Report:
Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management
How does Gartner define the Privileged Access Management market in 2024?
Gartner defines privileged access management (PAM) as tools that provide an elevated level of technical access through the management and protection of accounts, credentials and commands, which are used to administer or configure systems and applications. PAM tools manage privileged access for both people (system administrators and others) and machines (systems or applications). Privileged access is access beyond the normal level granted to business users that allows users to override existing access controls, change security configurations, or make changes affecting multiple users or systems. Because privileged access can create, modify and delete IT infrastructure along with company data, it presents catastrophic risk. PAM tools focus on either privileged accounts or privileged commands, helping organizations discover privileged accounts, secure them by rotating and vaulting credentials, broker delegated access in a controlled manner, provide multifactor authentication and session control, and implement just-in-time privilege management to enforce the principle of least privilege. Gartner defines four distinct tool categories: privileged account and session management (PASM), privilege elevation and delegation management (PEDM), secrets management, and cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM).
Key Facts for Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management in 2024
- Publication Date: 09-Sep-2024
- Document ID: G00802036
- Coverage: Global
- Authors: Abhyuday Data, Michael Kelley
- Core Purpose: PAM products are now mainstream. Many vendors added advanced functionalities in the past year either through native product expansions or through strategic acquisitions. IAM leaders should focus assessment on the advanced features that differentiate vendors in this market.
Strategic Planning Assumptions
No strategic planning assumptions provided.
How was the Privileged Access Management market evolved in 2024?
- PAM market revenue for 2024 estimated at $2.37 billion, representing 10% growth over 2023
- Growth driven by increasing awareness of critical need for PAM solutions and high-profile breaches linked to compromised privileged credentials
- 15% to 25% of first-time PAM purchases driven by cybersecurity insurance requirements
- Six out of nine evaluated vendors offer SaaS options, with one additional vendor roadmapping SaaS
- Five of nine vendors offer secrets management tools for developer use cases
- Four vendors offer CIEM tools, with some adding through acquisitions
- Market expanding to include small and midsize businesses (SMBs)
- Strong adoption in diversified financial services, communications, media and services, and government sectors
- North America and Europe remain primary markets, with increasing interest in APAC region
- Remote privileged access management (RPAM) and secrets management driving additional market growth
What product features are required to be included in this year's evaluation?
- Centralized management and enforcement of privileged access by controlling either access to privileged accounts and credentials or execution of privileged commands (or both)
- Managing and brokering privileged access to authorized users (e.g., system administrators, operators and help desk staff) on a temporary basis
- Credential vaulting and management for privileged accounts
What are the common features of top products in the Privileged Access Management space?
- Privileged account discovery across multiple systems, applications and cloud infrastructure providers
- Agent-based controlled privilege elevation for commands executed on Windows, UNIX/Linux or macOS operating systems
- Management, monitoring, recording and remote access for privileged sessions
- Auditing capabilities to ascertain who used what privileged access when and where
- Just-in-time privilege management, which reduces the time and scope for which a user is granted privileged access
Scope Exclusions
- Command control through protocol filtering only (not executed at OS kernel or process level)
- Workforce Password Management (WPM) tools that lack robust privileged access security features
- Solutions lacking privileged account discovery and mapping capabilities
- Tools without service account credential management
- Solutions without JIT elevation features
- Tools lacking full session recording and live session management
- Solutions without credential brokering to software
- Tools lacking analytics and reporting of privileged accounts and their use
- Resellers or third-party providers without own developed IP
Inclusion Criteria
Vendors must, among other requirements:
- Meet all must-have capabilities and at least 4 out of 5 standard capabilities as of April 17, 2024
- Centralized management and enforcement of privileged access
- Managing and brokering privileged access to authorized users on a temporary basis
- Credential vaulting and management for privileged accounts
- Rank in Top 15 for Customer Interest Indicator (CII)
- Booked total revenue of at least $25 million in FY23 for core PAM products OR minimum 1,100 paying customers
- Compete in at least 2 of 4 major regional markets (no more than 90% client base in one region)
- Sell and support own PAM product developed in-house
- Sold to customers in different verticals or industries
- Market products for use consistent with PAM
Ability to Execute — Relative Weighting
- Product or Service - Medium
- Overall Viability - High
- Sales Execution/Pricing - High
- Market Responsiveness/Record - Medium
- Marketing Execution - Medium
- Customer Experience - Medium
- Operations - Low
Completeness of Vision — Relative Weighting
- Market Understanding - High
- Marketing Strategy - Medium
- Sales Strategy - Medium
- Offering (Product) Strategy - High
- Business Model - Low
- Vertical/Industry Strategy - Medium
- Innovation - High
- Geographic Strategy - Medium
FAQs
Q: What does this research cover?
A: This research evaluates nine vendors in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) market across five distinct tool categories: privileged account and session management (PASM), privilege elevation and delegation management (PEDM), secrets management, remote privileged access management (RPAM), and cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM). The report assesses vendors on their ability to execute and completeness of vision, covering product capabilities, pricing, customer experience, innovation, market strategy, and geographic presence. It includes detailed strengths and cautions for each vendor, market size and dynamics, pricing guidance, and inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Q: Who should use this research?
A: This research should be used by IAM (Identity and Access Management) leaders and security professionals who are evaluating, selecting, or implementing PAM solutions. It is particularly valuable for organizations looking to manage and protect privileged accounts and credentials, implement just-in-time privilege management, secure remote privileged access, manage secrets for DevOps environments, or govern cloud infrastructure entitlements. The research helps buyers understand vendor capabilities, market positioning, pricing considerations, and advanced features that differentiate vendors, enabling more informed purchasing decisions based on specific organizational needs and use cases.
Q: What are the mandatory features of vendors included in this market?
A: Vendors must provide: (1) Centralized management and enforcement of privileged access by controlling either access to privileged accounts and credentials or execution of privileged commands (or both); (2) Managing and brokering privileged access to authorized users (system administrators, operators, help desk staff) on a temporary basis; (3) Credential vaulting and management for privileged accounts including a secured, hardened and highly available vault for storing credentials and secrets, tools to automatically randomize, rotate and manage credentials, tools to manage end-to-end access request processes with approval workflows, and user interfaces to check out privileged credentials. Additionally, vendors must meet at least 4 out of 5 standard capabilities including privileged account discovery, agent-based privilege elevation, privileged session management, auditing capabilities, and just-in-time privilege management.
Q: What are some reasons for not being included in this report?
A:
- Did not meet technical inclusion criteria (must-have capabilities and minimum 4 of 5 standard capabilities)
- Did not meet business and financial performance inclusion criteria (revenue threshold or customer count)
- Did not rank in Top 15 for Customer Interest Indicator
- Insufficient geographic presence (more than 90% of client base in one region)
- Do not sell and support own PAM product developed in-house (resellers excluded)
- Not marketed and sold for PAM use cases consistent with market objectives
- Lack full documentation of features
- Primary focus on adjacent markets (WPM, endpoint management) rather than core PAM
- Limited to specific protocol filtering without OS-level execution
Q: What differentiates Ability to Execute vs. Completeness of Vision?
A: Ability to Execute focuses on current market performance and operational capabilities including product quality, sales effectiveness, pricing, customer satisfaction, financial viability, and operational excellence. It measures how well vendors are performing NOW in delivering PAM solutions. Completeness of Vision evaluates strategic direction and future potential including market understanding, innovation capabilities, product roadmap, business model soundness, and geographic/vertical expansion strategies. It measures how well vendors are positioned for FUTURE market requirements and their ability to shape market direction through thought leadership and innovation.
Reference
- Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Privileged Access Management, 09-Sep-2024, ID G00802036
View Leaders
View Vendor Movements
