Akeyless Secure Remote Access vs Vanguard Integrity Professionals: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Akeyless Secure Remote Access

Teams managing infrastructure across multiple cloud providers or hybrid environments should choose Akeyless Secure Remote Access to eliminate standing credentials entirely, replacing them with identity-driven just-in-time access tied directly to your SSO. The secretless architecture maps cleanly to NIST PR.AA controls by design, removing the attack surface that traditional PAM tools still carry. Skip this if your infrastructure is entirely on-premises and air-gapped; the cloud-native architecture assumes identity provider integration as your primary authentication mechanism.

Vanguard Integrity Professionals

Enterprise and mid-market security teams defending z/OS mainframes should use Vanguard Integrity Professionals because it's the only PAM tool built specifically for RACF, ACF2, and Top Secret environments where generic solutions simply don't work. The platform covers six NIST CSF 2.0 functions including continuous monitoring and access control enforcement, with integrated vulnerability analysis via z/Assure VAP that catches mainframe-specific exposures. Skip this if your mainframe team is small or your organization treats legacy systems as non-critical; Vanguard requires the infrastructure and staffing typical of large financial services and government shops where mainframe security actually matters to compliance auditors.