As cloud security becomes increasingly vital for modern enterprises, several Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) platforms have begun to stand out in the market. Leading solutions include Authomize, CyberArk, Ermetic, Palo Alto, SailPoint, and Wiz. While each platform has its unique strengths, there are common features and capabilities between these leading platforms and a critical evaluation checklist to get an organization moving closer to an informed decision.

What are the top CIEM solutions?

There is no singular “best” solution on the market, but there are a variety of platforms that stand out among the variety of options.

Here are the top CIEM solutions available on the market (listed alphabetically) with a quick overview and strongest capabilities:

Authomize
Authomize offers an intelligent CIEM solution that automates cloud security management by providing real-time visibility, risk assessment, and smart policy enforcement across diverse cloud environments. They are well-known for being strong at providing user access reviews of current user access

CyberArk Cloud Entitlements Manager
CyberArk Cloud Entitlements Manager streamlines cloud security with automated entitlement remediation, risk detection, and policy enforcement across multi-cloud infrastructures. They provide strong integration with privileged access management and Just-In-Time (JIT) access / Zero Standing Privilege

Ermetic
Ermetic is a CIEM tool that enhances cloud security by offering granular visibility, automated risk analysis, and entitlement management across multi-cloud environments. Notable for their Posture Management functionality and ability for scanning workload vulnerabilities forWorkload Protection.

Palo Alto Prisma Cloud
Palo Alto Prisma Cloud is a comprehensive CIEM solution, delivering robust security management with deep visibility, risk detection, and policy enforcement across diverse cloud platforms. The software provider is excellent at providing Posture Management functionality andWorkload Protection.

SailPoint
SailPoint CIEM ensures optimal cloud security with advanced entitlement visibility, intelligent risk assessment, and streamlined policy enforcement, fortifying multi-cloud infrastructures. Differentiated by their Identity-centric approach to how cloud infrastructure is being used and by which identities, etc

Wiz
Wiz is a CIEM solution that offers in-depth cloud visibility, proactive risk detection, and streamlined entitlement management, safeguarding cloud infrastructures against potential vulnerabilities. Another very strong provider in Posture Management functionality andWorkload Protection.

Core features and capabilities of leading CIEM platforms

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) solutions are designed to manage and secure identities, entitlements, and resources in cloud environments.

• Visibility and Discovery: Offer comprehensive visibility into identities, entitlements, resources, and permissions across various cloud environments.
• Risk Assessment: Identify over-permissioned accounts, unused roles, and entitlements to determine potential security risks.
• Role Management: Streamline the creation, management, and deletion of roles while ensuring least privilege practices.
• Policy Enforcement: Create and enforce policies to ensure security compliance and prevent risky entitlements.
• Anomaly Detection: Utilize AI and machine learning to detect unusual access patterns or entitlement behaviors indicative of potential threats.
• Automated Remediation: Automate responses to policy violations, such as revoking excessive permissions or alerting security teams.
• Multi-cloud Support: Manage entitlements across various cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and others.
• Integration with IAM Solutions: Seamless integration with Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions to provide a holistic view of access rights.
• Reporting and Auditing: Offer robust reporting tools to facilitate compliance audits and trace every entitlement change.
• Self-Service Access Requests: Allow users to request access and entitlements, which can be approved via workflows, thereby streamlining access management.
• Lifecycle Management: Track and manage the full lifecycle of entitlements, ensuring they are regularly reviewed, updated, or removed as necessary.

It’s important to consider that while most leading CIEM solutions will offer a combination of the above features, specific offerings might vary based on the solution and its version. When selecting a CIEM platform, it's crucial to assess which features align best with your organization's needs and operational complexities.

How to choose the right CIEM solution for your organization

Choosing the right CIEM solution is pivotal for organizations to ensure robust cloud security. To pinpoint the best fit solution for an organization evaluating CIEM, follow these critical steps:

Understand Your Needs:
Begin by understanding the specific challenges and security gaps in your cloud infrastructure. Determine the scale, complexity, and unique aspects of your cloud deployments. Then evaluate your current applications to understand if you can use functionality already available.

Regulatory & Compliance Needs:
If your organization is subject to specific regulations, ensure the CIEM solution supports compliance requirements. Features like detailed audit logs and reporting can be pivotal for regulatory needs.

Technical Compatibility:
Ensure the CIEM solution is compatible with your cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP). Evaluate how seamlessly the solution integrates with your current tools, services, and Identity and Access Management (IAM) setups.

Features & Capabilities:
Assess core CIEM features such as visibility, risk assessment, policy enforcement, automated remediation, and more. Prioritize solutions offering advanced capabilities, like AI-driven anomaly detection.

Scalability & Flexibility:
Ensure the solution can scale with your organization's growth and evolving needs. Check if the platform is adaptable to changing cloud environments and infrastructures.

Usability:
An intuitive user interface can improve adoption rates and reduce training needs. Look for solutions that offer both granular controls for experts and simpler views for less tech-savvy users.

Integration & Extensibility:
Ensure the CIEM solution can integrate with other crucial security and operational tools. Consider its API capabilities and the ease with which it can be extended or customized.

Vendor Reputation & Support:
Research the vendor's track record in the CIEM and broader cybersecurity market. Evaluate the quality of customer support, training, and documentation provided.

Pricing & Return on Investment (ROI):
While pricing is a factor, it's essential to weigh the costs against the potential risks of a security breach. Think about the long-term ROI, considering both security benefits and potential savings from streamlined operations.

Proof of Concept (PoC):
Before finalizing a solution, consider running a PoC to test the tool in a controlled environment. A PoC can offer insights into the solution's effectiveness, ease of use, and integration capabilities.

Feedback & Reviews:
Seek feedback from peers in the industry or look for case studies and reviews. User testimonials can provide invaluable insights into real-world usage and challenges.

Final Thoughts: Making an Informed CIEM Decision

By methodically evaluating CIEM solutions based on the process criteria, organizations can make a well-informed decision, ensuring they choose a solution that effectively addresses their cloud security challenges and aligns with their operational needs.