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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
6.8
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
IT Governance (1st), IT Vendor Risk Management (2nd)
SAP BusinessObjects GRC
Ranking in GRC
17th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
5
Ranking in other categories
Continuous Controls Monitoring (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the GRC category, the mindshare of RSA Archer is 16.9%, down from 18.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP BusinessObjects GRC is 2.0%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
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.
Osama Saleh - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides a lot of useful information and helps in managing risks and controls
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. They need to invest heavily in business planning and consolidation. They have a BPC tool, which is known for planning and consolidation, but its implementation consumes a lot of effort. It is not that easy to implement. It would be better if they come up with a solution that is more user-friendly and easy to integrate so that we can have multiple consolidations or versions.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Its user interface is pretty neat, and there is flexibility in generating the data. You can customize reports at any level. You can directly get reports in Tableau format. If you want to generate statistical data, you can create reports with graphs. There is an adequate amount of flexibility for changing the format, the type of graphs, etc."
"RSA Archer is a good tool and I have found performing the application, ISMS, and TPRM assessments beneficial."
"Risk management is one of the most impressive features of Archer, especially with the recent restructuring of the user interface."
"The tool has stability, and it allows me to automate whatever process I have."
"Integration is another great aspect of RSA Archer. From the beginning, integration has been a central focus for RSA, and Archer has always integrated well with most tools on the market today."
"Easy to implement with a high level of automation."
"The product is very flexible."
"Overall, I would give it a nine out of ten."
"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."
"We have enterprise clients for the product."
"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."
"Initial setup was straightforward. It took maybe one week."
 

Cons

"RSA Archer's best features are advanced workflow, reports, dashboards, and notifications."
"Performance could be improved."
"The solution can be a little slow due to the Silverlight feature."
"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."
"The interface just looks old."
"There are some issues with the interface for version 6.5 but these may already be repaired and simplified in the new versions that have been released."
"The design and advanced workflow need to be improved."
"Recently, we made a suggestion for cross references, like for one application to another. There were limitations there, so we're hoping that will be included in the next upgrade."
"We cannot actively log in to the system. It should also improve support."
"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."
"Technical support could be better and faster."
"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."
"An additional feature I would like to see is the option to add wait time and integrate sources in wait time."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am not 100% familiar with that, especially with their new model. I just know that the way they've licensed per user to scale is good."
"The price of the solution is very affordable."
"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 solution is not at all a cheap product."
"At the higher end of the price scale, but provides better, more accessible functionality and customization than cheaper products."
"The price of RSA Archer is good. The price isn't too high considering it is a leading tool in the market."
"The pricing is okay. The licensing costs are very reasonable; it is very affordable to us."
"There is a yearly licensing cost. I would rate their pricing 4 out of 5."
"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."
"The license is costly."
"SAP BusinessObjects GRC is expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
51%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Computer Software Company
5%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Computer Software Company
17%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

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?
If the user needs to fill data, they need to go to one page and then to the next page if they can reduce the number of clicks to perform some activities and would like RSA to improve in this area. ...
What is your primary use case for RSA Archer?
I perform all of our information security management governance and risk -related activities through Archer. My organization manages all types of audits and Enterprise risk activities using Archer.
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?
There isn't anything in particular that my company doesn't like about the product. It is an old system that is currently being used by its users, which works in areas like prompts and reports. I th...
What advice do you have for others considering SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
My company is in touch with the vendor who takes care of the maintenance phase of the solution. I cannot recommend the product to other organizations. Other organizations can choose from the many t...
 

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: March 2025.
842,296 professionals have used our research since 2012.