IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.1 out of 5

78 reviews
85% willing to recommend

1,411 followers

What is IBM Security Guardium Data Protection?

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection automatically discovers and classifies sensitive data from across the enterprise, providing real-time data activity monitoring and advanced user behavior analytics to help discover unusual activity around sensitive data.

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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is the #1 ranked solution in top Database Security solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM Security Guardium Data Protection an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is most commonly compared to Imperva SecureSphere Database Security: IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Imperva SecureSphere Database Security. IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 70% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 30% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection

April 2025

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Featured IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reviews

Ahmer Faisel Khan

Director | CTO at COMMTEL

The solution should allow the data to shift to a centralized repository with elastic servers and big data infrastructure. If a customer searches for old logs for retention purposes, there are limitations on appliances once they are set with specific hardware, so they can only be changed by uninstalling or reinstalling the hardware. The solution's aggregator feature allows data aggregation, but for instance, if a customer wants a project ready in two years, having an Elasticsearch in DB or the capacity to store huge amounts of data would be beneficial in data investigation or evaluation at an affordable cost. Some AI features should be added to IBM Security Guardium Data Protection. For example, the AI features implemented in the solution can be anomaly detection or suspicious activity identification.

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Jared Ochieng

Information Technology Security Specialist at infoark

The response time could be improved. Navigating support for the solution can be challenging, especially when finding the right contact for specialized issues. Improvements could make raising tickets and identifying the correct support channels easier. While general support information is provided, specialized support may require contacting different teams. We guide our clients through this process to ensure they know where to turn for various needs. Typically, we are the first point of contact for any issues, big or small, and then direct them to the appropriate resources. The quality of technical support largely depends on the expertise of the partner who implemented the solution. If you have a partner who is well-versed in IBM, the technical support is usually excellent. If not, support might be less reliable.

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Farkhund Abbas

Internet Security Specialist at National Bank of Pakistan

Right now, we're in the development phase for IBM Guardium Data Protection, so I don't have any recommendations about additional features and room for improvement in the solution. We're very excited to work on IBM Guardium Data Protection because we are new to the solution, and we're still exploring product features. We're very excited about integrations and use case creation, and it's only after six to eight months that I'll be able to share my recommendations in terms of additional features the solution should have. We did find some difficulty in deploying IBM Guardium Data Protection here in Pakistan because of the lack of resources.

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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection mindshare

As of May 2025, the mindshare of IBM Security Guardium Data Protection in the Database Security category stands at 32.0%, up from 30.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database Security

PeerResearch reports based on IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Database Security	May 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Imperva SecureSphere Database Security	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Oracle Audit Vault	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Trustwave DbProtect	May 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Imperva SecureSphere Database Security	4.1	30.7%	92%	55 interviews Add to research
Oracle Audit Vault	4.0	16.8%	90%	28 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection provides key features such as database activity monitoring, real-time alerts, and customizable reports. Users value its data protection capabilities, including masking, redaction, and encryption. Its flexibility in deployment and integration options makes it favorable. The user-friendly interface and centralized management, along with the ability to handle diverse database environments, ensure efficient monitoring and compliance. Its robust performance and comprehensive security meet the needs of many organizations effectively.

"The investment return was good because IBM Security Guardium Data Protection provided significant security and compliance benefits."
"It is very easy to obtain reports and manage the reporting interface."
"The most valuable feature is the visualization of data and the ability to monitor our databases."

Room for Improvement

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection requires improvement in its user interface, reporting capabilities, and support services. Users find the deployment complex and integration with databases challenging. Enhancements are needed for data encryption, file activity monitoring, and dynamic masking features. The software could benefit from smoother upgrades, better analytics integration, and more robust real-time features. Additionally, the pricing is considered high, and cloud support requires enhancement. IBM's support responsiveness and documentation also need significant improvement.

"The manuals should be clearer. There needs to be an online course or tutorial for faster management training."
"The user interface could be improved and modernized."
"We deal with updates manually on Sundays and sometimes face bugs with the newer versions."

ROI

Many find it challenging to quantify ROI, but IBM Security Guardium Data Protection has saved time and money for some organizations. It supports compliance and industry standards. Users value its security, audit, and monitoring features. Despite mixed feedback, several note the investment is justified.

Pricing

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pricing is generally perceived as high compared to competitors, with a complex licensing model traditionally based on Processor Value Units (PVUs). Recent changes simplify this to server-based licensing, potentially reducing costs. Users suggest that Guardium offers good value for large enterprises with specific needs, despite being expensive for smaller businesses. Pricing depends on database and server count, with fees typically paid annually and potential additional costs for advanced features.

"It's an expensive solution"
"IBM solutions have fair price strategy, and operates on a yearly basis. If it's a SaaS solution, then you can opt for yearly basis."
"It is not an expensive product. We purchase its yearly license."

Popular Use Cases

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is primarily used for compliance, risk assessment, and database monitoring. Users implement features like encryption, audit logging, access management, and privileged user activity tracking to meet regulations like SOX and PCI. It ensures data protection, provides vulnerability assessments, and restricts unauthorized access. Organizations value its compliance reporting and ability to monitor databases and user interactions, enhancing security across financial, governmental, and enterprise sectors.

Service and Support

Users generally rate IBM Security Guardium Data Protection's support positively. Response times and expertise vary by region, with US, UK, and Europe providing stronger support compared to South Asia. Technical support is responsive and effective, though challenges exist with ticket resolution speed and complexity. Users commend support for its responsiveness, but some mention room for improvement, especially for more complex issues or specific modules. Integration with partners can significantly affect the quality of assistance received.

Deployment

Users reported mixed experiences with IBM Security Guardium Data Protection's initial setup. Many found it straightforward and easy, noting it required minimal time with well-defined steps, especially when expertise was available. However, some users experienced complexity, needing IBM support for effective deployment and policy configuration. The ease of setup varied based on user experience, environmental complexity, and the resources available, with some deployments taking longer due to scale or specific requirements.

Scalability

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is known for its scalability, supporting diverse environments from small setups to enterprise-wide architectures. Users generally find it effective across various database platforms, though adequate resource allocation is essential. Monitoring expansion generally involves adding collectors or licensing. Some users mention challenges with scaling, particularly regarding resource demands. The overall sentiment indicates that with appropriate management and configuration, Guardium effectively adapts to organizational growth needs.

Stability

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is generally stable, though users have faced occasional CPU utilization and compatibility issues, which are often resolved through updates and support. Stability improves with newer versions. Many users find it requires significant resources but remains stable during operation. There have been some challenges during deployment, but once installed and configured properly, users rarely encounter severe stability problems, and most consider it reliable and robust in performance.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

30%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Government

Retailer

University

Hospitality Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Construction Company

Media Company

Non Profit

Comms Service Provider

Transportation Company

Logistics Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Legal Firm

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Consumer Goods Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Performing Arts

Pharma/Biotech Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Compare IBM Security Guardium Data Protection with alternative products

Learn more about IBM Security Guardium Data Protection

Deploy the solution to help discover regulated data in your data stores and use pre-built templates for regulations such as PCI, SOX, HIPAA, CCPA and many more, to streamline and automate compliance workflows.

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection was previously known as InfoSphere Guardium, Guardium, IBM Guardium.