Top 10 Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions in 2026

Privileged accounts remain the most targeted attack vector in enterprise environments. According to recent reports, over 80% of security breaches involve compromised privileged credentials. Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions address this critical gap by securing, managing, and monitoring access to your organization's most sensitive accounts and resources.

The PAM market has matured significantly, with vendors expanding beyond traditional password vaulting to encompass just-in-time access, session recording, secrets management, and cloud infrastructure entitlements. Whether you are managing on-premises Windows servers or multi-cloud Kubernetes clusters, the right PAM solution can dramatically reduce your attack surface.

In this guide, we evaluate the top 10 PAM solutions for 2026, comparing features, pricing, deployment models, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision.

Evaluation Criteria

We assessed each PAM solution across the following dimensions:

• Privileged Account Discovery: Ability to automatically find and onboard privileged accounts across infrastructure
• Credential Vaulting & Rotation: Strength of password vaulting, automatic rotation, and secrets management
• Session Management: Real-time monitoring, recording, and control of privileged sessions
• Just-in-Time (JIT) Access: Support for ephemeral, time-bound privilege elevation
• Cloud & Multi-Cloud Support: Native integrations with AWS, Azure, GCP, and Kubernetes
• Compliance & Audit: Reporting capabilities for SOX, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and other frameworks
• Ease of Deployment: Time to value and complexity of initial setup
• Pricing & Licensing: Transparency and flexibility of pricing models

---

1. CyberArk Privileged Access Manager

Best For: Large enterprises requiring the most comprehensive PAM platform with deep compliance capabilities.

Overview

CyberArk remains the undisputed market leader in privileged access management. Their Privileged Access Manager platform provides the broadest feature set in the industry, covering credential vaulting, session isolation, threat analytics, and endpoint privilege management. CyberArk has continued to invest heavily in cloud-native capabilities, with their Identity Security Platform now offering a unified approach to human and machine identity.

Key Features

• Digital Vault: Hardened, tamper-proof credential vault with automatic password rotation for over 300 target platforms
• Privileged Session Manager: Full session isolation and recording with keystroke logging and video playback
• Privileged Threat Analytics: AI-driven anomaly detection that identifies compromised privileged accounts in real time
• Endpoint Privilege Manager: Least-privilege enforcement on Windows, Mac, and Linux endpoints
• Secrets Manager: Centralized secrets management for DevOps pipelines, containers, and CI/CD tools
• Cloud Entitlements Manager: CIEM capabilities for right-sizing cloud permissions across AWS, Azure, and GCP
• Conjur Open Source: Secrets management for DevOps with native Kubernetes and Ansible integrations

Pricing

CyberArk uses a per-user, subscription-based pricing model. Enterprise licenses typically start around $50-70 per user per month, though exact pricing varies by module selection. The full platform with all modules can exceed $100 per user per month for smaller deployments. CyberArk also offers a SaaS-delivered Privilege Cloud option.

Pros

• Most comprehensive feature set in the PAM market
• Strongest compliance and audit reporting capabilities
• Deep integration ecosystem with 300+ out-of-box connectors
• Proven at scale in Fortune 500 environments
• Strong threat analytics with behavioral baselines

Cons

• Highest total cost of ownership among PAM solutions
• Complex deployment requiring significant professional services
• Steep learning curve for administrators
• On-premises vault architecture can be challenging to maintain

---

2. BeyondTrust Privilege Management

Best For: Organizations seeking a unified platform combining PAM, endpoint privilege management, and secure remote access.

Overview

BeyondTrust offers one of the most well-rounded PAM portfolios, combining Password Safe (credential vaulting), Privilege Management for Windows/Mac/Unix, and Privileged Remote Access into a cohesive platform. Their 2024 acquisition strategy has further strengthened their cloud and DevOps capabilities, making them a strong alternative to CyberArk for organizations wanting breadth without the same level of complexity.

Key Features

• Password Safe: Enterprise credential vaulting with discovery, rotation, and session management
• Privilege Management for Desktops: Application control and privilege elevation on endpoints without removing admin rights
• Privileged Remote Access: Vendor and internal remote access with session recording and approval workflows
• Cloud Privilege Broker: Multi-cloud entitlement management for AWS, Azure, and GCP
• DevOps Secrets Safe: Container-native secrets management with Kubernetes and CI/CD integrations
• Identity Security Insights: Unified analytics dashboard correlating privilege data across all modules

Pricing

BeyondTrust pricing is modular and subscription-based, typically ranging from $30-60 per user per month depending on modules selected. They offer competitive bundling for organizations adopting multiple products. Volume discounts are available for large deployments.

Pros

• Strong unified platform across PAM, endpoint privilege, and remote access
• More intuitive admin experience than CyberArk
• Excellent endpoint privilege management capabilities
• Flexible deployment (on-premises, cloud, hybrid)
• Good value for organizations needing multiple privilege controls

Cons

• Integration between acquired products can feel disjointed in places
• Reporting across modules still being unified
• Cloud-native capabilities maturing but not yet on par with cloud-born solutions
• Discovery capabilities less extensive than CyberArk for legacy systems

---

3. Delinea (Thycotic + Centrify)

Best For: Mid-market to large enterprises seeking a user-friendly PAM platform with strong cloud-native capabilities.

Overview

Delinea, formed from the merger of Thycotic and Centrify, has successfully unified their product lines into a coherent platform. Secret Server remains one of the most popular password vaults in the industry due to its ease of use, while the Centrify heritage brings strong Unix/Linux privilege elevation and cloud directory integration. Delinea's focus on simplicity and rapid time-to-value differentiates them in a market often plagued by complex deployments.

Key Features

• Secret Server: Intuitive credential vault with automated discovery, rotation, and approval workflows
• Server PAM: Privilege elevation and delegation on Unix, Linux, and Windows servers
• Privilege Manager: Endpoint application control and least-privilege enforcement
• DevOps Secrets Vault: High-speed, API-first secrets management for automation pipelines
• Cloud Suite: Centralized privilege management for cloud workloads with MFA at login
• Audit & Monitoring: Session recording, keystroke logging, and compliance reporting

Pricing

Delinea offers competitive pricing starting around $20-40 per user per month for Secret Server cloud. On-premises licensing is also available. Their modular approach allows organizations to start with credential vaulting and expand over time. Free tier available for Secret Server with up to 10 users.

Pros

• Easiest to deploy and manage among enterprise PAM solutions
• Strong price-to-value ratio, especially for mid-market
• Excellent Secret Server user experience
• Free tier available for small teams
• Good Unix/Linux server privilege management from Centrify heritage

Cons

• Product integration between Thycotic and Centrify lines still maturing
• Threat analytics less sophisticated than CyberArk
• CIEM capabilities still developing
• Smaller partner ecosystem than top-tier competitors

---

4. One Identity Safeguard

Best For: Organizations already invested in the Quest/One Identity ecosystem seeking integrated PAM and IGA.

Overview

One Identity Safeguard provides a comprehensive PAM solution with a unique strength: deep integration with One Identity Manager for identity governance. This combination allows organizations to unify privileged and standard identity lifecycle management under a single vendor. Safeguard offers credential vaulting, session management, and privileged analytics with a focus on bridging the gap between PAM and IGA.

Key Features

• Safeguard for Privileged Passwords: Credential vault with automated discovery and rotation
• Safeguard for Privileged Sessions: Transparent session proxy with recording and real-time monitoring
• Safeguard for Privileged Analytics: Behavioral analytics detecting anomalous privileged activity
• Unix/Linux Bridge: Extend Active Directory authentication and GPOs to Unix/Linux systems
• PAM-IGA Integration: Unified governance for privileged and standard accounts through Identity Manager
• Approval Workflows: Multi-tier approval chains with time-limited access grants

Pricing

One Identity uses traditional enterprise licensing. Pricing typically starts at $25-50 per managed account per month depending on modules. Volume discounts and bundling with Identity Manager are available. Contact sales for exact quotes.

Pros

• Strongest PAM-IGA integration in the market
• Excellent session management with content-based search
• Strong Active Directory bridge for Unix/Linux
• Unified governance model for all identity types
• Competitive pricing when bundled with Identity Manager

Cons

• Less cloud-native than newer competitors
• Smaller market presence means fewer third-party integrations
• Admin interface showing its age in some modules
• Limited DevOps/secrets management capabilities compared to leaders

---

5. Wallix Bastion

Best For: European organizations seeking a GDPR-compliant PAM solution with strong session management.

Overview

Wallix is the leading European PAM vendor, with particular strength in session management and compliance. Wallix Bastion takes an agentless, proxy-based approach that simplifies deployment while providing robust session recording and access control. Their focus on OT (operational technology) and industrial environments differentiates them from competitors primarily focused on IT infrastructure.

Key Features

• Access Manager: Web-based portal for centralized privileged access requests and approvals
• Session Manager: Agentless session proxy with full recording, OCR-based search, and real-time monitoring
• Password Manager: Credential vault with automatic rotation and check-out/check-in workflows
• PEDM Agent: Privilege elevation and delegation on Windows and Linux endpoints
• OT Security: Specialized capabilities for industrial control systems and SCADA environments
• Compliance Dashboards: Pre-built reporting for GDPR, NIS2, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001

Pricing

Wallix pricing is based on the number of managed devices and concurrent sessions. Entry-level pricing starts around EUR 15-30 per target device per month. OT modules are priced separately. Competitive for European mid-market deployments.

Pros

• Agentless architecture simplifies deployment significantly
• Best-in-class session management with OCR search
• Strong OT/industrial security capabilities
• European-headquartered with GDPR-native design
• Good price point for mid-market organizations

Cons

• Limited presence and support outside Europe
• Credential vaulting less feature-rich than CyberArk or BeyondTrust
• Smaller integration ecosystem
• Cloud-native capabilities still developing
• Less suited for very large, complex global deployments

---

6. ManageEngine PAM360

Best For: IT teams seeking an affordable, full-featured PAM solution with strong integration into the ManageEngine ecosystem.

Overview

ManageEngine PAM360 offers enterprise-grade PAM capabilities at a fraction of the cost of market leaders. As part of the Zoho ecosystem, PAM360 integrates seamlessly with ManageEngine's IT management suite including ServiceDesk Plus, ADManager Plus, and OpManager. The platform covers credential management, session recording, SSH key governance, and SSL certificate management in a single solution.

Key Features

• Password Vault: Credential storage with automated discovery across Windows, Linux, databases, and cloud
• Session Management: Real-time session monitoring and recording with shadow capability
• SSH Key Management: Complete SSH key lifecycle management including rotation and compliance
• SSL/TLS Certificate Management: Automated certificate discovery, monitoring, and renewal
• Just-in-Time Elevation: Time-bound privilege grants with automatic revocation
• ServiceDesk Integration: Tie privileged access requests to ITSM tickets for approval workflows
• Compliance Reporting: Pre-built reports for PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, NERC-CIP, and SOX

Pricing

PAM360 is one of the most affordable enterprise PAM solutions, with pricing starting at approximately $8-15 per managed resource per month. Perpetual licensing is also available. Free edition available for up to 5 administrators managing 20 resources.

Pros

• Exceptional value for money in the PAM market
• Comprehensive feature set including SSH key and certificate management
• Strong ManageEngine ecosystem integration
• Free edition available for small deployments
• Straightforward deployment and administration

Cons

• User interface less polished than competitors
• Limited behavioral analytics capabilities
• Cloud-native and DevOps features behind market leaders
• Support can be slower for complex issues
• Less suitable for very large enterprise deployments

---

7. Arcon PAM

Best For: Organizations in regulated industries (banking, government) particularly in Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.

Overview

Arcon is a specialized PAM vendor with deep expertise in banking, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Their platform emphasizes granular access controls, strong audit trails, and compliance with regional regulatory frameworks. Arcon's single-platform approach covers credential vaulting, session management, and endpoint privilege management with a focus on preventing insider threats.

Key Features

• Credential Vault: Secure storage with automated password randomization and rotation
• Session Monitoring: Real-time session tracking with video recording and command filtering
• Granular Access Controls: Rule-based access policies with IP, time, and command-level restrictions
• Virtual Grouping: Logical grouping of targets for streamlined policy management
• Endpoint Privilege Management: Least-privilege enforcement across desktops and servers
• Regulatory Reporting: Pre-built compliance packs for RBI, MAS, SAMA, and other regional frameworks
• Threat Analytics: Risk scoring and anomaly detection for privileged activities

Pricing

Arcon uses a per-managed-endpoint licensing model. Pricing is competitive with mid-market PAM solutions, typically ranging from $15-35 per managed endpoint per month. Regional pricing variations apply. Contact Arcon directly for enterprise quotes.

Pros

• Strong in banking and government regulatory compliance
• Excellent regional support in APAC and Middle East
• Granular command-level filtering and control
• Competitive pricing for regulated industries
• Good virtual grouping for complex environments

Cons

• Limited presence in North America and Western Europe
• Smaller R&D investment compared to global leaders
• Cloud-native capabilities not as mature
• Integration ecosystem narrower than leaders
• Documentation could be more comprehensive

---

8. Saviynt Enterprise PAM

Best For: Organizations seeking converged IGA and PAM capabilities in a cloud-native platform.

Overview

Saviynt has built its PAM capabilities as an extension of its cloud-native identity governance platform, creating one of the few truly converged IGA+PAM solutions on the market. Their approach emphasizes just-in-time access, cloud infrastructure entitlements, and seamless integration between privileged and standard identity governance. For organizations pursuing a unified identity platform, Saviynt offers a compelling alternative to deploying separate IGA and PAM products.

Key Features

• Cloud PAM: Cloud-native credential vaulting with zero-standing-privilege architecture
• Just-in-Time Access: Ephemeral access provisioning with automatic revocation
• CIEM: Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management across AWS, Azure, and GCP
• Session Management: Session recording and monitoring for privileged activities
• Converged IGA+PAM: Unified access certification, provisioning, and privileged governance
• Risk-Based Access Decisions: AI-driven risk scoring influencing access approvals
• Application GRC: Governance for SaaS and enterprise application entitlements

Pricing

Saviynt uses a per-identity, subscription-based model for their Enterprise Identity Cloud. PAM capabilities are available as part of the platform or standalone. Pricing typically starts at $8-20 per identity per month depending on modules. Contact Saviynt for bundled IGA+PAM pricing.

Pros

• Best converged IGA+PAM platform in the market
• Cloud-native architecture designed for zero-standing-privilege
• Strong CIEM capabilities for multi-cloud environments
• Unified identity governance across all identity types
• Modern, intuitive user interface

Cons

• PAM capabilities less mature than dedicated PAM vendors
• Session management not as feature-rich as CyberArk or BeyondTrust
• Credential vault less proven at scale for legacy infrastructure
• Relatively newer in the PAM market
• On-premises target coverage still expanding

---

9. Bravura Security Privilege

Best For: Organizations with complex hybrid environments requiring robust automation and integration capabilities.

Overview

Bravura Security (formerly Hitachi ID) offers Bravura Privilege as part of their broader Bravura Security Fabric. The platform is known for its powerful automation engine, which can handle complex password rotation scenarios across thousands of interdependent accounts. Bravura Privilege excels in large, heterogeneous environments where service accounts and application-to-application credentials create intricate dependency chains.

Key Features

• Credential Vault: Enterprise vault with automated discovery and rotation across 200+ target systems
• Service Account Management: Industry-leading capabilities for managing service account dependencies
• Session Management: Session recording and monitoring with proxy-based access
• Automation Engine: Powerful workflow automation for complex credential rotation scenarios
• API-Based Access: RESTful API for DevOps integration and secrets retrieval
• Bravura Safe: Quick-start credential vault for rapid PAM deployment
• Identity Fabric Integration: Unified platform with password management and identity governance

Pricing

Bravura Privilege pricing is based on managed accounts and target systems. Enterprise pricing typically ranges from $20-45 per managed system per month. Bravura Safe offers a simplified entry point at lower cost. Contact Bravura Security for detailed quotes.

Pros

• Exceptional service account management and dependency handling
• Powerful automation engine for complex environments
• Broad target system coverage (200+ integrations)
• Strong in large-scale, heterogeneous environments
• Good integration with identity governance capabilities

Cons

• User interface dated compared to modern competitors
• Cloud-native capabilities behind market leaders
• Higher complexity in initial deployment and configuration
• Marketing presence lower than competitors
• Professional services often required for full deployment

---

10. HashiCorp Vault

Best For: DevOps and cloud-native organizations prioritizing secrets management and infrastructure automation.

Overview

HashiCorp Vault takes a fundamentally different approach to privileged access, focusing on dynamic secrets, encryption as a service, and infrastructure automation rather than traditional PAM use cases. Vault is the de facto standard for secrets management in cloud-native and DevOps environments, with deep integrations into Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines. While it does not replace traditional PAM for all use cases, it is increasingly essential for organizations managing cloud infrastructure and microservices.

Key Features

• Dynamic Secrets: On-demand, time-limited credentials for databases, cloud providers, and services
• Secrets Engine: Pluggable backends for AWS, Azure, GCP, databases, PKI, SSH, and more
• Encryption as a Service: Transit secrets engine for application-level encryption without key management
• PKI Secrets Engine: Full certificate authority with automated certificate issuance and rotation
• Kubernetes Integration: Native secrets injection via sidecar, CSI driver, and Vault Agent
• Namespaces & Sentinel: Multi-tenant isolation and policy-as-code governance (Enterprise)
• Replication: Performance and disaster recovery replication across regions (Enterprise)

Pricing

HashiCorp Vault is available as open-source (free), HCP Vault (cloud-managed starting at $0.03/hr for small clusters), and Vault Enterprise (starts around $25,000/year). Enterprise features include namespaces, Sentinel policies, HSM support, and replication. Open-source Vault covers core secrets management for many use cases.

Pros

• Industry standard for dynamic secrets and cloud-native secrets management
• Open-source core with active community
• Unmatched DevOps and infrastructure automation integration
• Dynamic secrets eliminate standing credentials entirely
• Excellent Kubernetes and Terraform integration
• Pay-as-you-go cloud option (HCP Vault)

Cons

• Not a traditional PAM replacement (no session management, no endpoint privilege)
• Requires significant technical expertise to deploy and operate
• Enterprise features locked behind expensive licensing
• No GUI-based session recording or monitoring
• Credential rotation for legacy systems limited compared to traditional PAM

---

Comparison Matrix

| Solution | Credential Vault | Session Mgmt | JIT Access | Cloud/CIEM | DevOps Secrets | Endpoint Privilege | Starting Price | |----------|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|---| | CyberArk | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ~$50/user/mo | | BeyondTrust | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ~$30/user/mo | | Delinea | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ~$20/user/mo | | One Identity | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ~$25/acct/mo | | Wallix | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ~EUR 15/device/mo | | ManageEngine | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ~$8/resource/mo | | Arcon | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ~$15/endpoint/mo | | Saviynt | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ~$8/identity/mo | | Bravura | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ~$20/system/mo | | HashiCorp Vault | ★★★☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | Free / $0.03/hr |

How to Choose the Right PAM Solution

Selecting the right PAM solution depends on your organization's specific requirements, existing infrastructure, and maturity level:

1. Enterprise-grade, full-featured PAM: Choose CyberArk if you need the broadest capabilities and have the budget and team to support a complex deployment. Choose BeyondTrust for a similar scope with slightly easier management.

2. Mid-market and rapid deployment: Delinea offers the best balance of features and usability for organizations wanting fast time-to-value. ManageEngine PAM360 is ideal for budget-conscious teams already using ManageEngine products.

3. Cloud-native and DevOps-first: HashiCorp Vault is the clear choice for secrets management in cloud and DevOps environments. Saviynt is best for organizations wanting converged cloud-native IGA+PAM.

4. Session management focus: Wallix and One Identity Safeguard offer the strongest session recording and monitoring capabilities.

5. Regulated industries: Arcon serves banking and government in APAC/Middle East well, while CyberArk and BeyondTrust are preferred in North America and Europe.

6. Hybrid/complex environments: Bravura Security excels when service account dependencies and complex rotation scenarios are the primary challenge.

Conclusion

The PAM market in 2026 offers solutions for every organizational size, maturity level, and deployment model. The common thread across all leaders is the move toward zero-standing-privilege architectures, cloud-native delivery, and convergence with identity governance. Regardless of which solution you choose, implementing PAM is one of the highest-impact security investments your organization can make.

Start by assessing your most critical privileged accounts, define your compliance requirements, and evaluate two to three solutions through proof-of-concept deployments. Most vendors offer trial periods or sandbox environments that allow you to test with real infrastructure before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between PAM and IAM?

IAM (Identity and Access Management) covers the broad spectrum of managing all user identities and access rights. PAM is a specialized subset focused specifically on securing, controlling, and monitoring accounts with elevated privileges, such as administrator accounts, service accounts, and root credentials.

Can PAM solutions manage cloud infrastructure credentials?

Yes, modern PAM solutions increasingly support cloud infrastructure. Solutions like CyberArk, Saviynt, and HashiCorp Vault offer native integrations with AWS, Azure, and GCP for managing cloud credentials, API keys, and infrastructure entitlements. Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) is becoming a standard PAM capability.

How long does a PAM deployment typically take?

Deployment timelines vary significantly. Simple credential vaulting for critical accounts can be achieved in 4-8 weeks. A full enterprise PAM deployment with session management, endpoint privilege, and DevOps secrets typically takes 6-12 months. Cloud-native solutions like Saviynt and HCP Vault generally deploy faster than on-premises solutions.

Is open-source HashiCorp Vault sufficient for enterprise PAM?

Open-source Vault excels at secrets management for DevOps but lacks session management, endpoint privilege, and traditional PAM features. Most enterprises use Vault alongside a traditional PAM solution: Vault for dynamic secrets and DevOps, and a solution like CyberArk or Delinea for human privileged access, session recording, and compliance.

What is zero-standing-privilege and why does it matter?

Zero-standing-privilege (ZSP) is an approach where no user has permanent privileged access. Instead, privileges are granted just-in-time, for a limited duration, and automatically revoked. ZSP dramatically reduces the attack surface because there are no standing credentials for attackers to compromise. Solutions like Saviynt and HashiCorp Vault are built around this concept.