CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] vs IBM Security Secret Server comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Broadcom and IBM are both solutions in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) category. Additionally, 100% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

CA Privileged Access Manage...

Read 9 CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] reviews

100% willing to recommend

IBM Security Secret Server

Read 8 IBM Security Secret Server reviews

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1,485 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

CA Privileged Access Manage...

IBM Security Secret Server

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] and IBM Security Secret Server based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Idira by Palo Alto Networks, One Identity, Okta and others in Privileged Access Management (PAM).

To learn more, read our detailed Privileged Access Management (PAM) Report (Updated: October 2026).

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Privileged Access Management (PAM)

October 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

CA Privileged Access Manage...

Average Rating

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Security Secret Server

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Privileged Access Management (PAM) (20th)

Featured Reviews

it_user558603

Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

I like that the access control on the agent. Installation is difficult.

I would like to see some improvements, specifically in terms of some set-up items. We have spoken to CA quite a bit about the ability to have 'always-on', or 'active/active' status options, so if the infrastructure goes down, we don't lose transactions. This is very important for the environment and for the users so we cannot really afford any downtime with the solution. We have had problems with deployment, and we are concerned with the possibility for outages and how they can have a negative impact on the environment.

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AsifIqbal

Chief Information Security Officer at a insurance company with 501-1,000 employees

Privileged access monitoring has strengthened identity control and improved security posture

I find the monitoring and recording parts of IBM Security Secret Server to be the most valuable features. Password vaulting is somewhat typical, but I rate monitoring and recording as very good features, along with ease of deployment. The reporting tools in IBM Security Secret Server have helped me identify vulnerabilities. From the monitoring part, you can somewhat cover the identity vulnerability aspect. However, for identity vulnerability, I think the best approach is to use IAM rather than PAM. It is easy to integrate IBM Security Secret Server with cybersecurity frameworks, which is a very important aspect. When we are improving our attack surface, identity is the most important thing that we need to cover, and PAM will play a very crucial role in improving our cybersecurity framework and architecture. The main benefits that IBM Security Secret Server provides for me include complete control over the privileged identities, which are the main sources that can have the privilege to make numerous changes on the system. If we protect these identities through PAM and provide elevation on their accounts when required, then we can improve our security posture and infrastructure security.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It gives us the ability to track who is using what ID and for what purpose."

"It efficiently controls the access to the resources from the privileged user thus implementing the security aspects and this provides fine granular access."

"No, the product been stable and robust, and boasts with new additional features."

"It depends on the client's requirements, but for me the most valuable one is the security access management with distributed architecture and centralized management."

"This product has improved the security of the corporate network and made compliance with the safety regulations of our country."

"Access Control has greatly prevented the misuse of administrator rights which is very rampant."

"Access Control enhances the security of business systems through a secured authentication and validation of users credentials before accessing organizations resources."

"We have been able to exceed our audit requirements for security."

More CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] pros

"The main benefits that IBM Security Secret Server provides for me include complete control over the privileged identities, which are the main sources that can have the privilege to make numerous changes on the system, and if we protect these identities through PAM and provide elevation on their accounts when required, then we can improve our security posture and infrastructure security."

"What I like best about IBM Security Secret Server is its single-access console. It's also easy to manage and fulfills the requirements with the least resistance."

"Centralized Password Management: Our client has more than 400 geographical locations and approximately ten employees work at each location."

"It is one of the most well-known names in this field."

"One of the most valuable features is scalability, and how it allows you to scale it without affecting the underlying core components."

"As a PAM solution, Secret Server performs all the use cases in our environment."

"The live recording is a very useful feature."

"Access to privileged, shared credentials is simplified by optimizing the whole workflow and approval processes."

More IBM Security Secret Server pros

Cons

"User Interface needs to be improved."

"Automated deployment did not work as expected, had to go to a manual deployment."

"We have had problems with deployment, and we are concerned with the possibility for outages and how they can have a negative impact on the environment."

"I found the installation process of Access Control challenging due to the much networking work involved in order to grant access to authorized users."

"Yes, I encountered lots of issues."

"The manuals for this product used to be good. We could find in one place answers to pretty much every question or situation we had. However, it's now in piece-meal fashion."

"I have faced a few challenges due to the system complexity, as it involves two integrated authentication systems that have to be purchased."

"Sometimes we encounter issues whilst generating the reports."

"The newer interface is more difficult to use than the previous one, and consequently, new users might need more training."

"The newer interface is maybe confusing old customer that using previous one from their point of views, I think they will need little pass of time to be familiar with."

"It would be preferable if the full proxy was included in the IBM Security Secret Server."

"Unfortunately, the technical support is not very responsive because we purchased it from IBM; however, the actual support comes from Thycotic."

"I mention that password vaulting and password rotation in IBM Security Secret Server are basically the same thing, and it becomes somewhat complex when integrating a different system with them because it requires API development."

"Secret Server should have the ability to discover privileged accounts in the servers, like the administrator or users, from SQL and Oracle without having to import a script."

"What needs improvement in IBM Security Secret Server is support. The local partner provides good support, but IBM itself doesn't. Most of the time, the IBM support team does not aggressively resolve issues reported through chat or the IBM website."

"The nonclustered index is working in an area with a problem that needs improvement."

More IBM Security Secret Server cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"My rating for the IBM Security Secret Server pricing is seven out of ten. It could be cheaper."

"The price could be better. I think it's a good price for the on-premises environment and the high availability for enterprises the solution provides."

"I believe that we paid 35,000 or 40,000 US dollars for it."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Insurance Company

18%

Outsourcing Company

13%

Construction Company

11%

Performing Arts

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	4

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

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What needs improvement with IBM Security Secret Server?

I believe there is not much that can be improved for IBM Security Secret Server. Providing local support and local vendor availability would be beneficial so we are not dependent on international s...

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What is your primary use case for IBM Security Secret Server?

IBM Security Secret Server serves multiple use cases for us, including the monitoring of privileged users, as well as the recording and password vaulting of their accounts, passwords, and need-base...

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What advice do you have for others considering IBM Security Secret Server?

I mention that password vaulting and password rotation in IBM Security Secret Server are basically the same thing, and it becomes somewhat complex when integrating a different system with them beca...

See all answers

Comparisons

Idira Privileged Access Manager vs CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL]

Compared 44% of the time

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management vs CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL]

Compared 18% of the time

Symantec Privileged Access Manager vs CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL]

Compared 17% of the time

Privileged Access Suite for Unix by One Identity vs CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL]

Compared 12% of the time

More CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] Competitors

WALLIX Bastion vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 28% of the time

Idira Privileged Access Manager vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 13% of the time

Delinea Secret Server vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 11% of the time

Fortra's Powertech Identity & Access Manager vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 10% of the time

Okta Platform vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 4% of the time

More IBM Security Secret Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

October 2026

CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] report

Download CA Privileged Access Manager Server Control [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Security Secret Server

October 2026

Download IBM Security Secret Server product report

Also Known As

CA Access Control, CA Privileged Identity Manager

IBM Secret Server, Secret Server, IBM Security Privileged Identity Manager

Overview

CA Access Control provides tools to protect your system in both ways against unauthorized use of computer resources: block unauthorized users from accessing the system and block authorized users from accessing items to which they should not have access. CA Access Control also provides auditing tools that let you trace users' activities to track attempted misuse of the computer system.

Broadcom

IBM Security Secret Server provides centralized management of privileged credentials, secure access, session recording, and replay. Its pricing model is unique, being based on user count rather than system connections, making it a flexible choice for organizations.

IBM Security Secret Server enhances cybersecurity by integrating with frameworks and offering features like monitoring, high availability, and adaptable reporting. It simplifies password management, automates changes, and ensures compliance with security protocols. The platform is valued for its ease of deployment and user-friendly interface, although it can improve in areas such as the GUI and integration process. Complex high availability and disaster recovery setups are noted challenges, along with nonclustered indexing issues affecting performance. Users desire improvements in local support and migration processes.

What are the key features of IBM Security Secret Server?

Centralized Management: Streamlines credential management across systems.
Session Recording: Allows recording and replay of sessions for forensic purposes.
Integration Capabilities: Enhances security with diverse cybersecurity frameworks.
Adaptable Reporting: Provides tools for customizable reporting.
Single-Access Console: Offers a unified user experience with granular roles.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies deployment and daily operations.
Scalability: User-based pricing model ensures flexibility and cost-efficiency.
Security Compliance: Ensures adherence to security protocols with automated processes.
Audit and Reporting: Robust capabilities for auditing and compliance documentation.
Enhanced Security Posture: Integrates well with existing frameworks to bolster security.

Organizations across various industries implement IBM Security Secret Server for managing privileged access and securing critical systems. It serves financial institutions by providing a secure jump server for accessing core banking platforms and databases. IT managers benefit from workflow approvals and automated password management, ensuring compliance and boosting security posture. The platform's session recording and auditing features are crucial for sectors needing detailed activity documentation.

IBM

Sample Customers

Colruyt Group, Logicalis, TIS Inc.

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

October 2026

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