CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Delinea Secret Server: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager

Enterprise security teams managing privileged access across on-premise, cloud, and operational technology environments should choose CyberArk Privileged Access Manager for its zero standing privileges architecture, which eliminates the attack surface that static credential vaults leave exposed. The platform's just-in-time access model combined with tamper-proof Digital Vault storage and 99.95% SLA availability reflects design choices built for organizations where privilege misuse creates material risk. This is not the tool for smaller teams seeking a lightweight alternative to full-featured PAM; CyberArk's strength lies in complexity and scale, not simplicity.

Delinea Secret Server

Enterprise security teams managing thousands of privileged accounts across hybrid infrastructure need Delinea Secret Server for its automated password rotation and AI-driven session analysis, which catch lateral movement and credential abuse that manual PAM shops miss entirely. The platform covers all four NIST CSF 2.0 foundations from identity management through incident analysis, with session recording and forensic capability that satisfies audit requirements without creating analyst bottlenecks. Skip this if you're a small organization under 500 users or need a lightweight alternative; Secret Server's value compounds with scale and complexity, not with simplicity.