IBM Security Verify Access vs Symantec Identity Governance and Administration comparison

IBM and Broadcom are both solutions in the Identity Management (IM) category. IBM is ranked #18 with an average rating of 8.0, while Broadcom is ranked #17. IBM holds a 1.4% mindshare in IAM, compared to Broadcom’s 2.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 81% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

IBM Security Verify Access

Read 8 IBM Security Verify Access reviews

3,459 Views
1,176 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Symantec Identity Governanc...

Read 66 Symantec Identity Governance and Administration reviews

4,496 Views
3,147 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

IBM Security Verify Access

Symantec Identity Governanc...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 1, 2024

Symantec Identity Governance and Administration and IBM Security Verify Access compete in the identity management and security domain. While Symantec excels in governance capabilities, IBM's comprehensive feature set provides an edge, even at a premium.

Features: Symantec Identity Governance and Administration offers strong compliance management, robust governance over user access, and effective audit capabilities. On the other hand, IBM Security Verify Access includes adaptive access management, advanced threat intelligence, and sophisticated risk analysis tools. IBM's feature set is deemed more extensive, providing better security enhancements.

Room for Improvement: Symantec could improve in areas like more intuitive user interfaces, expanding integration capabilities, and better reporting tools. IBM could enhance ease of customization, reduce complexity in deployment, and improve its pricing structure to offer better cost efficiency for smaller organizations.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Symantec Identity Governance and Administration is known for a straightforward deployment model and reliable technical support, ensuring smooth integration. IBM Security Verify Access, while complex due to advanced features, provides comprehensive customer service that aids navigation and implementation, enhancing the deployment experience despite complexities.

Pricing and ROI: Symantec Identity Governance and Administration offers a cost-effective setup with attractive ROI for governance-focused organizations. IBM Security Verify Access commands a higher initial cost but promises longer-term ROI through extensive capabilities and security enhancements, making it a significant investment with valuable security benefits.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Security Verify Access vs. Symantec Identity Governance and Administration Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Security Verify Access vs. Symantec Identity Governance and Administration

June 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

IBM Security Verify Access

Ranking in Identity Management (IM)

18th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Single Sign-On (SSO) (14th), Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS) (IAMaaS) (16th), Access Management (13th)

Symantec Identity Governanc...

Ranking in Identity Management (IM)

17th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

User Provisioning Software (8th), Identity Governance Administration (IGA) (8th)

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Identity Management (IM) category, the mindshare of IBM Security Verify Access is 1.4%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Identity Governance and Administration is 2.5%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Identity Management (IM) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Symantec Identity Governance and Administration	2.5%
IBM Security Verify Access	1.4%
Other	96.1%

Identity Management (IM)

Featured Reviews

Ateeq Rehman

Unit Head System Implementor at Allied Bank Limited

Has improved secure user access while managing development through multiple technologies

I have already explained this in my previous call; I don't handle financial terms and commercials. Pricing is generally managed by functional teams and management looking after licensing matters. In Pakistan, vendors such as Oracle and IBM manage account relationships with clients and have tailored pricing models, so I do not have sufficient insights into that aspect.IBM Security Verify Access installation process is not straightforward; it requires underlying specialized knowledge upon which the IBM products are based. The complexity and scalability of the architecture necessitate in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of the system. Thus, installation is not as simple as clicking through; it requires extensive configuration of the underlying application servers, such as IBM WebSphere, where these products are deployed and configured.

Read full review

reviewer2183661

Managing Director at a consultancy with 1-10 employees

Has an easy initial setup process, but its technical support services need improvement

The product's technical support could be better. The integration project requires a lot of technical details, so we need to find it quickly and easily. There was a large community of knowledge in the past. We kept it together and got the results. The community that works around the particular technical issue is shrinking. It used to be a specialized community that would help with the process. These particular areas need improvement. Broadcom is still using a hybrid cloud model, with some workloads on-premises and some in the cloud. They must start with the cloud adoption and move as many workloads to the cloud as possible. The on-premises environment is becoming stable. They need to rebuild that cost and the software. The product's pre-sales, technical support, and installation could also improve.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"From the integration point of view, it supports SAML, OIDC, and OAuth; for legacy applications that don't have support for SAML and other new protocols, it provides single sign-on access to end-users, and from the integration compatibility point of view, it is highly capable."

"I have found this solution to be really practical and when a user wants to log in, it is effortless and runs smooth."

"IBM Security Verify Access, formerly known as ISAM, IBM Security Access Manager, now renamed to ISVA, integrates with central directory services for our organization and provides user management functionality."

"Its stability and UI are most valuable."

"The tool provides a password vault, single sign-on, and multifactor authentication. It offers various authentication methods like fingerprint integration, one-time passwords, or tokens sent via email or SMS. This ensures secure access to your accounts by providing multiple authentication options."

"IBM Security Verify Access is providing a secure way of handling the user login journey, and secure user authentication is fully managed by ISAM or ISVA."

"IBM Security Access Manager is a very good solution, so my company is still using it."

"The solution has powerful authentification and authorization. It offers a good way to increase security."

More IBM Security Verify Access pros

"We take identity management seriously and CA IDM is helping us to accomplish that goal."

"This product has helped us to have better rules for the application and grow the business process."

"It's a very useful tool that has improved our client's security, from day one."

"It is flexible, reduces the costs of administration and increases accountability, improves security, and lowers help desk workloads."

"It gives us the ability to automate the IAM process."

"I like that it is easy to diagnose, and it has a version of a virtual appliance so we can download it, run it, configure it, and it would take about 10 to 15 minutes to configure the cluster or so."

"It allowed local departments to manage the people in their own groups, without any help from the IT department."

"It's saved on administration time, and reduced the wait time for access."

More Symantec Identity Governance and Administration pros

Cons

"Configuration could be simplified for the end-user."

"The user interface for users and administrators could be improved to make it easier. Automating some functions could also be beneficial."

"What we'd like improved in IBM Security Access Manager is its onboarding process as it's complex, particularly when onboarding new applications."

"The solution could be classified as a hilt system. There are a lot of resources being used and it is suitable for very large enterprises or the public sector."

"The user interface needs to be simplified, it's complex and not user-friendly."

"They can improve the single sign-on configuration for OIDC and OAuth. That is not very mature in this product, and they can improve it in this particular area. OIDC is a third-party integration that we do with the cloud platforms, and OAuth is an authorization mechanism for allowing a user having an account with Google or any other provider to access an application. Organizations these days are looking for just-in-time provisioning use cases, but IBM Security Access Manager is not very mature for such use cases. There are only a few applications that can be integrated, and this is where this product is lagging. However, in terms of configuration and single sign-on mechanisms, it is a great product."

"What we'd like improved in IBM Security Access Manager is its onboarding process as it's complex, particularly when onboarding new applications. We need to be very, very careful during the onboarding. We have no issues with IBM Security Access Manager because the solution works fine, apart from the onboarding process and IBM's involvement in onboarding issues. If we need support related to the onboarding, we've noticed a pattern where support isn't available, or they don't have much experience, or we're not getting a response from them. We're facing the same issue with IBM Guardium. As we're just focusing on the multi-factor authentication feature of IBM Security Access Manager and we didn't explore any other features, we don't have additional features to suggest for the next release of the solution, but we're in discussion about exploring ID management and access management features, but those are just possibilities because right now, we're focused on exploring our domain."

"There are a lot of areas that can be improved, but the main area is the lack of customization. You cannot easily customize anything in the product. It is not easy to tweak the functionality. It is challenging to change the out-of-the-box functionality."

More IBM Security Verify Access cons

"We would like to see integration with analytics. Also, for them to be more efficient regarding discovering and implementing new rules."

"Customer Service: Good but more skilled people required according to geographical location."

"The product has a lot of need for improvement. Our issues are being raised back to the vendor as enhancements."

"The support from Symantec Identity Governance and Administration could improve."

"Symantec should develop a SaaS solution for cloud environments to make the solution available in various marketplaces for easy deployment."

"I’m not happy with technical support at all. It’s very limited."

"Something to help us migrate our code between environments from QA to UA to production in an easier way."

"I find the API boring. I also faced issues while integrating with CA SSO."

More Symantec Identity Governance and Administration cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The license and costs depend on the amount range of users you have. For just approximately 2,000 users, the price is practical and fair. However, when you have 20,000 users, it starts to become really expensive, and the discount per user is not attractive enough to go ahead and purchase."

"It costs about 300K AED for a year. Its pricing is a bit on the higher end, but in comparison to other products in the market, its price is still better. There are lots of other products that are very costly."

"The product is not expensive. It depends on the number of users."

"I do not recall the approximate prices or licensing models, although I do so that it was priced per user number."

"Symantec keeps increasing the price. I rate its pricing a seven on a scale of ten."

"Pricing and licensing models are adequate and reasonable."

"The product has a good price in competition with another product with the same solution."

"The connector is free, and bundled with the product."

"The price is based on the number of users."

"The price is flexible for our existing customers."

"Compared to other options, CA products are not that expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

Insurance Company

Construction Company

18%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

Marketing Services Firm

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	23
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	45

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with IBM Security Access Manager?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Security Access Manager?

We are still using the IBM BPM platform to automate the processes for our organization.I generally use Microsoft Project for project planning and schedule management, especially in relation to Orac...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering IBM Security Access Manager?

My current domain is leading project development, overseeing both technical and functional areas in process automation and orchestration, along with the hands-on implementation of process automatio...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Symantec Identity Governance and Administration?

The pricing has been very reasonable, but licensing costs vary based on the customer. It follows a user-based licensing model.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Symantec Identity Governance and Administration?

Symantec should develop a SaaS solution for cloud environments to make the solution available in various marketplaces for easy deployment. It should also offer bundle installation instead of one by...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Symantec Identity Governance and Administration?

I am a consultant and we consult for identity and network management. We work with Symantec, which is owned by Broadcom, and also with Microsoft and Oracle. Additionally, we work with open-source s...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM Security Verify Access

June 2026

Download IBM Security Verify Access product report

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Identity Governance and Administration

May 2026

Symantec Identity Governance and Administration report

Download Symantec Identity Governance and Administration product report

Also Known As

IBM Security Verify Access (SVA), IBM Security Access Manager, ISAM

CA Identity Suite, Symantec IGA, Layer7 Identity Suite, CA Identity Manager (CA IDM), CA Identity Minder, CA IAM, CA Identity Manager (CA IDM), CA Identity Governance

Overview

IBM Security Verify Access offers adaptable access management with multi-factor authentication, seamless protocol integration, and strong user management, suitable for cloud and on-premises environments.

IBM Security Verify Access provides multi-factor authentication, seamless integration with protocols like SAML and OAuth, and features including password vaults and single sign-on. Its adaptable nature allows for deployment both in cloud and on-premises settings. Users appreciate its quick setup, reliable authorization, and efficient user management, especially when integrated with Active Directory. The intuitive interface enhances security with mobile features like QR code enrollment, making it suitable for diverse environments. However, cloud deployment could be simpler, and the interface could use enhancements for better ease. Onboarding applications and support availability need improvements, and configuration for OIDC and OAuth should mature. More comprehensive documentation and simplified installation are also needed, along with automation to reduce resource consumption.

What are the key features of IBM Security Verify Access?

Multi-Factor Authentication: Offers robust multi-layered security.
Integration with Protocols: Works with SAML and OAuth for seamless connectivity.
Password Vaults: Secure storage for user credentials.
Single Sign-On: Streamlines access across platforms.
Active Directory Integration: Ensures efficient user management.
Mobile Features: Includes QR code enrollment for enhanced security.

What benefits or ROI can users expect to find in the reviews?

Rapid Setup: Quick deployment in cloud and on-premises environments.
Reliable Authorization: Trustworthy access control and management.
Security Enhancements: Through multi-factor authentication and mobile features.
Streamlined Processes: Simplified access management with single sign-on.

IBM Security Verify Access is widely used in the banking and educational sectors for access management, supporting activities like single sign-on and control across different user groups. Many in these industries utilize it for customer authentication and integrate it with mobile systems to enhance security. Its adaptability allows it to serve complex needs, particularly useful in environments such as universities and financial institutions.

IBM

Symantec Identity Governance and Administration offers automated management for identity lifecycles, provisioning, and entitlements, featuring easy integration, flexibility, role-based access, and strong compliance support.

This software provides effective identity lifecycle automation, entitlement management, provisioning, and access control while offering codeless customization through Policy and Identity Xpress technology. The integration with multiple applications supports regulatory compliance efforts, enhancing security and operational efficiency with a user-friendly interface. Users appreciate its ease of customization, though challenges in integrating with cloud services and external systems remain. Improvements are needed in technical support, reporting capabilities, and workflows. Its comprehensive identity solutions target sectors like retail, financial, and government, emphasizing risk management and compliance while integrating with HR systems.

What key features does it offer?

Automated Identity Lifecycle Management: Simplifies creating, modifying, and removing identities.
Provisioning and Entitlement Management: Manages permissions and entitlements efficiently.
Role-Based Access: Facilitates access control through defined user roles.
Policy and Identity Xpress: Enables codeless customization.
Regulatory Compliance Support: Assists in meeting compliance standards.

What benefits and ROI can be expected?

Increased Operational Efficiency: Reduces manual workload with automation.
Enhanced Security: Protects access and identity data effectively.
Improved Integration Capabilities: Connects with existing applications seamlessly.
Customizability: Adapts to specific needs without extensive coding.
Strong Compliance Assurance: Supports adherence to industry regulations.

Organizations in retail, financial, and government sectors utilize this software to streamline identity management and standardize user accounts. Businesses focus on user creation, privilege management, and compliance certification by aligning access with business rules. Integration with HR systems for identity solutions is achieved through technical customizations.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

POST Luxembourg

Acciona, Core Blox, DBS

Buyer's Guide

IBM Security Verify Access vs. Symantec Identity Governance and Administration

June 2026

Free Report: IBM Security Verify Access vs. Symantec Identity Governance and Administration

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Security Verify Access vs. Symantec Identity Governance and Administration and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.

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