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ACL Analytics vs RSA Archer comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 4, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
7.1
ACL Analytics quickly recoups costs, enhances efficiency, reduces audit hours, and eliminates alternative tools, benefiting operational workflows.
Sentiment score
7.5
RSA Archer enhances risk management, automates processes, centralizes data, and offers customization, resulting in optimized operations and financial returns.
If an auditor was normally budgeted to take 600 hours, we have implemented a solution to take those audit hours down to 200 hours.
It has proven value in terms of time saving and efficiency, so much so that using open-source tools like Python is not necessary.
It relates to the effectiveness of employees and the time taken to complete tasks manually versus using the RSA system.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.9
ACL Analytics support is praised for effectiveness, though regional differences and occasional delays affect overall response times.
Sentiment score
6.4
RSA Archer is praised for approachable support, active community, but needs quicker initial responses and deeper first-level assistance.
This rating is due to slow response times; it would take more than 5 days to respond.
For major technical issues, resolutions typically took six to eight hours.
I escalate many questions to technical support, and they usually respond to me.
They are responsive and perform well in technical support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.1
ACL Analytics is praised for scalability but faces mixed reviews on vendor limits and potential system crashes.
Sentiment score
7.2
RSA Archer is scalable and adaptable but demands significant resources and expertise, suitable for large and complex environments.
It is a vendor application, and you do not have much power in terms of what we can adjust.
Scalability depends on the number of servers, including web and service servers.
The level of scalability depends on customization and how skillful our customization team is.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
ACL Analytics is stable with minor issues easily resolved, reliable performance, and options like secondary nodes enhancing uptime.
Sentiment score
6.3
RSA Archer is stable, improving with updates, but may slow during resource-intensive tasks, large databases, or peak times.
I would rate how stable this solution is as a 10.
It didn't take more than half an hour for our IT team to resolve the issue.
I occasionally experience lag when extracting Excel sheets after formulating and setting up the required data.
Performance issues arise mainly since it is not a core service for most organizations, so the resources provided are fewer.
The tool has stability, and it allows me to automate whatever process I have.
 

Room For Improvement

ACL Analytics needs enhancements in usability, visualization, security, and affordability to better support non-technical users and improve accessibility.
RSA Archer requires dashboard, UI, automation, integration improvements, and better functionality, support, pricing, and training to enhance usability.
It would also be beneficial if ACL Analytics included features similar to Tableau for data presentation.
While we had e-learning resources to assist, a more intuitive platform would be beneficial.
We have an issue with the hard coding of passwords in ACL Analytics. You do not have an interface where you can enter a password and then it can be encrypted when you enter it.
While the AI features are emerging and the cost is comparatively low, it's not yet up to the market standard.
A remaining area for improvement is integration. There should be built-in integration mechanisms, for example, for organizations switching from platforms like ServiceNow to Archer, instead of custom integrations for each client.
 

Setup Cost

ACL Analytics costs $6,000 annually, seen as expensive individually, but offers value for organizations with included features.
RSA Archer is cost-effective for large firms but may be prohibitively expensive for smaller companies despite flexible licensing.
I would rate the pricing of ACL Analytics as a 10.
ACL Analytics is quite affordable compared to the market.
For example, a thousand dollars last year cost three thousand pounds, but today it is five thousand pounds.
after comparing it with other products in the market, I would rate it around six or seven out of ten, as the price is relative.
 

Valuable Features

ACL Analytics efficiently tests data, integrates sources, and enhances audit processes with automation, robust control, and visualization capabilities.
RSA Archer offers configurable modules, workflow automation, and robust risk management with user-friendly interfaces and flexible API integration.
The most valuable feature of ACL Analytics is its error suggestion capability, where it indicates problems if operations are incorrect.
With over a million clients, this feature helps tremendously in identifying fraud detection in client accounts.
I can access data from various sources, both relational and non-relational databases, using one tool.
In the banking sector, Archer has been used to automate processes such as business continuity management, transitioning from manual processes to automated systems.
This allows us to show end users and management where the issues lie and effectively demonstrate accountability and visibility in compliance.
The tool has stability, and it allows me to automate whatever process I have.
 

Categories and Ranking

ACL Analytics
Ranking in GRC
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
Continuous Controls Monitoring (1st)
RSA Archer
Ranking in GRC
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
IT Governance (1st), IT Vendor Risk Management (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the GRC category, the mindshare of ACL Analytics is 3.5%, down from 4.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of RSA Archer is 17.4%, up from 17.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
GRC
 

Featured Reviews

John Erian - PeerSpot reviewer
Identifyies fraud efficiently through automated report analysis
I believe the formulas and scripting language in ACL Analytics need development to be easier for me to use. I want to see more robotic reports generated automatically, rather than relying heavily on scripting. It would also be beneficial if ACL Analytics included features similar to Tableau for data presentation.
IMRAN ALMARZOOQI - PeerSpot reviewer
Automates compliance management effectively but needs improved interface and dashboards
The tool basically automates whatever processes you already have, so I cannot specify improvements in that regard. However, my main issue with Archer is the graphics. The graphics have always been lacking. I always need to depend on another tool to read information from Archer to have better dashboards. It is like using Linux, and it has a Linux mindset and interface. I want to use Archer for top management and CEOs, but it looks too technical, and the dashboards are not really friendly. They are bulky, like opening an old Nintendo system from nineteen-ninety. The management agrees that Archer lacks in terms of presentation and dashboarding. It is complex, not user-friendly, and bulky. The interface just looks old.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
13%
Government
13%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Educational Organization
33%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Insurance Company
8%
Computer Software Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about ACL Analytics?
The tool's most valuable feature is its ability to import files from other software packages. Its reporting and visualization capabilities have made our reporting easier. Importing results into spr...
What needs improvement with ACL Analytics?
We have an issue with the hard coding of passwords in ACL Analytics. You do not have an interface where you can enter a password and then it can be encrypted when you enter it. Every time you enter...
What do you like most about RSA Archer?
It has various valuable features. For example, showing us if a control aligns with specific standards or frameworks helps us understand it better and verify its compliance.
What needs improvement with RSA Archer?
If the user needs to fill data, they need to go to one page and then to the next page if they can reduce the number of clicks to perform some activities and would like RSA to improve in this area. ...
What is your primary use case for RSA Archer?
I perform all of our information security management governance and risk -related activities through Archer. My organization manages all types of audits and Enterprise risk activities using Archer.
 

Also Known As

ACL
Archer
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Essar Group, Dean Foods, Lafarge North America, Austrian Ministry of Finance
T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial
Find out what your peers are saying about ACL Analytics vs. RSA Archer and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.