Vanguard Integrity Professionals vs CyberArk Identity Security Platform: 2026 Comparison

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.

CyberArk Identity Security Platform

Enterprise and mid-market teams managing hybrid infrastructure with heavy privileged access requirements should build around CyberArk Identity Security Platform for its endpoint privilege management, which actually removes local admin rights rather than just monitoring them. The platform covers three NIST CSF 2.0 categories (PR.AA authentication, PR.PS platform security, and DE.CM monitoring) with particular strength in privileged credential lifecycle orchestration across cloud and on-premises assets. Skip this if your environment is cloud-only SaaS; the complexity and pricing favor organizations with substantial legacy systems and distributed privileged accounts that justify the operational overhead.