RSA Archer vs Workiva Wdesk comparison

RSA and Workiva are both solutions in the GRC category. RSA is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.5, while Workiva is ranked #8 with an average rating of 7.0. RSA holds a 5.9% mindshare in G, compared to Workiva’s 2.9% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of RSA users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 71% of Workiva users who would recommend it.

RSA Archer

Read 42 RSA Archer reviews

6,476 Views
5,569 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Workiva Wdesk

Read 7 Workiva Wdesk reviews

3,586 Views
2,187 Comparison Views

71% willing to recommend

RSA Archer

Workiva Wdesk

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 4, 2025

RSA Archer and Workiva Wdesk compete in risk management and compliance. RSA Archer offers greater flexibility in governance, whereas Workiva Wdesk is stronger in collaboration and real-time data management.

Features: RSA Archer is known for its robust risk management, strong IT integration, and enterprise module for comprehensive GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) management. Its capability to automate business processes and consolidate information is noteworthy. Workiva Wdesk shines with real-time data editing, a cloud-based platform supporting extensive collaboration, and effective document management tools.

Room for Improvement: RSA Archer could enhance user-friendliness and simplify integration processes, as well as reduce reliance on deep configuration knowledge. Workiva Wdesk might benefit from expanding its functionalities beyond collaboration and addressing any latency issues in data processing. Simplifying the user interface could also improve usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Workiva Wdesk offers streamlined cloud-based deployment, ensuring quick access and minimal setup. Its customer service is responsive, aiding efficient onboarding. RSA Archer, while offering extensive configurability, may encounter slower deployment due to complex integration requirements, impacting speed.

Pricing and ROI: RSA Archer has higher setup costs because of its wide customizability, potentially delaying ROI. In contrast, Workiva Wdesk features competitive pricing with lower initial costs and faster ROI, driven by its cloud-focused model. RSA Archer offers a broader range, whereas Workiva Wdesk ensures cost efficiency and quicker deployment.

To learn more, read our detailed RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk

April 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

RSA Archer

Ranking in GRC

1st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IT Governance (1st), IT Vendor Risk Management (4th)

Workiva Wdesk

Ranking in GRC

8th

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Performance Management (12th), Financial Close Software (6th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the GRC category, the mindshare of RSA Archer is 5.9%, down from 17.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Workiva Wdesk is 2.9%, down from 7.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

GRC Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
RSA Archer	5.9%
Workiva Wdesk	2.9%
Other	91.2%

GRC

Featured Reviews

Celda Juby

Information Security Specialist at Dubai Health Authority

Centralized management strengthens compliance with good look and feel

From my perspective as a customer and end user, Archer has an impressive look and feel, but the most adaptive feature is its ease of configuration which helps to enhance our process according to our maturity. It's more about our organization getting centralized with an integrated approach that focuses on risk governance and compliance. When can provide a detailed dashboards to management with the details of risks from top-down or bottom-up prioritizing actions based on its criticality or necessity. This allows us to show end users and management where the issues lie and effectively demonstrate accountability and visibility in compliance.

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reviewer2510292

Corporate ESG Analyst at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

Has cross-functional connectivity but improvement is needed in script encoding

The tool's deployment is quick. Once the program is set up, you're ready to collect data and connect it to your report. The deployment team's size depends on the size of the company and how many different data providers you're utilizing. Some companies have one person doing everything, while others have a huge team. We're on the latter end of it, with many people involved. One great thing about the platform is that everything is consolidated in one place, providing a single resource for everyone. This is a benefit. The maintenance of the solution depends on the experience of the person managing the company's program. The company might have a contractor handling the back end and software management if they're low-level and only analyzing the data. However, if you have someone experienced with software and script encoding, that person might be the analyst and managing the program. Generally, most people are just analysts and not managing the software. There's an opportunity for improvement in user management of their software, and I hope they address this gap before the year ends.

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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

"This solution helped us with the centralization of our governance data, so we could house all of our controls in one place, use that central repository to build our risk management strategy and our policy and governance, and then build risk management around it."

"Risk management is one of the most impressive features of Archer, especially with the recent restructuring of the user interface."

"The solution's most valuable features are data feeds, templates, reports, dashboards, and workload management."

"RSA Archer allows you to implement government risk compliance and acts as a mechanism to ensure that the compliance policies and standards are met."

"Its ROI is quite high when you look at how long it takes for people to input stuff for compliance risk, vulnerability management, and threat management."

"Archer seamlessly integrates data systems without requiring additional software."

"RSA Archer GRC modules allow you to build efficient, collaborative enterprise governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs across IT, finance, operations, and legal domains."

"Enables development of any application, automation of any workflow including the GRC work processes."

More RSA Archer pros

"It makes the compliance process more efficient and more effective."

"It helps you to maintain a backup of your data, including the connectivity with the tables, which provides a user-friendly way to handle and access your files."

"Workiva Wdesk has a flow diagram that is standardized, making it easy for people to file documents on ECDAs, which are in HTML format."

"Workiva Wdesk is pretty good in terms of getting the data from the system, automating the reporting schedules...It has a very good integration with ERP tools."

"The most valuable feature is its ability to easily upload and update financial results, creating a dynamic data sheet."

"The collaboration within the platform is valuable."

"The cross-functionality between connectivity, whether through API connections between different software platforms or the connection of data collection to the actual written ESG report, is highly valuable. The connectivity of all these aspects significantly aids in data assurance, which I consider a bonus."

Cons

"It would be useful for customers if COBIT 2019 could be translated into different languages."

"Because I have not upgraded, the graphical user interface is not the current one. It is not very modern and as user-friendly as it could be."

"The product is expensive, and there are additional costs if you need to integrate more licenses or want more features."

"Some areas are not truly automated but are only scheduled."

"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."

"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."

"I would like to see real-time data, from vulnerabilities, and threats."

"The solution as a whole could be simplified."

More RSA Archer cons

"The speed must be improved."

"At this point, I don't see a compelling reason to invest in Workiva. It may be necessary for compliance and controlling the version of SCC, but not everyone needs its high-end capabilities."

"Regarding the solution, reporting has certain areas that can be considered for improvement."

"The tool's script encoding needs to be updated to make it more user-friendly and less of a manual process when changes are made to a company's program. Those changes happen frequently due to mandatory or voluntary reporting requirements, leading to lost linkage connections that must be manually reset each time a change is made. This aspect is not functional now, and I see it as an opportunity for improvement."

"One area where Workiva Wdesk could improve is by ensuring that its cloud-based system is fully compatible with the most current versions of PowerPoint and Excel."

"The most critical issue is the need to shift between uppercase and lowercase."

"With this product, it's more about the integrated data model where you can have a one-to-many/many-to-one relationship between your policies and processes, risks, and controls. They need to showcase how you can put those pieces together."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am not sure about other companies, but it's quite expensive."

"It is not expensive. It is reasonable. We only pay for the licensing."

"Fairly highly-priced, especially for smaller companies."

"The solution’s pricing is moderate."

"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 price of the solution is very affordable."

"The pricing is okay. The licensing costs are very reasonable; it is very affordable to us."

"The license is costly for the solution, but the remaining set up and maintenance is quite cheaper."

More RSA Archer pricing and cost advice

"Our clients in Asia think that the solution is too expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Insurance Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	25

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	1
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

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...

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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...

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What advice do you have for others considering RSA Archer?

I have been in touch with about three companies who use RSA Archer actively in the compliance area. These companies use RSA Archer for nearly all purposes, including governance, internal risk, and ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Workiva Wdesk?

The tool's script encoding needs to be updated to make it more user-friendly and less of a manual process when changes are made to a company's program. Those changes happen frequently due to mandat...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Workiva Wdesk?

I've been working with the tool's script encoding departments and top management to address gaps in their script encoding. They are working towards closing these gaps to ensure we can continue usin...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

RSA Archer

April 2026

Download RSA Archer product report

Buyer's Guide

Workiva Wdesk

April 2026

Download Workiva Wdesk product report

Also Known As

Archer

Wdesk

Overview

RSA Archer provides robust risk management, compliance, and vendor management with intuitive features for customizable and streamlined governance tasks.

RSA Archer delivers integrated solutions supporting risk management and compliance tasks. Its adaptive interface and customizable options enhance workflows, making it valuable for organizations requiring automation, advanced workflows, and easy integration capabilities. While offering flexibility and configuration power, users note potential enhancements for integration, reporting, and interface updates.

What are the key features of RSA Archer?

Easy Implementation: Facilitates quick setup and deployment.
Automation: Streamlines routine tasks for efficiency.
Advanced Workflows: Allows configuration of complex processes.
Dashboards: Provides visual insights into organizational data.
Integration Capabilities: Ensures seamless connectivity with external systems.
Reporting Features: Generates detailed reports for informed decision-making.
Customizable Permissions: Enhances control over access and roles.

What benefits or ROI should be considered?

Streamlined Processes: Reduces time spent on regulatory compliance tasks.
Improved Data Integration: Offers cohesive and actionable insights.
Configuration Flexibility: Adapts to specific business requirements.
Risk Mitigation: Enhances the ability to manage potential risks proactively.
Enhanced Governance: Strengthens adherence to industry standards and policies.

In the finance, public, and IT sectors, RSA Archer is utilized for managing risk and compliance. Organizations leverage its capabilities for third-party risk, policy management, and security assessments, providing tailored solutions for regulatory compliance and operational risk management. Integration with platforms like ServiceNow enhances its utility within enterprise environments.

RSA

Workiva Wdesk specializes in updating financial results with seamless API connectivity and strong data assurance. Valued for its effective compliance processes, the platform enhances collaboration, making it efficient for financial data handling and reporting schedules.

Known for its integration with ERP tools, Workiva Wdesk supports standardized data flow, easing management and document replication for updates. Its user-friendly interface facilitates efficient collaboration for tasks like SOX, internal audit, and SEC filings. However, users point out the need for better compatibility with PowerPoint and Excel features, improved search functionality, and enhanced data linkage management. There are also concerns regarding encoding, data loss during server refreshes, and workflow inefficiencies.

What are the key features of Workiva Wdesk?

Seamless API Connectivity: Allows for easy integration with existing systems.
Data Assurance: Provides robust backup and security.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies navigation and task management.
ERP Integration: Supports standardized data flow and document updates.
Collaboration Tools: Enhances teamwork with multiple contributors on projects.

What benefits should users expect?

Improved Financial Reporting: Streamlined report generation for SEC filings and financial reporting.
Enhanced Compliance: Effective processes for SOX and internal audits.
Efficient Data Management: Standardized data flow and document handling.
Increased Productivity: User-friendly interface aids swift adoption and use.

Workiva Wdesk is extensively used across industries for creating and managing board deck presentations, aiding teams in generating annual reports and preparing detailed reports including data tables. It facilitates collaboration in financial settings, addressing needs in compliance, risk management, and audit preparation.

Workiva

Sample Customers

T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial

Noodles Company, eBay, Winnebago, American Assets Trust, AmericanEnterprise, Calpian, Capstone Infrastructure, Cascades, Circor International, Coeur Mining, Davey, Dr Pepper Snapple

Buyer's Guide

RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk

April 2026

Free Report: RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk

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