Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Symantec Privileged Access Manager pros and cons

Vendor: Broadcom

3.9 out of 5

52 reviews
85% willing to recommend

1,460 followers

Pros & Cons summary

Symantec Privileged Access Manager offers robust API integration for DevOps, comprehensive access management with session recording, password management, and support for two-factor authentication like PIV and CAC. Its scalable architecture enhances security through complex password policies and frequent changes. However, users experience stability issues post-upgrade, browser compatibility problems with the Java front-end, and challenges in report generation. Since Broadcom's acquisition, users report stagnant development and declining support quality.

Buyer's Guide

Get pricing advice, tips, use cases and valuable features from real users of this product.

Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Symantec Privileged Access Manager offers robust API integrations which facilitate low maintenance costs and enhanced security automation across development and operational environments.

Its password management and session recording features are simple to deploy and use, promoting operational efficiency right out-of-the-box.

Support for two-factor authentication including PIV and CAC stands out, enhancing security for sensitive access points.

Symantec Privileged Access Manager provides comprehensive visibility into server access permissions, ensuring users have appropriate access levels.

Its scalability is highlighted by its capacity to manage numerous concurrent sessions, support a high number of devices and accounts, and function effectively across a distributed architecture.

CONS

Users experience stability issues after each patch upgrade, which needs drastic improvement.

The setup is complex, and the management console could benefit from enhancements.

The service account management lacks support for application pools, SQL databases, and PowerShell scripts.

Technical support has declined since Broadcom's acquisition, with longer response times.

There is a need to extend the functionality to include features like cloud-based and VPN-less access for a hybrid environment.

Symantec Privileged Access Manager Pros review quotes

System Administrator at Alghanim Industries

May 6, 2022

It's easy to use and easy to configure.

Read full review

Program Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Nov 26, 2017

It will provide us with more security.

Read full review

Information Security Manager at United Parcel Service

Aug 7, 2017

Transparent login for users of privileged IDs (Linux, Windows). This prevents sharing of the password because it is never seen.

Read full review

Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Free Report: Symantec Privileged Access Manager Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Symantec Privileged Access Manager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.

815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Pre-Sales Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Jul 24, 2017

Password Management and Session Recording. The simplicity and ease that it is to be up and running out-of-the-box is very much appreciated.

Read full review

Architect at Telefónica

Jan 7, 2018

The key benefits are we improve our governance. We ensure we can build more trust in the way we run and operate our environment, and most of all is the accountability.

Read full review

System Support Analyst at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Jul 19, 2017

You can do A2A integration. You can have your own script, which can then run outside of PA to retrieve the password and perform other tasks.

Read full review

Information Security at ITG

Nov 26, 2017

Whoever built it from the ground up, they understand how an organization is laid out.

Read full review

UA

Enterprise Solutions & Services Head at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Oct 9, 2024

Symantec PAM is easier to deploy compared to its competitors, such as BeyondTrust.

Read full review

Business Coach & Consultant

Jul 31, 2017

The two factor authentication, and the single most important capability was it supported PIV and CAC as one of the two factors. That was pretty huge for us.

Read full review

Information Security Manager at United Parcel Service

Jan 7, 2018

Stability is solid as a rock.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 20)

Symantec Privileged Access Manager Cons review quotes

System Administrator at Alghanim Industries

May 6, 2022

The response time for support could be faster. Some features should be added: cloud-based, VPN-less, more secure, and it should be adjusted in a hybrid environment.

Read full review

Program Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Nov 26, 2017

They need to have zero tier and active-active setup with zero minimum downtime, which they are working on it.

Read full review

Information Security Manager at United Parcel Service

Aug 7, 2017

It's difficult to locate the reports, there are limits on what reports can be run from the GUI, and the report formats are lacking.

Read full review

Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Free Report: Symantec Privileged Access Manager Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Symantec Privileged Access Manager. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.

815,854 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Pre-Sales Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Jul 24, 2017

The support for other remote assistance tools would be excellent. Free included tools in Windows (Remote Assist) and Microsoft SCCM Configuration Manager (ConMgr Remote Control) allow companies to reduce the amount of RDP connections and expand the usage of the tools are frequently used by companies to provide technical support for remote assistance.

Read full review

Architect at Telefónica

Jan 7, 2018

Bring more technology into the portfolio and being able to collapse those products into a much more integrated way.

Read full review

System Support Analyst at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Jul 19, 2017

What I hope happens with the new product CA PAM is to keep all the useful features that exist in PA, but what I’ve noticed with many new products is the UI gets polished but systems lags stability and performance or it adds additional complexity instead of simplifying the user experience.

Read full review

Information Security at ITG

Nov 26, 2017

Instead of just giving passwords to the user based on job function, from auditing perspective, turn that cycle around. That would really help from an auditing standpoint.

Read full review

UA

Enterprise Solutions & Services Head at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Oct 9, 2024

Broadcom has neglected product development since acquiring Symantec, and nothing major has been added to PAM.

Read full review

Business Coach & Consultant

Jul 31, 2017

It'd be great if you just stuck in your PIV card and Windows popped up, asked you for your password. You typed it in, then it remembered your credentials.

Read full review

Information Security Manager at United Parcel Service

Jan 7, 2018

They need to do a little bit more on the mainframe side.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 20)

Product Categories

Product Categories

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Workspace ONE UEM vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Delinea Secret Server vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

ForgeRock vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

WALLIX Bastion vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

One Identity Safeguard vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

ARCON Privileged Access Management vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Proofpoint Insider Threat Management vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

MasterSAM PMS vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

See all alternatives

Product Categories

Product Categories

Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Workspace ONE UEM vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Delinea Secret Server vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

ForgeRock vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

WALLIX Bastion vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

One Identity Safeguard vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

ARCON Privileged Access Management vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

Proofpoint Insider Threat Management vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

MasterSAM PMS vs Symantec Privileged Access Manager

See all alternatives

Related questions

9

When evaluating Privileged Identity Management, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?

129

Which is the best Privileged Account Management solution?

69

What are the top 5 PAM solutions that can be implemented which cover both hybrid and cloud?

262

What are the top 5 PAM solutions?

179

How will AI and ML help or work with PIM/PAM?

86

Is BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management really expensive compared to other tools or software?

1,240

What is the difference between PAM and PAS?

1,587

What is the difference between IDAM , PIM and PAM?

283

Which PAM tool do you prefer: CyberArk Privileged Access Manager, One Identity Safeguard, Delinea Secret Server, or BeyondTrust Privileged Remote A

85

What is the best approach to limiting privileges for administrators?