Best Infrastructure Access Management Alternatives to CyberArk in 2026

Traditional PAM tools like CyberArk focus on vaulting and rotating privileged credentials. Users check out passwords or SSH keys from a vault. Infrastructure access platforms take a different approach: they act as an identity-aware proxy between users and infrastructure, often eliminating standing credentials entirely. Users authenticate once (via SSO/MFA), and the platform brokers short-lived certificates or tokens for each session. This approach is better suited to dynamic cloud environments where infrastructure is ephemeral.

For organizations whose primary PAM use case is securing access to servers, databases, and Kubernetes, yes. Tools like Teleport and StrongDM can replace traditional PAM. However, if you need to manage privileged credentials for applications, service accounts, network devices, or Windows desktops, a traditional PAM tool may still be required. Many organizations use infrastructure access tools for DevOps workflows alongside a PAM solution for legacy and application-level privileged accounts.

Teleport provides the deepest Kubernetes integration with role-based access to clusters, namespaces, and pods, plus full session recording of kubectl commands. StrongDM supports Kubernetes access through its proxy model with policy-based controls. HashiCorp Boundary supports Kubernetes targets but is more focused on general TCP/HTTP session brokering. If Kubernetes access is your primary concern, Teleport is widely considered the strongest option.

Yes. All three platforms provide session recording, audit logging, and access request workflows that map to SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and HIPAA requirements. Teleport and StrongDM both offer detailed session replay for SSH and database sessions. StrongDM emphasizes workflow-based access approvals. These capabilities satisfy auditor requirements around privileged access monitoring and the principle of least privilege.