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IBM Security Secret Server pros and cons

Vendor: IBM
4.1 out of 5

Pros & Cons summary

Buyer's Guide

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Live recording is a very useful feature.
Scalability is a valuable feature allowing growth without affecting core components.
IBM Security Secret Server handles all use cases in diverse environments.
It offers complete control over privileged identities, enhancing security posture and infrastructure security.
IBM Security Secret Server provides excellent stability.

CONS

IBM Security Secret Server should include the full proxy.
IBM Security Secret Server needs the ability to discover privileged accounts on servers without requiring script imports.
IBM support services require improvement, as they often do not resolve issues aggressively through chat or the website.
There are issues with the nonclustered index that require attention.
Password vaulting and rotation are complicated to integrate with different systems, requiring API development.
 

IBM Security Secret Server Pros review quotes

it_user598995 - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Jan 31, 2017
Access to privileged, shared credentials is simplified by optimizing the whole workflow and approval processes.
it_user666729 - PeerSpot reviewer
IAM Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
May 17, 2017
Centralized Password Management: Our client has more than 400 geographical locations and approximately ten employees work at each location.
MA
Senior Presales Specialist at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Feb 7, 2022
The live recording is a very useful feature.
Learn what your peers think about IBM Security Secret Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1953252 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of IT Security at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Sep 1, 2022
One of the most valuable features is scalability, and how it allows you to scale it without affecting the underlying core components.
reviewer2014182 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber security consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Nov 8, 2022
As a PAM solution, Secret Server performs all the use cases in our environment.
AsifIqbal - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Security Officer at a insurance company with 501-1,000 employees
Jan 17, 2023
What I like best about IBM Security Secret Server is its single-access console. It's also easy to manage and fulfills the requirements with the least resistance.
reviewer2199522 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Officer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Jun 1, 2023
Stability-wise, I think it is a very good solution.
AsifIqbal - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Security Officer at a insurance company with 501-1,000 employees
Jan 28, 2026
The main benefits that IBM Security Secret Server provides for me include complete control over the privileged identities, which are the main sources that can have the privilege to make numerous changes on the system, and if we protect these identities through PAM and provide elevation on their accounts when required, then we can improve our security posture and infrastructure security.
 

IBM Security Secret Server Cons review quotes

it_user598995 - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Jan 31, 2017
Although much has improved in last two years, the GUI for IBM products can be improved.
it_user666729 - PeerSpot reviewer
IAM Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
May 17, 2017
If you have a hosted PIM in your local environment and you plan to migrate it to some cloud-based environment, then migration will become a painful task.
MA
Senior Presales Specialist at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Feb 7, 2022
The newer interface is more difficult to use than the previous one, and consequently, new users might need more training.
Learn what your peers think about IBM Security Secret Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1953252 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of IT Security at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Sep 1, 2022
It would be preferable if the full proxy was included in the IBM Security Secret Server.
reviewer2014182 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber security consultant at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Nov 8, 2022
Secret Server should have the ability to discover privileged accounts in the servers, like the administrator or users, from SQL and Oracle without having to import a script.
AsifIqbal - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Security Officer at a insurance company with 501-1,000 employees
Jan 17, 2023
What needs improvement in IBM Security Secret Server is support. The local partner provides good support, but IBM itself doesn't. Most of the time, the IBM support team does not aggressively resolve issues reported through chat or the IBM website.
reviewer2199522 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Officer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Jun 1, 2023
The nonclustered index is working in an area with a problem that needs improvement.
AsifIqbal - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Security Officer at a insurance company with 501-1,000 employees
Jan 28, 2026
I mention that password vaulting and password rotation in IBM Security Secret Server are basically the same thing, and it becomes somewhat complex when integrating a different system with them because it requires API development.