Define what you need from privileged access management before you compare vendors. Explore a five-step approach to building your requirements, evaluating solutions, and planning for long-term success. 

Credential-based attacks, compliance demands, and growing cloud and machine access needs make PAM buying decisions more complex. Without clear priorities, organizations can invest in tools that leave gaps or demand more resources than their teams can provide. This Gartner report offers guidance for connecting your PAM purchase to business risks, operational needs, and a phased roadmap. 

What you can learn

• How to align stakeholders around your PAM objectives and business drivers
• What to include in an inventory of human and non-human privileged accounts
• How to prioritize capabilities and build a roadmap as your needs evolve
• What to test when comparing vendors, deployment options, and integrations
• How to assess licensing, future costs, staffing, and training needs

Get practical guidance for turning your requirements into a more informed PAM buying decision, with proof-of-concept testing and measures that connect implementation progress to business outcomes. 

Get your complimentary copy — available for a limited time

Gartner, Buyer’s Guide for Privileged Access Management, Scott Brinker, Michael Kelley, 27 August 2026. 

GARTNER is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates.