.

Which Privileged Access Management (PAM) Tool Is Right for You

Solo or Freelancer
If you manage only a small number of systems, your primary risk is storing admin credentials safely and avoiding shared passwords. Start with strong vaulting for secrets, MFA on all admin accounts, and time-bound access habits. If you do occasional database or server access, brokered access tools can reduce credential exposure without heavy administration.

SMB
SMBs need practical vaulting, straightforward onboarding, and simple approvals for high-risk access. Focus on tools that make it easy to rotate shared admin credentials, remove access quickly during offboarding, and provide clear audit logs. SMBs often benefit from simpler PAM suites that cover vaulting and basic session oversight without requiring a large security engineering team.

Mid-Market
Mid-market organizations usually need both credential governance and stronger oversight of what admins do during sessions. Look for tools that combine vaulting with session recording, time-bound approvals, and good reporting. Also confirm integrations with your identity provider, ticketing workflows, and monitoring tools so privileged access is tied to accountable processes.

Enterprise
Enterprises often need layered PAM: vaulting and rotation, session brokering and recording, just-in-time elevation, and specialized controls for cloud roles, endpoints, and service accounts. Consider high availability, admin segmentation across teams, strong audit reporting, and integration with ITSM approvals. Enterprises commonly mix a full PAM suite with a secrets platform for DevOps credentials and a role-elevation tool for cloud and directory privileges.

Budget vs Premium
Budget-focused choices can still deliver meaningful improvement by centralizing privileged passwords, rotating credentials, and capturing basic audit trails. Premium suites typically add deeper session controls, broader connectors, stronger governance features, and more mature reporting. Choose based on the cost of privileged compromise versus the operational cost of running the platform.

Feature Depth vs Ease of Use
If you need fast adoption, prioritize tools with easier onboarding, clear admin workflows, and clean reporting. If you need strict governance, expect more setup: defining roles, building approval flows, onboarding systems, and tuning policies. PAM success depends on operational fit as much as feature depth.

Integrations & Scalability
Confirm coverage for your critical systems: servers, cloud platforms, databases, network devices, and SaaS admin consoles. Validate how credentials rotate, how sessions are recorded, and how logs are exported for security operations. Scalability also means managing policy drift and ensuring access stays least-privilege as teams and systems grow.

Security & Compliance Needs
For audit-driven environments, prioritize session recording, immutable logs where possible, role-based admin controls, approvals, and clear evidence trails. Also ensure privileged access is time-bound and tied to ticket or approval workflows. A strong PAM program is measurable: fewer standing admins, more rotation, more recorded sessions, and clearer accountability.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is PAM in simple terms?
PAM controls and audits administrator-level access so powerful accounts are used only when needed, for the shortest time possible, with clear logging and oversight.

2. Why is PAM different from regular access management?
Regular access management focuses on everyday user access. PAM focuses on high-impact accounts that can change systems, access sensitive data, or disable security controls.

3. What is the biggest risk PAM reduces?
PAM reduces the risk of privileged account takeover and misuse by limiting standing access, protecting credentials, and recording privileged actions for accountability.

4. What does session recording mean in PAM?
Session recording captures privileged remote activity so security and audit teams can review what happened during admin access, which helps investigations and compliance.

5. How does just-in-time privileged access work?
Just-in-time access grants admin permissions only for a limited time after approval or policy checks, then removes them automatically to reduce standing privilege.

6. Do we still need PAM if we already use MFA?
Yes. MFA helps prevent many login attacks, but it does not control what privileged users do, how long they stay privileged, or how credentials are shared and rotated.

7. How do PAM tools handle third-party vendor access?
Many PAM tools broker vendor sessions, require approvals, restrict allowed targets, and record activity so vendor access is controlled and auditable without sharing passwords.

8. Can PAM help with cloud admin roles?
Yes. Many PAM approaches include time-bound elevation, policy enforcement, and audit visibility for cloud roles, though coverage varies and may require integrations.

9. What is a common mistake when implementing PAM?
Trying to onboard everything at once. A better approach is to start with the most critical systems and privileged groups, then expand in phases with clear policies.

10. How should we start a PAM rollout?
Start by inventorying privileged accounts, selecting a small set of critical systems, enabling vaulting and rotation, adding approvals and session recording, then expanding gradually.

Conclusion

Privileged Access Management is one of the most important controls for reducing high-impact security incidents because privileged accounts are the keys to your entire environment. The best tool depends on what you need to control most: vaulting and rotation, brokered sessions, just-in-time elevation, vendor access, or DevOps secrets. Many organizations succeed by combining approaches, such as using a full PAM suite for session oversight, adding role elevation for admin roles, and using a secrets platform for automated workloads. A simple next step is to shortlist two or three tools, run a pilot on your most critical privileged accounts, validate approvals and session recording, confirm reporting quality, and then expand onboarding in phases to achieve measurable reduction in standing privilege.