CyberArk Privileged Access Manager Reviews

We have the identity provider for all the authentication processes. However, sometimes, we need access to different applications for customers or clients that are not integrated into the identity provider. For these, we need to store a password to gain access. For example, we use the CyberArk Password Vault for third-party services. This vault needs to be shared with many people in our company. 

This allows us to store passwords and create privileged access for some users without them needing to know the password. The system inputs the password into the endpoint URLs they use for authentication, but the users never see the password. This is crucial because people may leave the company, posing a high risk. If we had integrated it into the identity provider, we would have policies for active directory users but not for users outside the company.

For example, our development teams need to connect to databases, systems, and cloud services during development. The developers don’t get access to third-party services. We use the solution to manage this access. The application being developed and deployed integrates with CyberArk Password Vault services.

The main challenge was integrating with in-house IT and business applications, which are not standard. We needed to create special updates for that kind of integration.

I have been working with the product for three to four years. 

The solution is 99 percent scalable. 

Sometimes, support is not easy because you need to share the company's architecture. Maybe they are on time, but they don't understand the specifics we're talking about. Communication can be an issue, especially when speaking with people whose first language isn't English. There can be difficulties with understanding and making sense of conversations. So, outsourcing support can sometimes be challenging.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault's deployment is complex. 

I have been working with the new services and don't see any additional issues at this hour. The key requirement is to have people who understand not only the tool but also the concepts and how to view it from an architectural perspective. 

One problem is that people may not know how to work with the tool, and another is that they don't understand the concepts. So, I think focusing on proof of concepts is good. For example, what I do at first is request information for identity providers and key management services.

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten. 

Primarily, I import accounts from our critical systems.  

Knowing that our passwords are stored securely within the vault has been a big improvement. It eliminates the need for users to store passwords in less secure locations.

We want to integrate it with our IT service management platform and our SOC solution, but that's a future project.

The password protection itself is the most important feature. It's something we didn't have before.

Moreover, the interface is intuitive. It is clear and user-friendly. 

The session monitoring and recording feature is also a good feature feature, but we're currently experiencing an issue with session monitoring not working correctly. We're working with CyberArk to resolve it.

We aren't able to view active sessions or historical recordings of sessions.

It is complex, which is something I know CyberArk is working on. They're trying to simplify certain administration tasks because a common critique is the level of complexity. But overall, we can do everything we need with it.

So, CyberArk could still focus on making it more user-friendly.

I have been using it for a year. 

So far, we haven't had any scalability problems.

We have around 50 licensed users – primarily administrators. We currently manage about 5,000 accounts with CyberArk.

Sometimes, the initial response time is a bit slow, but once the customer service and support take on a case, they resolve issues quickly.

Positive

CyberArk handled the primary setup tasks. We worked with a partner to implement additional components and now have the knowledge to manage the solution ourselves.

The implementation process took around eight months. 

There has been an ROI. 

We expect to see a full return on investment within the next three years. This was part of our long-term security plan.

It is expensive, but the cost is justified considering the security it provides. Compared to other solutions, it is costly. We have not tried other solutions, but the price is high. 

We only license Password Vault.

My company evaluated another solution like Delinea but preferred CyberArk due to its robustness and flexibility.

I like its flexibility, while adding some complexity, allows us to fully customize the solution to our needs.

One of the main advantages is the way we can connect from outside. We use a portal that provides secure access to our systems without needing a VPN. We just scan a QR code, and we're connected. We do not need to use a password and we are in through the QR code scan. 

I would recommend using it. Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

It's a very complete solution for what we need.

In my organization, we are using CyberArk Privileged Access Manager to enhance the security of an organization's critical systems, mainly by securing privileged accounts (e.g. administrator passwords, SSH keys, and API tokens). 

We are also using Cyber-Ark for access control by ensuring that only authorized personnel can access privileged accounts and sensitive systems. 

very important for us is also Session Recording and Monitoring. We can record and monitor privileged user sessions in real time for auditing purposes. 

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager significantly improved our organization's security. Mainly, it has enhanced our ability to secure privileged accounts. Centralized management of identities ensures that credentials are stored securely. Also, the automated rotation of passwords reduces the risk of leaks.

The session recording feature adds great value and helps with auditing administrative activities.

CyberArk PAM can be easily automated, which saves a lot of time and administrative effort.

For our organization, the most valuable features of CyberArk PAM are:

• Credential Management. The automation of the retrieval and injection of credentials into sessions, and automation of password rotation.
• Session Recording. It gives us the possibility to record privileged user sessions for auditing and compliance purposes. 
• Ease of integration. CyberArk can by integrated with multiple systems and applications.
• The possibility of using Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) which increases security
• Reporting module. This allows us to generate reports based on session activity

Cost management. There should be more models and licensing plans for this software. They should also be flexible, allowing you to purchase selected features at a favorable price.

User Experience. The current interface is OK, however, sometimes it is not very intuitive. There is also no possibility of advanced modification and adaptation to your own needs and requirements.

Performance. The performance of the application could be a bit better, especially in the case of remote sessions - delays in remote sessions can be annoying.

I've used the solution for about five years. 

The solution is used to provide privileged access management to our datacentre environments, for anyone with admin rights with infrastructure or applications within the datacentres. Authentication to the solution in the PVWA (Password Vault Web Access) with onward connectivity via the PSM for Windows (PSM) as well as the PSM for SSH (PSMP). These provide the session isolation, audit, and session recording capabilities that CyberArk offers. The use of Privileged Threat Analytics (PTA) adds more control functionality to the solution.

The product has allowed us to improve both the management and access to privileged credentials, while also creating a full audit trail of all activities happening within isolated sessions of all tasks and activities taking place within the solution. 

This includes sessions via the solution and sessions to administer the solution itself. From a user perspective, we no longer need to try and create or remember complex passwords or have to be concerned about when they will change as the solution takes care of this and can and does populate these credentials for you so mistyping a complex password is a thing of the past.

Password management is a great feature, as all passwords are changed more frequently. This can be scheduled in line with a specific policy requirement or each time the credentials are returned to the pool for reuse and are always compliant with the password policy however long or complicated the policy states that they need to be. 

Another great feature is the Privileged Threat Analytics (PTA) as this can stop a session based on prescribed risk and bring it to an end or pause it pending approval to proceed.  

The admin interface of the Password Vault Web Access (PVWA) is moving from an old style (the classic interface) to a new style (the v10 interface) and unfortunately, this process is quite slow. That said, it has been moving in the right direction with features becoming available in the v10 interface and some user features are available in both classic and v10 interfaces. I would love to see all the classic interface features moved into the v10 interface or available in both interfaces within the next version. 

I've used the solution for about eight years.

The solution has been very stable.

The solution performs well, however, based on the user base may require a sizable footprint.

Support does vary depending on how critical your issue is and if it needs to be elevated to dev support.

Positive

Our previous solution was not a PAM solution and these days you can't afford to not use one.

The setup is not complicated when trained staff are used.

We handled the initial setup in-house.

Set-up costs can be minimized by controlling the number of applications that are made available within the solution. The newer licenses are per user and open up access to a suite of products, the best value, and security can be achieved by using more of the products.

We looked at other products like Delinia and Wallix.

Take advantage of the vendor's training or use a good partner to provide support and administration.

My company uses CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault for our servers and when our IT partners try to access our mission critical systems. We have also integrated the product with software tools used for authentication purposes. Our company's IT uses LDAP credentials to log in to the PVWA application while also being able to use granted privileges on one or more servers.

The most valuable feature of the solution is session recording.

There is a little bit of confusion in the implementation part, especially when one tries to understand the actual working of the product. The ones involved in the implementation of the product did not show the people in our company how they work on the product. The aforementioned area can be considered for improvement.

I have been using CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault for a year and six months. The product is used in my company. I use CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault Version 12.0. I am a customer of the product.

It is a scalable solution.

We upgraded the solution even though we had subscribed to the product for ten years in our company. In our company, we wanted around 50 employees to be able to operate the solution.

From my end, I have not used technical support. I don't know if my colleagues have faced any problems because of which they had to contact technical support.

The implementation took place over a period of three months.

The solution is deployed on-premises.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault is a very expensive product.

I believe that the charges for maintenance and support are already included in CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault's pricing policy.

I will tell those planning to use the solution that it is a very expensive solution. Due to the cyber security constraints of the product, most of the companies are forced to update by paying money to CyberArk, which I feel is one of the problematic areas in the product. Feature-wise, it is a very good product.

I rate the overall product a nine out of ten.

In a large financial institution, CyberArk Privileged Access Management (PAM) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the security and integrity of sensitive financial data. With numerous systems, applications, and databases holding critical client information and transaction data, the institution faced the challenge of managing and protecting privileged accounts effectively.

The PAM solution was seamlessly integrated into the existing IT infrastructure. It introduced granular access controls, requiring all employees to log in with standard user accounts, regardless of their role. When a privileged action is required, the PAM system enables the temporary elevation of privileges through just-in-time (JIT) access, granting access only for the necessary time frame. This reduces the window of opportunity for potential cyber threats.

CyberArk Privileged Access Management (PAM) has been a game-changer for our organization's security landscape. With PAM in place, we've experienced a significant reduction in potential security breaches. The meticulous control it offers over access rights ensures that only authorized personnel can access critical systems and sensitive information. The implementation of just-in-time access has effectively minimized our attack surface, making it incredibly challenging for unauthorized users to exploit vulnerabilities.

The most valuable features of CyberArk Privileged Access Management (PAM) are its granular access controls and just-in-time (JIT) access provisioning. These features ensure that only authorized users have elevated privileges and access to critical systems. JIT access reduces the attack surface by granting privileges only when needed, minimizing exposure to potential threats. 

Additionally, robust auditing and real-time monitoring capabilities enhance security by tracking privileged activities, aiding in threat detection and compliance. PAM's ability to seamlessly integrate into existing infrastructures and streamline workflows further adds operational efficiency, making it an indispensable tool for modern cybersecurity.

CyberArk PAM could greatly benefit from an under-the-hood update; integrating machine learning algorithms could provide predictive insights.

The user interface lacks intuitiveness; revamping the UX of the web access panel through intuitive navigation, customization, contextual assistance, visual coherence, and accessibility considerations will undoubtedly result in higher user satisfaction, increased engagement, and ultimately, a more competitive offering in the market.

In addition, several tools seem to be outdated, however, you can see that CyberArk is constantly working on them.

I've used the solution since 2017.

We use the solution for privileged access to internal systems and multiple customer environments.

We have distributed PSM and CPM components throughout multiple sites and customer domains access over the VPN, with PSM load balancing handled via third-party hardware load balancers. 

Environment segregation and security are high on the criteria for the implemented solution, however, not at the overall expense of performance. 

We tend towards providing access to privileged admin applications direct from the PSM servers wherever suitable, yet offload additional workloads to siloed RDS collections if the need arises. 

I appreciate the ease of use for support analysts. We provide a single pane of glass access to our analysts where segregated admin access is provided via safe access groups. The overall goal is to provide the analysts with just enough access to function without being totally impaired by security constraints. With the piece of mind that the auditing and recording capabilities allow. We provide access to fully managed systems via distributed PSMs, or where the need arises we can provide access to online third-party access points via a central pool of web-enabled PSMs.

The most important feature is the password rotation and recording to align with customer security requirements.

The reporting and auditing functions allow us to provide evidence-based accounting to customers or security personnel when or if required. Being able to prove that "it does what it says on the tin" is a very key selling point or point scorer in project and planning sessions.

The marketplace default connectors are constantly evolving and simplifying administration. In the case of one not being available then the majority of additional requests can be catered for with some clever AutoIT scripting.

Remediation of some of the platform settings in the master policies section would be handy.

Overall what I would really love to see is the third-party PAS reporter tool pulled more into the overall solution, ideally as its own deployable component service installation package, that could be installed/branded alongside the PVWA service, and build out API integration so that third party calls could draw valuable data directly out of the management backend with very little amount of additional admin overhead.

I've used the solution for eight years. 

The solution is very stable; if instability is ever experienced it is likely to be as a result or symptom of a problem elsewhere, such as external factors (updates, network etc.).

The solution is fairly scalable, although depending on how far and wide you stretch your footprint, you may be better suited to multiple smaller vaults and component environments, than one large pot.

Initial call logging can be tedious at times. If you clearly articulate an issue yet are then required to collate entirely irrelevant logging information or jump through a default set of "have you tried this" questions it can cause frustration. Call escalation via account management has improved and when needed we have then progressed with support at a faster pace.

Positive

I have not worked with a solution with a focus explicitly for PAM.

The initial setup was both straightforward and complex in equal measure.

The majority of the setup was in-house. On occasion, we have engaged the vendor team and always had a positive outcome.

I'm not in the loop to be able to answer to ROI.

Engage with Cyberark account management and professional services to fully understand your current, expected, and future requirements. 

Some default settings applied early on may be very time-consuming to amend at a later date (for example, set a default attribute in a platform, extrapolate that platform out to 300 other platforms and a single change may then have to be retrofitted 300 times). So the more scope you can define at deployment the better.

I believe other vendors were evaluated prior to selecting CyberArk.

I'd advise other users to take their time, measure twice, and cut once.

The most valuable features of CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault are password rotations and password encryptions.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault has a lot of enterprise-level features compared to other PAM products. It's a well-known product, and its implementation is very easy. The solution has good documentation compared to other products. CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault is legitimate software that releases patches as per vulnerability.

We require IAM (identify and access management) capability at the administrator level because we need more identification.

I have been working with CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault for the past six months.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault is a stable solution.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault is a scalable solution. We have more than 1000 people using the solution.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault's technical support team is good. Whenever we require any help, they assist us based on the SLA. The technical support team's response speed and competence are very good.

Positive

The solution was easy to deploy.

We need a basic understanding of the tools needed and customer requirements to deploy the solution. If the customer is looking only for a password deployment, we deploy only the password.

The deployment will require two or three people and a minimum of one week.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault's pricing is reasonable. Since CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault is an enterprise-level solution, its cost is higher than other solutions in the market. The solution comes with maintenance for the first year. However, after that, we need to pay for maintenance.

CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault's licensing model is comparatively very easy. It has a single license. We can deploy the solution based on the particular solutions we need.

One or two administrators are more than enough to operate the solution.

A backup strategy and DR setup are more than enough to implement CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault.

Overall, I rate CyberArk Enterprise Password Vault an eight out of ten.