Delinea Secret Server vs IBM Security Secret Server comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Delinea and IBM are both solutions in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) category. Delinea is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.4, while IBM is ranked #20 with an average rating of 8.0. Delinea holds a 3.5% mindshare in PAM, compared to IBM’s 1.5% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Delinea users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Delinea Secret Server

Read 62 Delinea Secret Server reviews

8,838 Views
5,038 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

IBM Security Secret Server

Read 8 IBM Security Secret Server reviews

1,500 Views
1,485 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Delinea Secret Server

IBM Security Secret Server

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 6, 2024

Delinea Secret Server and IBM Security Secret Server are competitors in the secret management market. IBM Security Secret Server seems to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive features despite a higher cost.

Features: Delinea Secret Server offers strong integration capabilities, automation satisfaction, and ease of use. IBM Security Secret Server provides enhanced scalability, diverse functionalities, and superior security features.

Room for Improvement: Delinea Secret Server could improve reporting, streamline maintenance, and enhance server configurations. IBM Security Secret Server users seek better audit logging, simpler configuration settings, and expanded security features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Delinea Secret Server is known for its straightforward deployment but noted for an initial learning curve. IBM Security Secret Server offers smooth onboarding and excellent support, giving it an edge in customer satisfaction.

Pricing and ROI: Delinea Secret Server presents a better initial cost suitable for smaller budgets with noticeable ROI. IBM Security Secret Server, though more expensive, is favored for long-term benefits and robust features, appealing to larger enterprises.

To learn more, read our detailed Delinea Secret Server vs. IBM Security Secret Server Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Delinea Secret Server vs. IBM Security Secret Server

September 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

Delinea Secret Server

Ranking in Privileged Access Management (PAM)

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Password Managers (8th), Secrets Management Tools (5th)

IBM Security Secret Server

Ranking in Privileged Access Management (PAM)

20th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) category, the mindshare of Delinea Secret Server is 3.5%, down from 6.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Security Secret Server is 1.5%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Delinea Secret Server	3.5%
IBM Security Secret Server	1.5%
Other	95.0%

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Featured Reviews

Satyam Panchal

Adjunct Assistant Professor at a university with 5,001-10,000 employees

Robust credential management has improved security and simplifies privileged access control

I would characterize common frustrations related to Delinea Secret Server rather than using the term dislike. One area is the complexity for the administrative part. While it is straightforward in core values, configuring advanced policies, custom templates, and other areas including discovery scans and detailed reporting have a steep learning curve and may require extra training. The user interface and terminology present another challenge. Some users feel that the user interface can feel dated or overly complex, with terminology around secrets and folder structures taking time to master. Pricing perception is another point where some costs are mixed, while many others find Delinea Secret Server more affordable and flexible than tier one competitors. However, smaller teams still view enterprise licensing as a significant investment. I have observed poor technical support, particularly in multiple reviews. The support can be slow, limited, and sometimes unhelpful when troubleshooting complex configurations or stability issues. Aggressive or untransparent sales practices also present a concern. Some customers on G2 have cited frustrations with hidden costs, such as unexpected EC2 instance fees and core features being unbundled or oversold during contract negotiation. Complex implementation and setup is another significant challenge. The initial configuration, deployment, and managing advanced policies or connectors requires specialized expertise that most organizations do not have, and the steep learning curve compounds this issue. Users transitioning to the cloud-hosted version frequently complain that the updated interface and permissions structure feel slow and problematic compared to the legacy on-premise setup. Integration and API challenges represent the final area of concern. The platform points out challenges with API tokenization and external system integration, and the lack of documentation is one of the key points I would highlight. This limitation affects the ability to integrate with external systems effectively.

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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 works for us."

"The "App to App" feature has been most impactful. It allows secure communication between applications without requiring direct user access, which is crucial for several applications."

"Its most valuable feature is its main purpose - the password changing and the Heartbeat so the user has access to only their SVN and does not have access to any other. Thycotic's access privileged management tool allows you to grant access to users for a specific period of time and with specific attributes and privileges."

"The most valuable feature is the subscription on offer, as we like the policies that can be put in place, the password duration backup part and even the pipeline are useful, the solution offers useful APIs as well, we find the initial setup to be simple, it's scalable, the stability is great, the pricing is good, and support is helpful."

"We implemented the product for our privileged identities. We have configured them in check-in/check-out rotation. Delinea Secret Server rotates the password each time a privileged identity is checked in, making the password valid only for some time."

"Thycotic is a product that is so friendly that it can be used by nearly anyone and everyone, and that is a good place to be."

"The product provides a native user experience without requiring users to install additional software or agents."

"Delinea can do it all, so I strongly recommend it."

More Delinea Secret Server pros

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

"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."

"Stability-wise, I think it is a very good solution."

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

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

"This product has been able to cover most of the requests from our customers."

"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."

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

More IBM Security Secret Server pros

Cons

"The UI needs improvement because the interface is a little clumsy."

"My only negative thing to say about Thycotic would involve the servicing not having been written for 2019."

"We could definitely use some help with API tokenization. If we had a way to store tokens that would be fabulous."

"As I am partial to CyberArk, I rate Thycotic Password Reset Server as a nine out of ten, owing to the minor glitches I mentioned."

"The licensing costs are expensive for this solution."

"Certain features like the Remote Access Service (RAS) Engine and syncing with directory services may still have bugs or limitations, especially in newer platform versions."

"The setup for this solution is complex. I'm not going to lie, you need a specialized system security engineer to deploy it."

"It is also very expensive, and its price should be lower."

More Delinea Secret Server cons

"Although much has improved in last two years, the GUI for IBM products can be improved."

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

"If you have a hosted PIM in your local environment and you plan to migrate it to some cloud-based environment, then migration will become a painful task."

"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."

"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."

"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."

More IBM Security Secret Server cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is standard in this business and we have no complaints about it."

"In the Nigerian market, the adoption of Delinea depends largely on an organization's budget. If they have the financial capacity, they might consider Delinea as a viable option."

"They are priced quite well."

"It isn't terribly expensive."

"It is very expensive, and its price should be lower."

"I would give the price a four on a scale from one to ten, with one being the cheapest and ten being the most expensive. We pay for the license on a yearly basis, and we paid for three years. It costs around 5000 a year."

"Compared to other solutions, Delinea Secret Server is competitively priced but on the higher side."

"The tool's pricing is expensive."

More Delinea Secret Server pricing and cost advice

"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."

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

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Outsourcing Company

Construction Company

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	25
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	29

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

Questions from the Community

Looking for recommendations and a pros/cons template for software to detect insider threats

This is an inside-out --- outside-in --- inside-in question, as an insider can be an outsider as well. There is no short answer other than a blend of a PAM tool with Behavioral Analytics and Endpo...

See all answers

Which PAM tool do you prefer: CyberArk Privileged Access Manager, One Identity Safeguard, Delinea Secret Server, or BeyondTrust Privileged Remote A

For a banking or financial services use case you should check out SplitSecure. Very easy to deploy and use and splits secrets across devices rather than on cloud servers so you get full cryptograph...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Thycotic Password Reset Server?

Pricing for Delinea Secret Server aligns with my expectations, including setup costs, with licensing generally falling in line with what I anticipated for an enterprise solution, making it reasonab...

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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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

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 Delinea Secret Server

Compared 8% of the time

1Password Business vs Delinea Secret Server

Compared 7% of the time

Safeguard by One Identity vs Delinea Secret Server

Compared 7% of the time

HashiCorp Vault vs Delinea Secret Server

Compared 5% of the time

LastPass Business vs Delinea Secret Server

Compared 2% of the time

More Delinea Secret Server Competitors

WALLIX Bastion vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 29% of the time

Idira Privileged Access Manager vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 13% of the time

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

Compared 11% of the time

Okta Platform vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 4% of the time

Safeguard by One Identity vs IBM Security Secret Server

Compared 4% of the time

More IBM Security Secret Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Delinea Secret Server

October 2026

Download Delinea Secret Server product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Security Secret Server

October 2026

Download IBM Security Secret Server product report

Also Known As

Thycotic Secret Server, Delinea Password Reset Server

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

Overview

Delinea Secret Server efficiently manages privileged access and passwords through robust features like a password vault, Active Directory integration, and remote desktop creation, ensuring enhanced security and compliance.

Delinea Secret Server provides IT teams with essential governance and security capabilities, including automatic password rotation and session monitoring. Its integration options, along with APIs and discovery functionalities, support managing privileged accounts. Effective for improving access security, Delinea Secret Server supports seamless Active Directory integration and offers a user-friendly interface, which aids in risk and compliance management, role-based access, and zero trust support.

What are the key features of Delinea Secret Server?

Robust Password Vault: Secure storage for sensitive credentials.
Seamless Active Directory Integration: Supports directory management and authentication.
Remote Desktop Creation: Facilitates secure remote access.
Automatic Password Rotation: Enhances security by regularly updating passwords.
Session Monitoring: Tracks and records user sessions for enhanced oversight.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance: Aids in audit processes with role-based access control.

What benefits or ROI should users consider in reviews?

Enhanced Security: Protects sensitive data through secure credential storage and management.
Improved Compliance: Facilitates meeting regulatory requirements with detailed session records.
Efficient Management: Streamlined password rotation and Active Directory integration simplify processes.
User-Friendly Features: Offers intuitive management tools for IT teams to handle privileges effectively.

Delinea Secret Server is beneficial for industries requiring stringent security and compliance measures, effectively managing administrative accounts, and monitoring access to critical systems. It is widely adopted for credential management, auditing sessions, and controlling privileged accounts in both on-premises and cloud environments.

Delinea

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

Secure-24, University of San Diego, International Rescue Committee, San Francisco Ballet, Perkins Coie, University of San Diego, D.S.S. Limited, Turbo's Hoet, Eclipse Computing, Cathay Bank, Stellarise, J&R Consulting

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Delinea Secret Server vs. IBM Security Secret Server

September 2026

Free Report: Delinea Secret Server vs. IBM Security Secret Server

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