IBM Security Secret Server vs Safeguard by One Identity comparison

IBM Security Secret Server vs. Safeguard by One Identity

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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

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

Safeguard by One Identity

Ranking in Privileged Access Management (PAM)

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) (1st), Non-Human Identity Management (NHIM) (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) category, the mindshare of IBM Security Secret Server is 1.4%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Safeguard by One Identity is 4.3%, up from 3.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Privileged Access Management (PAM) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Safeguard by One Identity	4.3%
IBM Security Secret Server	1.4%
Other	94.3%

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Featured Reviews

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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Mahesh Malve

Senior Business Development Associate at DigitalTrack Solutions ind pvt ltd

Centralized control has strengthened privileged security and simplified audit investigations

While One Identity Safeguard is a strong and reliable PAM solution, there are a few areas where it can be further improved to enhance user experience and scalability. Regarding the user interface and experience, the UI, while functional, can be a bit complex for new users. A more intuitive and modern dashboard with simplified navigation would improve adoption, especially for non-technical stakeholders. Regarding integration flexibility, although it supports major integrations, expanding out-of-the-box connectors for more cloud-native apps, DevOps tools, and SaaS platforms would be beneficial. Faster and simpler API-based integrations could reduce deployment efforts. Regarding scalability and performance in large enterprise environments, performance tuning and scaling can require additional efforts. Enhancing seamless scalability and high availability configuration would improve enterprise readiness.

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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

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

"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."

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

"The live recording is a very useful feature."

"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."

"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."

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

More IBM Security Secret Server pros

"Safeguard can define and update processes and procedures into the security framework of a company, including mobile. It allows us to change the policies and configurations on a mass scale in regards to security."

"One Identity Safeguard has positively impacted our organization by providing strong security, compliance, and the data required for audits, making it really helpful."

"One Identity Safeguard has positively impacted our organization in many ways by providing privileged access security and improving compliance."

"We have limited the possibilities for malicious actions and have made it safer for our users when they are using privileged accounts."

"One Identity Safeguard has saved us security time, improved security, better compliance, increased trust in employees, and reduced risk since the tools provided by the company are now in safer hands."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"We are able to log and get reporting on all privileged activity that is being performed. We like the fact that we can leverage the session recording feature, which is especially valuable when we're dealing with third-party vendors that have to remote into our our boxes and servers to do any work on behalf of the bank. Now, we can record everything they are doing to ensure that they're only doing the changes that were needed. In addition, we use it to leverage knowledge transfer with our internal staff."

"There is ease of implementation. Compared to other PAM solutions, it is easy to implement and use from an administrator's point of view."

More Safeguard by One Identity pros

Cons

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

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

"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."

"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."

"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."

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

More IBM Security Secret Server cons

"I find it complicated to implement HTTPS monitoring because the documentation is unclear."

"The SPS could be a lot easier to administrate and the parts should be unified, from a design perspective, so that I can recognize the systems as being part of the same package. They feel like they have been forced together."

"I rated One Identity Safeguard nine out of 10 because the stability and control could be better, as there are some problems with stability and errors when we use it."

"I think the initial setup of One Identity Safeguard could be more simplified, and the dashboard customization could also be improved."

"I chose a rating of seven because I believe the product still has improvements that need to be made in terms of supportability for new applications, such as SaaS solutions, and it does not have any native method of managing cloud-based applications, which I believe is an area to improve."

"One Identity Safeguard is a strong PAM solution, but there are some areas for improvement."

"I think Safeguard by One Identity could be improved by making the user interface a little simpler and more intuitive, especially for new administrators."

"Documentation can be much better and they should provide typical use cases to get started more easily."

More Safeguard by One Identity cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"It was definitely cheaper than the other two products that we evaluated."

"They have comparable pricing. All identity products are essentially priced in a similar way. It's a per-user base."

"It is a bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for. You don't want to get anything too cheap because then you get cheap stuff and cheap support. That really never helps anybody."

"Our licensing costs are on a yearly basis."

"We have a yearly license. The cost depends on how much a company wants to invest in technology. In our organization, we believe in modern digitization and automation processes so we found it affordable. One Identity was not that much less than other solutions and it is not a cheap solution. There were number of cheaper solutions. However, it's the most effective, according to our evaluation."

"They offer a fair price for a robust solution."

"Setup cost, pricing and licensing are all very expensive."

"The license is around $3,000 per month."

More Safeguard by One Identity pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Insurance Company

19%

Outsourcing Company

13%

Construction Company

12%

Performing Arts

Outsourcing Company

14%

Retailer

10%

Financial Services Firm

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	93
Midsize Enterprise	26
Large Enterprise	40

Questions from the Community

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...

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...

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...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for One Identity Safeguard?

Our experience with the pricing and licensing was generally positive. The initial setup costs were reasonable considering the security and access control benefits we are getting. The licensing mode...

What needs improvement with One Identity Safeguard?

I think Safeguard by One Identity could be improved by making the user interface a little simpler and more intuitive, especially for new administrators. Some configurations and advanced features ta...

What is your primary use case for One Identity Safeguard?

My main use case for Safeguard by One Identity is to manage a secure privileged account and access a critical system. It helps us to control who can access sensitive resources and monitor privilege...

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Product Reports

IBM Security Secret Server

Download IBM Security Secret Server product report

Safeguard by One Identity

Download Safeguard by One Identity product report

Also Known As

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

No data available

Overview

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

One Identity Safeguard manages and monitors privileged access, enhancing security with features like automatic session recording, real-time monitoring, and credential rotation. It integrates seamlessly, supports compliance with audit trails, and improves operational efficiency across organizations. This robust platform significantly bolsters security protocols while controlling sensitive operations.

One Identity

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Cavium

IBM Security Secret Server vs. Safeguard by One Identity