Symantec Advanced Authentication vs Symantec VIP Access Manager comparison

Symantec Advanced Authentication and Symantec VIP Access Manager are both solutions in the Authentication Systems category. Symantec Advanced Authentication is ranked #23, while Symantec VIP Access Manager is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.0. Symantec Advanced Authentication holds a 1.5% mindshare in AS, compared to Symantec VIP Access Manager’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 77% of Symantec Advanced Authentication users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 86% of Symantec VIP Access Manager users who would recommend it.

Symantec Advanced Authentic...

Read 9 Symantec Advanced Authentication reviews

1,156 Views
1,110 Comparison Views

77% willing to recommend

Symantec VIP Access Manager

Read 15 Symantec VIP Access Manager reviews

2,620 Views
1,493 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

Symantec Advanced Authentic...

Symantec VIP Access Manager

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 11, 2024

Symantec Advanced Authentication and Symantec VIP Access Manager compete in the robust security solutions category. Symantec VIP Access Manager has the upper hand due to its superior features and overall value despite higher costs.

What features are offered by Symantec Advanced Authentication in comparison to Symantec VIP Access Manager?

Symantec Advanced Authentication users value its multi-factor authentication capabilities, integration with various platforms, and reliable performance. Symantec VIP Access Manager stands out with its single sign-on (SSO) functionality, comprehensive policy management, and high scalability. Users find VIP Access Manager's features more beneficial and wide-ranging.

What areas of improvement can be found in Symantec Advanced Authentication in comparison to Symantec VIP Access Manager?

Users suggest Symantec Advanced Authentication could enhance its documentation quality, add support for more diverse authentication methods, and improve interface usability. Symantec VIP Access Manager users recommend improving mobile app stability, expanding integration capabilities, and increasing speed. Symantec VIP Access Manager sees fewer critical improvement requests.

How is the ease of deployment and customer service of Symantec Advanced Authentication in comparison to Symantec VIP Access Manager?

Symantec Advanced Authentication is known for its straightforward deployment but receives criticism for limited customer service responsiveness. Symantec VIP Access Manager is recognized for its smooth deployment process and reliable customer support, offering an advantage in this aspect.

What setup costs and ROI can be seen with Symantec Advanced Authentication in comparison to Symantec VIP Access Manager?

Symantec Advanced Authentication has a reasonable setup cost and satisfactory ROI. Symantec VIP Access Manager, while more expensive, delivers higher ROI due to its extensive features and benefits, making it a worthwhile investment for many users.

To learn more, read our detailed Symantec Advanced Authentication vs. Symantec VIP Access Manager Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Advanced Authentication vs. Symantec VIP Access Manager

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

Symantec Advanced Authentic...

Ranking in Authentication Systems

23rd

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

8.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Symantec VIP Access Manager

Ranking in Authentication Systems

12th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Access Management (17th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Authentication Systems category, the mindshare of Symantec Advanced Authentication is 1.5%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec VIP Access Manager is 2.2%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Authentication Systems Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Symantec VIP Access Manager	2.2%
Symantec Advanced Authentication	1.5%
Other	96.3%

Authentication Systems

Featured Reviews

Umair (Abu Mohaymin) Akhlaque

Group CEO at Flexsolutions

Ensures robust security features and ease of deployment, although it may lack some of the more modern authentication options

There has been a need for aggressive development to modernize the product and align it with contemporary security requirements. While the rebranding has been a step forward, further enhancements are essential to meet the evolving demands of the market. It lacks features such as ActiveSync Exchange security, and it doesn't offer alternatives like password-less authentication via biometrics or patches. While Symantec mainly relies on traditional token-based or password-based methods, newer authentication methods are missing from its repertoire. Support services often lack promptness and depth of knowledge, leaving customers waiting for weeks to resolve issues. In the realm of multifactor authentication, swift resolution of problems is critical, as any slowdown or interruption can significantly impact operations. Urgent improvement is necessary to ensure that support responses are faster and more effective, aligning with the demands of MFA implementation.

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Berk Onur

Presales Consultant at Cyberwise

With its mobile application, this tool offers a convenient and user-friendly experience to its users

To improve the tool, I think that the solution should consider integrations with other cybersecurity and IT technologies, such as Privileged Access Management and Site Integration. Additionally, the implementation of second-factor authentication via Symantec VIP Access Manager, CyberArk, and Delinea, among other technologies, could be best for the product. While the existing technology is okay, improving the integration capabilities for Symantec VIP Access Manager would benefit the product. I would like to see the solution meet the integration needs at our company. While many cybersecurity solutions can function independently, they often lack integration with our systems due to missed integration points. Improving the solution's integration feature would be beneficial.

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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

"It actually increases our revenue and the customer base."

"It tells us exactly what we want in terms of authentication to various applications and provides protection for users who access them."

"It allows us to assure our customers that we are protecting their data."

"Being able to issue a soft token, but still having fairly strong security, is a big factor for us."

"One of the most valuable features of this solution is that it's a strong authentication solution that's able to integrate with applications."

"The most valuable feature is that we get a wide range of authentication methods and authentication integrators, so different platforms can get service authentication with transparency to the final user while providing strong authentication forms and connectors."

"Symantec Advanced Authentication can be useful for wherever you require a strong authentication."

"It tells us exactly what we want in terms of authentication to various applications and provides protection for users who access them."

More Symantec Advanced Authentication pros

"The two-factor authentication is most definitely valuable and moves us closer to being able to check off those important boxes for compliance."

"It is a fast and easy solution for end users, and you are always online."

"In this version 9.1, lots of changes are done for the dashboard, User Store etc."

"If you're looking for a fairly lightweight client that works very well for remote access purposes, I think Symantec is definitely a good product."

"The product is useful for providing user access from an in-built office server as we follow the work-from-home model."

"The main benefit of Symantec VIP is that it provides strong authentication while keeping it as a very user friendly experience."

"The tool has been very stable, in my experience. Also, I haven't faced any issues or problems with integration or connectivity."

"It's a good tool. It's pretty straightforward."

More Symantec VIP Access Manager pros

Cons

"It needs faster implementation on the cloud for our customers."

"The initial setup of the tenant is a big cost element of the service and we were doing multiple tenants for our customer."

"We have seen quite a few issues with bugginess. It is indeed pretty buggy and we have had to install some fixes."

"Symantec has very bad support, so I have no words for it. It's one of the worst support experiences I've ever had."

"Urgent improvement is necessary to ensure that support responses are faster and more effective, aligning with the demands of MFA implementation."

"This solution could be improved with risk-based authentication. I think that this product has everything that most customers are looking for, but modern technology has people looking for security tools with risk-based authentication, which they have a separate tool for. If they could integrate this, it would improve Symantec Advanced Authentication. They have to look at what's newly trending and how things are moving forward, and then adapt and adopt those features. Symantec's technical support should also be improved, in terms of response time."

"Sometimes getting this set up does take a bit longer. It's not always install, next, next, next, finish."

"Arcot itself is based on a browser technology. This means that the office ID is effectively stored as a cookie in the browser."

More Symantec Advanced Authentication cons

"In the next release, I would like the ability to work offline with remote access."

"Our only issue was with user training. The additional challenge was not well received."

"Geofencing needs improvement."

"Every time that I have a new phone or computer, it takes a little longer to deploy it."

"The User Store synchronization part needs to improve. Also, the logs, reports, and dashboard can be improved."

"The VIP Manager can be accessed from the outside which is a security vulnerability."

"If they had dashboards or a report for managers or executives, then it would allow them to see the status and have it make sense to them."

"The User Store synchronization part needs to improve. Also, the logs, reports, and dashboard can be improved."

More Symantec VIP Access Manager cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There are eventually going to be implementation costs. Sometimes you're required to have custom code developments there, so that has to be part of the implementation price."

"The price is reasonable."

"There are additional costs for maintenance."

"There is a one-time setup fee plus the licenses are provided as per the number of users. For SMS and voice calls, the costs are separate."

"I can say that the solution is worth the money."

"Licensing and pricing seems very fair."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

23%

Comms Service Provider

12%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Construction Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	2
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

Comparisons

RSA Authentication Manager vs Symantec Advanced Authentication

Compared 16% of the time

RSA Adaptive Authentication vs Symantec Advanced Authentication

Compared 9% of the time

Thales Authenticators vs Symantec Advanced Authentication

Compared 9% of the time

Ping Identity Platform vs Symantec Advanced Authentication

Compared 8% of the time

CyberArk Certificate Manager vs Symantec Advanced Authentication

Compared 8% of the time

More Symantec Advanced Authentication Competitors

Microsoft Entra ID vs Symantec VIP Access Manager

Compared 7% of the time

Okta Platform vs Symantec VIP Access Manager

Compared 7% of the time

Yubico YubiKey vs Symantec VIP Access Manager

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Duo vs Symantec VIP Access Manager

Compared 6% of the time

Check Point Remote Access VPN vs Symantec VIP Access Manager

Compared 3% of the time

More Symantec VIP Access Manager Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Advanced Authentication

April 2026

Download Symantec Advanced Authentication product report

Buyer's Guide

Symantec VIP Access Manager

April 2026

Download Symantec VIP Access Manager product report

Also Known As

CA Advanced Authentication, CA Strong Authentication, CA Risk Authentication, Arcot WebFort, Arcot RiskFort

Symantec VIP

Overview

Symantec Advanced Authentication provides robust security solutions aimed at safeguarding digital identities through multifactor authentication, ensuring secure access control for businesses.

With increasing cyber threats, businesses need reliable authentication systems. Symantec Advanced Authentication delivers enhanced security protocols, blending risk-based authentication with seamless user experiences. It supports a range of authentication methods and integrates effortlessly into existing systems, offering scalable security options.

What are the key features of Symantec Advanced Authentication?

Risk-Based Authentication: Evaluates risks in real-time to adjust security measures dynamically.
Multifactor Authentication: Supports various means like biometrics, tokens, and smart cards for secure login processes.
Cloud and On-premise Options: Flexible deployment choices to suit different IT environments.
Integration Capabilities: Easily integrates with existing IT infrastructure for seamless operation.

What benefits can users expect from reviews?

Enhanced Security: Reliable protection against unauthorized access.
Scalability: Adapts to growing business needs without compromising on performance.
Flexibility: Multiple authentication options catering to different user preferences.
Cost Efficiency: Reduction in potential security-related financial losses.

Symantec Advanced Authentication is utilized in healthcare, finance, and other industries to secure sensitive information. In healthcare, it enables compliance with regulations by safeguarding patient data. Financial institutions leverage it to protect client information and ensure secure transactions. Its versatility makes it an ideal choice for industries requiring strict security protocols.

Broadcom

Symantec VIP Access Manager offers seamless integration with applications, providing robust user authentication and enhanced security for remote work. Its cloud-based design ensures consistent connectivity and is convenient for users.

Designed for strengthening access security, Symantec VIP Access Manager features strong user authentication and easy application integration. Its fast interface and reliable VPN access support risk-based authentication. Users can securely work remotely, leveraging a mobile app for generating digital codes, crucial for multifactor authentication. The cloud-based solution ensures access even when company VPNs are down, reducing hardware costs with Mobile Credential and offering enhanced dashboards in version 9.1.

What are the standout features of Symantec VIP Access Manager?

Strong Authentication: Provides robust multifactor authentication enhancing security.
Application Integration: Seamlessly integrates with existing applications.
Mobile Utility: Allows secure work through mobile devices for remote access.
Cloud Connectivity: Ensures access even if company VPNs experience issues.
Enhanced Dashboards: Version 9.1 introduces advanced dashboard features.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Reduced Hardware Costs: Mobile Credential lowers expenses by lessening hardware dependencies.
Secure Remote Work: Facilitates safe access to networks and emails while working remotely.
Reliability: Provides consistent access through cloud services.
Enhanced Security: Risk-based authentication strengthens data protection.

Symantec VIP Access Manager is commonly used in industries requiring secure remote connectivity. Organizations implement it to generate login codes for multifactor authentication, critical for employees accessing networks via VPN tools like Palo Alto GlobalProtect and Fortinet VPN. It supports secure remote workflows, vital in sectors prioritizing data protection and remote access.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

Global bank, Large Filipino Bank and SK Infosec

Maine Medical Center, Aria S.p.A

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Advanced Authentication vs. Symantec VIP Access Manager

April 2026

Free Report: Symantec Advanced Authentication vs. Symantec VIP Access Manager

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