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RSA Archer vs SAP BusinessObjects GRC 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

RSA Archer
Ranking in GRC
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
42
Ranking in other categories
IT Governance (1st), IT Vendor Risk Management (4th)
SAP BusinessObjects GRC
Ranking in GRC
12th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
4.2
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
Continuous Controls Monitoring (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the GRC category, the mindshare of RSA Archer is 13.9%, down from 16.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP BusinessObjects GRC is 1.5%, down from 2.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
GRC Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
RSA Archer13.9%
SAP BusinessObjects GRC1.5%
Other84.6%
GRC
 

Featured Reviews

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.
Vishal Guthula - PeerSpot reviewer
Experienced security and easy understanding with advanced customization enhances efficiency
Regarding automation, they could enhance features for checking real-time data when someone attempts to access data without proper permissions. Currently, we do not receive immediate alerts; we only discover issues after something goes wrong. Having prevention alerts immediately when someone triggers unauthorized actions would allow us to address these situations proactively.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."
"First of all, its access control feature where it provides application level access, solution level access, and even recall access, as well."
"Risk management is one of the most impressive features of Archer, especially with the recent restructuring of the user interface."
"The integrated data model of a one-to-many/many-to-one relationship is quite useful."
"From my perspective, because I've always done it as a consultant, I do like the way it is configured. They've gone into changing the application builder interface, so it is even easier. When you're working with users, it is really easy to show them how to do things quickly and how to configure, change, and design stuff quickly."
"The most valuable features of RSA Archer are the asset management, risk management, and vendor management."
"The most valuable feature is the enterprise module, which provides the capability of having all of the information stored and linked with everything else."
"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."
"We have enterprise clients for the product."
"The customization options in the dashboards inside SAP BusinessObjects GRC are highly valuable, and the real-time monitoring feature performs effectively, allowing teams to maintain data security by restricting domain visibility."
"It is wonderful from the control perspective. The GRC tools help you in knowing what are the risk controls, how to mitigate risks, and how to ensure that there are no conflicts between the roles. From the user perspective, you get to know what are the permission risks and access risks. You get a lot of useful information."
"Initial setup was straightforward. It took maybe one week."
"The stability of SAP BusinessObjects GRC is acceptable."
"The tool helps create reports for projects, including the creation of any ad-hoc reports"
"The best features are the scalability and flexibility to implement applications on top of the BW."
 

Cons

"RSA Archer's best features are advanced workflow, reports, dashboards, and notifications."
"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."
"RSA Archer might be a bit expensive for small companies because it's a vast tool."
"There were so many problems that we had found. One time, the search index was not working. We also faced slowness in Archer, but I resolved this issue."
"GUI could be improved."
"Some of the error reporting isn't very clear. When you're looking for information on error codes, you got to do a lot of digging."
"I would like to have the ability to build and maintain an inventory of personal data processing activities and assets utilizing a purpose-built taxonomy and data structure."
"I find the tech support to be inadequately knowledgeable."
"BusinessObjects is very dated. It is not that user-friendly. It should be made more user-friendly. In addition, if they could make predictive analytics an embedded part of it where people get to know what is there to offer, it would be great."
"Technical support could be better and faster."
"I think the old system is better than the new one. From an improvement perspective, the tool needs to ensure that the new technologies it offers are better than the old ones."
"We cannot actively log in to the system. It should also improve support."
"An additional feature I would like to see is the option to add wait time and integrate sources in wait time."
"Currently, we do not receive immediate alerts; we only discover issues after something goes wrong."
"I am working on features that are not functioning as expected, which creates significant difficulties in management."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is not at all a cheap product."
"RSA Archer's price is justifiable and not as expensive, compared to ServiceNow. I have heard that the licensing for ServiceNow is much more expensive. I'm unaware whether there are any additional costs after licensing fees."
"The solution’s pricing is moderate."
"I am not sure about other companies, but it's quite expensive."
"The solution's price should be reduced. You only have to pay the license and there are no additional fees."
"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."
"As I am a developer and responsible for providing production support, I do not have personal knowledge of the pricing. However, my colleagues claim that it is very expensive in comparison with other tools."
"The price of the solution is very affordable."
"The product's licensing costs involve a one-time purchase. The tool also allows others to make annual payments towards the licensing charges of the product."
"SAP BusinessObjects GRC is expensive."
"There is a yearly licensing cost. I would rate their pricing 4 out of 5."
"The license is costly."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
22%
Insurance Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
8%
Computer Software Company
18%
Manufacturing Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Insurance Company
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise25
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business1
Large Enterprise6
 

Questions from the Community

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?
While it provides benefits in terms of security, the pricing is a bit higher than customers typically expect. It would be helpful if RSA Archer had the capability for two-way integration because, i...
What is your primary use case for RSA Archer?
Regarding the compliance, risk, and governance tools, I am comfortable discussing the tools in the GRC category. The specific module from ServiceNow is the ServiceNow Compliance, Risk, and Governan...
What do you like most about SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
The tool helps create reports for projects, including the creation of any ad-hoc reports
What needs improvement with SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
I have encountered problems with certain functionalities of SAP BusinessObjects GRC, and the client is not very satisfied. While this is an SAP native solution that clients want to use, it is not a...
What is your primary use case for SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
I am a consultant for an external company implementing SAP BusinessObjects GRC.
 

Also Known As

Archer
BusinessObjects GRC
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial
INEOS Melamines GmbH, Banco Galicia
Find out what your peers are saying about RSA Archer vs. SAP BusinessObjects GRC and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
866,391 professionals have used our research since 2012.