RSA Archer Reviews

There are six to seven use cases currently. Most of the time, clients request a customized application. Right now, we're using RSA Archer for risk and issue management— like building a risk registry. We'll respond to risks using findings in the risk registry. So we'll set policies for risk discrimination and acceptance based on inherent and residual risk. We have all kinds of environments, covering DEV, SIT, and UIT. Currently, we have 6.9 Service Pack 2.

With RSA Archer, an admin can set permissions for a normal user to go directly to the tool they need to input some data. Admins can then go through that and approve some requests. Also, they can log in based on these kinds of permissions, including ticketing, service patches, or upgrades. The manager gets a notification, and they can log into the mobile application using this tool.

It would be nice if RSA Archer featured more customization. When customers are updating, they should be notified whether certain updates are optional. The install screen should not proceed to the next page unless we make some selections about which updates we want to install. That feature should be implemented in Azure so that users are aware. 

There is also an issue with managing records. If we add or remove records, something has to be updated.  Something has to be developed in this subform so that if a developer unexpectedly removes the total recorder linked to the parent record, it doesn't interrupt the connection. They have to come up with a solution for that.

Previously, we used RSA Archer to review data events. For example, we have a feature called Subscription Notification that was called Generate Notification. The letterhead was changed after migration, so we needed to update the letterhead manually. In Service Pack 2 6.9, links were embedded. So if we edited STTP, we had to remove the double slashes at the beginning of the address and update them to use only one slash. However, it is not recommended practice, so currently they're still updating that. We have notified the RSA team, and they are working on that.

I've been working with RSA Archer for seven years. I started my career as an administrator, and after that, I switched to development. Currently, I'm leading the team in an architectural role, like gathering requirements, deployments, and support.

In terms of performance, I would rate RSA Archer seven out of 10.

After deployment, some customers complain that the database must be constantly updated every time they add users, and the update process takes them a long time. For example, one of my clients has 60,000 to 70,000 users in their environment. It takes them three to four days to rebuild the search index on the database side.

We're in touch with RSA Archer's support on a daily basis. We have set up a scrum call every day to check if the clients have any issues identified post-deployment. In addition, we stay in touch with the tech team and provide support after deployment to address minor issues like, for example, if a customer needs to change their configuration. So we are implementing and releasing in two to three days if any minor changes are required. 

I previously worked on ITGC Controls in the IT sector conducting general control audits. I have performed other roles. We used to collect all the systems-related information showing that the server is updated correctly. We used to check database server-related information, so we'd verify that the daily backup is done. All the IT environments should have maintenance on policies ISO 7001, and I performed the general control audits.

I was using a related tool, but at the time, I was interested more in development, so that's why I have switched. Initially, it was a minor project that required significantly less personnel. RSA Archer is growing mature, so I just switched.

When you're first installing RSA Archer, the mobile feature is not available, but users can still manually input the details in the initial phase. And initially, it's like a normal input process. Then, after that, they have to come back and monitor using the PC or the laptop. 

The personnel needed for deployment depends on the solution. If there is one developer, they don't have any direct authority to deploy it. So we have some third-party monitoring at the time of deployment because if they touch any course other than this, the dedicated solution has to monitor it. Generally, one developer is enough for one solution. And after deployment, they have to recheck using that third party because most of them are in the banking sector, so everything should be monitored.

It takes about an hour to install. But, of course, if any jobs are running, it might take longer. So we have to give the system time to install all the code correctly. After installation, we also need to check for upgrades. 

I can say RSA Archer is worth the cost.

The price of RSA Archer is good. The price isn't too high considering it is a leading tool in the market. However, some Level Three companies cannot afford this license because they're charging too much. For example, the price might be reasonable for Level Five companies doing a four-month project, but they have to lower prices to make the product more competitive in the market for companies below Level Three.

I rate RSA Archer nine out of 10. It's an increasingly mature and very secure tool in the market. Every environment should have this kind of tool. It's useful for tracking any security threat.

We use RSA Archer in my organization for assessments (ISO, GDPR, PCIDSS, etc.) or to raise dispensation for any application, security-related controls.

If we want to perform the application assessment or any ISMS assessment, earlier, we had to do it manually. The RSA Archer tool gives us the output in an automated manner, it is beautiful and has helped our organization.

RSA Archer is the most usable GRC tool and leading tool and I have found performing the application, ISMS, and TPRM assessments beneficial.

In a future release, there should be an option to upload the main data.

I used RSA Archer within the last 12 months.

Early on we faced lots of issues because the communicating with the RSA Archer, the database was not synced properly. Two times when we installed RSA Archer in an environment a few settings and configuration was not correct, this caused the passwords not to match.

The stability could improve.

The scalability is easy to achieve.

Most of our clients are large businesses. I have plans to continue the usage of RSA Archer.

The technical support is good, but they respond a little late, sometimes it can be a few days to have a response.

Positive

The initial setup is a bit complex. The whole process can take approximately three hours with one or two people.

We have faced challenges. For example, the database is not synced with the RSA Archer. A few services were not running if the RSA Archer was logged in through local admin or the specific user, we have received few errors. 

Archer is responsible for the maintenance of the solution.

The ROI depends on the company's needs as RSA has 7 solutions, the company can pay based on the subscription. 

The solution's price should be reduced. You only have to pay the license and there are no additional fees.

I did not previously evaluate any other solutions.

They have to use RSA Archer if they use the automated tools, their data will be safe.

Though there are some issues with the technicality of the solution, such as errors. The solution provides great features, such as customization, we can customize it as per our requirements.

I rate RSA Archer a ten out of ten.

The most valuable features of this solution are the Data integration, the different kinds of Data import, Data feeds, and the API. 

One of the useful features is the ability to connect to various systems in order to accommodate data.

Otherwise, all of our administrative functions, business apps, and application development are available, but this is the most important. 

It can integrate with other systems to get that data, as well as get data out of Archer and into other legacy systems.

Reporting is very good. You can have reports and IUs on your dashboard, as well as different types of IUs. 

Reporting is excellent for all types of aggregators, as well as for different types of integrators. That is one of the positive aspects.

I am not at the level to show someone how to improve whatever features they have. They are good if they work.

They are better now than previous versions. I am working on version 5, and they are now on version 6.9. They have made significant progress.

There should be an in-built feature that allows live data from vulnerabilities and threats from reliable sources to be streamed directly through their data field.

RSA can provide that kind of service, providing real-time data, vulnerability, and threats, without any local, asking for a contribution from someone else.

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

I have been working with RSA Archer for 12 years.

RSA Archer is very stable.

The current versions are very stable.

Nothing is perfect, I would not give a rating of ten, but in terms of stability, I would rate it an eight out of ten.

RSA Archer is scalable. The scalability is on various parameters. For user accounts, it is quite scalable.

I work with a large organization. We have 50,000 accounts.

I have 12 years of experience in technical support. My job entails providing technical support for legacy systems as well as current systems. Archer, I work on both technical and functional support. In my case, I'm a CSA, CS, and Archer CISO candidate for all business applications.

Their technical support is good, they are very prompt.

I have only ever worked with RSA Archer. I have not worked with other GRC systems, but I have seen other companies switch from other platforms to RSA Archer because it better met their needs.

RSA Archer has been deployed both on-premises and in the cloud.

The cloud-based version is less painful for us.

The initial setup is straightforward. There are good manuals available. It is not that difficult. The configuration requires a person who has sufficient knowledge or experience.

Someone else should always have some experience on how to install it. The installation is simple, but the configuring is for the business requirements.

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

I would rate RSA Archer an eight out of ten.

My primary use case for this solution is for the customizing and compliance system, especially for the first standard, ISO 27001, related to the information security management system.

RSA Archer has reduced the time and effort required for meetings because every person or department can enter their asset register by themselves. It's also useful that to get information on the spot, you don't need to have it in an Excel sheet to make it a compiler or a function. It is also a unified product, meaning that every person can enter any font or type of equation they need. It records information for several years, which means if I need to fix any observation from the past five years, I can do so on the system on the spot. Finally, it provides intelligent suggestions for solutions and risk management.

The most valuable feature of this solution is that risk mitigation and risk register are very easy - it's very simple to enter the data.

I would like to see a version of the product customized for small businesses, perhaps something cloud-based on a monthly basis. I would also like the product to be more easily integrated with the Arabic language. 

I have been using RSA Archer for around two years.

This product is 100% stable, without a lot of bugs.

The solution is scalable.

The setup was complex, taking around three to six months.

I used a vendor team.

First of all, we have gained time back that was previously wasted in management meetings. Secondly, approving any risk is much quicker with this solution, requiring only one click. RSA Archer has given us a return of investment on both time and money.

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

Before choosing RSA Archer, I evaluated MetricStream.

I totally recommend RSA Archer for anything related to ERC for mid-to-large-sized businesses. I wouldn't recommend it for small businesses as it is very expensive. I would rate this solution as ten out of ten

We use this solution for task management and reporting, with a focus on Risk Management services. We have this solution deployed on-premises.

Before we adopted this solution, everything was done in Excel. One of the main modules that we are using is the Risk Management module. We're in IT, and IT is a big domain, so if we have a lot of findings then the Excel worksheet would be passed between different people, and the data would be scrambled. Someone would later have to come back and bring all of the information together into one sheet. It was very hectic, troublesome, and time-consuming. We had a lot of things to take care of, and we needed a dedicated team just to bring the information together. We also needed expertise in terms of who can put the information together into a graphical format to make it easier for management to understand, as well as more general reporting.

Previously, we had almost zero reporting because of this hectic chaos. Now, we have all of the information right there, like a central repository. All of the risk owners have access to it. They can see their own and they can automatically fill in their actions and give us updates. With the central location, we have minimal resources required in order to prepare the review. We can export, report, create dashboards, drag and drop, etc. It has saved us a lot of effort.

The most valuable feature is the enterprise module, which provides the capability of having all of the information stored and linked with everything else. For me, that is eye-catching.

The dashboarding in this solution needs to be improved, specifically the graphics. I am trying to find other solutions because I want to create management dashboards. This product has its own built-in design capabilities and how to present things, but it doesn't have a bullet chart. The bullet chart is the best graph for my purposes, and it should be available for inclusion in the dashboards. We are doing audits and risk management, and there are timelines related to when things are due. All of that can be very easily seen in a bullet chart graph, but what is available now are pie charts, bar charts, and the simple information that is not as meaningful.

The reporting features are very basic, PowerPoint-like capabilities, that should be improved. They should be more like the features available in Power BI, or Tableau. As a workaround, I tried dumping the information from Archer into these two solutions, but it would be much better to have the functionality built-in.

When it comes to searching, the filtering process is not very intuitive. If I want to filter then I have to use too many buttons to get to what I'm trying to search for. If they can simplify the researching process then that would be good.

This solution is very, very stable.

This is a very scalable solution. After we implemented this solution, two different departments saw it and were impressed with the tool and how the work could be done centrally. We spoke with the vendor and added the scope for these departments. Now, it is centralized throughout the company.

We do plan to increase our usage of this solution. Its capabilities are almost infinite, but we're probably utilizing just twenty percent of it. We know its capabilities and what it can do, but there is a shortage in the availability of resources that can actually utilize the tool. There are perhaps three or four people that can use at least forty percent of the functionality.

We've assigned a task to a few team members so that someone can get a fresh look at how we can fully utilize it. It's a heavy tool and we want to use it. The problem is that it's just not that easy because you need someone who will actually understand the logic behind it, and also has the experience with the functionality. This is not expertise in the solution, but rather, the management. For example, we need someone who can understand the entire risk management flow in order for them to be able to use the tool efficiently.

Because of the vast differences in the domains being used in Archer, each team member is using a section of it. It's not really utilized how I want it, because I'm the leader of the team and I want to use this as the main tool for the entire IT department. However, I don't have the resources who can actually spend that much time to use it.

Technical support for this solution is very good.

We had one person as an expert that was providing level one and level two support for the solution. We had minimal occasions where we had to go to level three, which is to contact RSA directly. We did have some questions here and there, and we understood that the technical support team is very good at their job.

We did not use another solution prior to choosing this one. Everything was done using Microsoft Excel.

The initial setup of this solution was very complex because of our organization. We had to manually put in the entire organization and the functional design. We had multiple teams, departments, and divisions. It is a very mature organization that has more than seven thousand employees, and there are a lot of sections. We have gone through multiple re-organizations and still haven't had the time to actually change the structure in this solution, because of how complex it is. It was complicated and still is.

Deployment took a full year with dedicated resources. Seven people were involved in the deployment, each one working on a different thing. One was doing the logic, another was doing the structure, etc. We have very different models, including Risk Management, Audit, and Enterprise, so each person was working on something.

We hired a consultant to help us out with the deployment. After it was complete, we gave him a job and he came to work for us. Because it was so complex, we didn't have the resource in terms of someone to actually understand the tool because of how complicated it was to build it from scratch to match our organizational structure. It takes time for someone to understand the entire company, and since the integrators did that within the year, it was easier for us to bring him on board and then train people along the way.

We have seen ROI with this solution, although not directly. Before Archer, we needed people to come in to perform services for us. For example, if we needed to do risk management then we needed someone. They had to create the document, the module, and the framework, and then they come and do the assessment themselves. They are the ones that actually do the questioning, get the results, and give us the reports. That, itself, costs a lot of money because we have many services in IT.

Our on-premise expertise is aware of most of the things that are on the ground, but we just don't have the capacity to deal with all of them. So, we do it in small batches, here and there. We want people for cloud, people for risk management, people for audit, and people for compliance. Each of those different modules has a different price tag on it.

With this tool, once it was built and designed, we were able to use our own internal resources. We don't need to go outside. All of the questions are already there. The policies and procedures are already built-in, and you just need to tweak them a bit. So, it helps us just in understanding what's there, on the ground, and then we can mark our territory from there. Overall, it saves us a lot of money to be spent if we are taking care of these services individually.

We did evaluate other products back when I was in the metrics team. I was also looking into other tools just recently because we need the contract for the extension of the maintenance for another five years. So far, Archer has been the best. It stands out among the other tools that are coming into the market, and there is no comparison.

What really separates RSA Archer from the other solutions is the depth and richness of the different features and functionality that it has.

I've seen other tools that are very intuitive, easy to deploy, and easy to understand, but not as rich in functionality as RSA. This is the solution that I want to make the best use of, but I'm not prepared to do that because of the dashboarding. In three years, we will re-visit the evaluation process.

My advice for anybody considering this solution is that if you are a mature organization then this is the best tool to use. It has cross-disciplinary functionalities in which multiple teams can be using the same solution. Companies who are not yet mature, but want to develop, can use this tool as a baseline that will help them mature.

It has the entire process. It will help you streamline what you want, have visibility of what you need, and you can build up. Basically, it's a central repository for everything. We have enterprise architects who are interested in this solution because of the Enterprise module, and it's capabilities. Having all of the information connected, within itself, is the best value that you can have.

I, myself, wanted to become an expert and certified in using this tool. The only thing that stopped me was the lack of bullet chart capabilities in reporting. It's what is holding me back.

Without the support for bullet charts, the visibility that we need is lacking. For example, if there is a textual date like the 25th of April 2020, for us there is no visible representation of the date. A bullet chart will tell you how far it is, how far we have come already, and what the target is to get there. This is an amazing tool, but without that graphical representation, it just puts that aside. This is why I'm trying to find another tool that will compensate for that.

I would rate the closest runner-up to this solution a six out of ten, with all of the other solutions somewhere below that.

When it comes to this solution, I would rate it an eight out of ten.

I am using RSA Archer for internal audit management. It is used for the entire life cycle for audit, which includes engagement planning, reporting, action management, and so on. It is also used for internal resource management. The timesheet management, resource management, and training are being managed through the same system. 

It has been deployed on-premises. My organization has 16 groups. It is installed and managed centrally by the headquarters, and we are using the application.

We got rid of a lot of paperwork. As an internal auditor, we have to comply with IIA guidelines. There are standards that we need to follow while completing an engagement. A lot of requirements have been automated through the system, such as quality assurance, engagement review, audit follow-ups, and so on. It has supported the organization as a whole.

It is highly customized for our organization. It is primarily for GRC, but we are using it for audit management, resource management, timesheet management, and so on. These were add-ons features that were customized and developed by the vendor.

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. 

The dashboard that is a part of the RSA Archer could be more aesthetic. 

There should be a way to export and get data from the system in PDF or PowerPoint presentation format. This would be a great addition.

It has been almost two years since we have been using the product. We have been using it almost on a daily basis.

We have been using the web application, and sometimes, there are issues related to the network availability, etc. Other than that, we have not seen any issues in terms of performance and input and output controls. We never had any reports that were not correct. So, more or less, it is fine.

Scalability-wise, we already have a proven case. Deploying a solution in one company with a fixed, organized structure is one thing, but deploying at a mass level in multiple companies and bringing them all together in one single platform is a completely different thing. It proves the scalability of the solution. There is no doubt that it can be scaled to multiple organizations in one go.

We have more than 200 users. They are internal auditors, but if we also count the auditees who use the same system, the number would be much higher.

Our version of RSA Archer is heavily customized. Therefore, at the initial stage of the deployment, there were a few issues for which we needed support. We had a few workflow issues or anomalies in the reporting. 

At the organization level, we have a uniform IT management system for IT tickets. We have an IT support team at the group level, and then we have a support team in headquarters. It is being managed just like any other solution in the organization. We are satisfied with the support.

I have seen the deployment of the SAP-based audit management system in 2013 or 2014, which might have changed a lot over these years. From a user's point of view, RSA Archer has a better user interface. It is easier to use. SAP had a typical structure and user interface. It might not have been user-friendly for everyone. RSA Archer is more user-friendly. Its acceptability is much higher when you are deploying it in an organization.

It followed the usual SDLC life cycle. They came and understood the processes. They understood the way the audit was being managed in our organization. It was a joint effort between our organization and the vendor. There were a lot of sessions to understand how we conduct our processes and what are the challenges that we face. Bringing almost 16 to 17 companies in one single platform was a challenge in itself. Even though we had the same policy procedure, there were some differences in the way things were being done, the formats of the files that we were using, and the way people were doing the audits.

It took a lot of time to have a good base of the design itself, but it was worth it. The deployment was done phase-wise. It was not a single-phase deployment; it was a multi-phase deployment. Initially, we just implemented the basic audit management in which we were able to create engagements and add the findings. Later on, more complexities were added related to quality management, timesheet management, detailed reporting, and so on.

It required a lot of interaction with the group companies and the development team in the HQ. There was one whole team in the HQ that had 15 to 20 people. From each company, there were about two to three people. It was a big team. My estimate is that we had at least 20 to 30 people.

The initial deployment probably happened in a span of six months. Every quarter or every six months, they take feedback from different companies, and they ask for whatever modification is required from our side, and they keep on releasing the updates, small modifications, and so on. It is a continuous process, and we are still fine-tuning the system.

I'm not an administrator, so I don't have information about the maintenance it requires in the backend. Because it is heavily customized, whatever development happens, it happens only internally. The production and the development environments are optimized. Apart from that, the routine activities that we require are related to any data modification with reference to the audit parameters of the attributes. We usually request to change or modify them. There is also an approval process. These are the kinds of interactions that we have as users.

There is absolutely no doubt that it is a very good tool for audit management as a whole. If you are deploying RSA Archer, the most important thing is that you need to be very clear of your requirements and the processes for audit management. It can maintain the organization hierarchy, business hierarchy, processes, projects, and assets. It can maintain a lot of repositories and attributes related to an organization for mapping individual audits. It is a wonderful tool, but if you are not clear about how you want to deploy it, it could be a mess. This is applicable to any enterprise-level tool. 

The reason I'm certifying with RSA Archer is that when you are using it for audit, there is a particular strategy and the way to do it, which may vary from organization to organization. So, you have to be very particular about what you want from the tool before deploying it. You should not deploy it and then define your processes. 

I would rate RSA Archer a nine out of 10.

We customize this solution for our clients. We take all their requirements and prepare the design and format by creating fields, notifications, access controls and workflows. We use all the management features that the solution provides to support our clients. We are customers of RSA Archer and I'm a senior consultant. 

The Advanced Workflow feature is one of the most valuable and user-friendly. We used to have to write multiple calculations. With Advanced Workflow, things are much easier for the developer and end user. It's a robust feature that allows users to easily identify what they're doing and where they are. We're able to create multiple layers with a specified functionality that gives an understanding of what is required as well as increased flexibility. Archer provides good security, enabling access where necessary. It's also a useful reporting tool, clearly showing functional data and, when needed, the ability for comparison. The default dashboard shows daily activities that are easily captured allowing for information to be extracted. 

In the current version, RSA is a little slow mainly because of Silverlight which I believe has been removed in the next version. We have some issues using .NET because migrating requires retraining the custom object every time; it's a manual change which is challenging. For that reason, we don't use the custom object. What's needed is a valueless field, where we can drag and drop, add some values and the process is automatic. I'd also like to see an 'approved' button incorporated in the notifications for updates. It would save time and make life easier for the end users.  

I've been using this solution for 11 years. 

This solution is very easy to scale and easy for new users to understand.

Because we use most of the modules we're paying a lot to get good support. We interact with someone from RSA on a weekly basis and deal with any issues on the platform.

The initial setup is straightforward when you understand the system. We put our new users in the sandbox environment and get them to play around with it before setting out our requirements. It can be a bit of a challenge initially but not for long. It's not a common platform and is different from other tools. Once our users are implementing, it's a very smooth process for them. We have a total of seven developers, four are in-house and three are on contract. 

Deployment time depends on the use case; if it's a large implementation, it can take between six and nine months. The solution needs maintenance because of the updates and that often results in patching needs. We're using Archer on a daily basis. 

I'm not sure about the cost of the solution but every year we purchase additional on-demand applications. Archer offers a package that allows the purchase of 10 on-demand applications. You can purchase more than that and the price goes up accordingly. I believe these purchases come with two years of maintenance support. 

This is a good solution compared to others in the market because it is more secure. It's suitable for any size company although smaller companies will only need to use certain modules with larger organizations using multiple modules. This is a one-stop storage device that you can access from anywhere. 

I rate this solution nine out of 10. 

We use the product for policy management, vulnerabilities and risk management. We also use it for business continuity.

It is a good tool to use. The product is very flexible. It can easily connect to other tools like ServiceNow and Nexus. The workflow feature is very interesting. We can automate a lot of stuff using the workflow. The product makes it very easy to publish dashboards.

We are implementing COBIT 2019. It is in English. It would be useful for customers if COBIT 2019 could be translated into different languages.

The product’s scalability is pretty good.

The initial setup is not complex, but you need some knowledge of the methodologies in the market to implement the product. These methodologies are in English. We have to translate the methodologies to use in Brazil. It would be better if it were available in different languages.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.