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Methodware Kairos 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

Methodware Kairos
Ranking in GRC
54th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
8.7
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
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 (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the GRC category, the mindshare of Methodware Kairos is 0.2%, down from 0.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of RSA Archer is 17.4%, up from 17.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
GRC
 

Featured Reviews

SM
Meeting industry standards now and for the future, straightforward setup, with reliability
The most valuable feature is the user-friendly mechanism that makes it possible to easily integrate its data with external, contextually important data, so that wholistic data analytics can be performed from a GRC perspective. At TCS, we have created add-ons to allow this software to be able to import and export data using industry standards like OMG’s XMI (XML Metadata Interchange).
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.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the ability to import and export using industry standards like XMI and XML metadata interchange managing the data in and data out."
"The part I liked about Archer was the risk assessment for deficiencies and being able to use it there."
"It is a very friendly tool. We can easily understand what is going on inside the tool. I like this tool. We can work with the tool for the ERP platform. We can create automated applications based on the requirements."
"The most valuable feature is the enterprise module, which provides the capability of having all of the information stored and linked with everything else."
"The most valuable features are the advanced workflow and the dashboards. This tool can present data wonderfully to management, and it is easy for them to manage the risk plans."
"The last project was for an investment group that was using Excel. Shifting their records from one position to another took approximately 15 minutes. In Archer, we created a workflow for them to leverage it, and they could send the single record with one click to one person within seconds. The whole process went from 15 minutes to two minutes to get the approval for the records. The main purpose of Archer is to just make it easy."
"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."
"Easy to implement with a high level of automation."
"Even non-technical people can be masters of the product."
 

Cons

"We are currently working on making Essence one hundred percent compliant and we are not there yet."
"Its customization features could be better."
"There is no inbuilt alert in Archer to let us know that a data feed has failed or did not run for different reasons. So, we don't even get to know that a feed has not run until somebody reports it to us. This has been a problem all the time. Data feeds have always been a big headache for us because there is no feature to let us know if a feed has not run or has failed. If Archer had a feature to send us an email notification when a feed has failed, it would've been very helpful. This is the reason why our users are slowly moving away to another platform. Some of the modules that I have been managing are being moved to ServiceNow. Next year, a lot of our modules will be moved from RSA Archer to ServiceNow, and the data feed issue has been one of the main reasons."
"GUI could be improved."
"While the AI features are emerging and the cost is comparatively low, it's not yet up to the market standard."
"The bullet chart is the best graph for my purposes, and it should be available for inclusion in the dashboards."
"In a future release, there should be an option to upload the main data."
"There should be a way to export and get data from the system in PDF or PowerPoint presentation format. This would be a great addition."
"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."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The initial purchase is cheap. You pay a nominal price to start then renew the license annually. You also must buy a license for each module. I'm not too fond of that aspect of the licensing model. You buy the elephant and then spend more money to feed the elephant."
"Fairly highly-priced, especially for smaller companies."
"The pricing is okay. The licensing costs are very reasonable; it is very affordable to us."
"At the higher end of the price scale, but provides better, more accessible functionality and customization than cheaper products."
"The solution’s pricing is moderate."
"I am not sure about other companies, but it's quite expensive."
"The solution is not at all a cheap product."
"It is not expensive. It is reasonable. We only pay for the licensing."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Educational Organization
45%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
4%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

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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.
 

Comparisons

No data available
 

Also Known As

Kairos
Archer
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Global Insurance Syndicate
T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial
Find out what your peers are saying about Methodware Kairos vs. RSA Archer and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
850,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.