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Akeyless Review

Akeyless is an identity security platform offering secretless, identity-based access and unified secrets management for AI agents, machines, and human identities.

shipped Jul 7, 2026aipaid
ai
Akeyless — product screenshot

Why it matters

1Offers a 'secretless' identity-based access platform built on a zero-knowledge architecture.
2Features Agentic Runtime Authority and Agentic Identity Intelligence for AI agent security, announced March 31, 2026.
3Manages secrets, dynamic credentials, certificates, and encryption keys across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.
4Received multiple Global InfoSec Awards at RSAC 2026, including for Market Leader in Identity Management for AI Agents.

Specs

API Available

Yes, public API

overview

What is Akeyless?

Akeyless is an identity security platform developed by Akeyless that enables organizations to manage and secure secrets, machine identities, and human access across diverse environments. It provides a 'secretless' identity-based access platform built on a zero-knowledge architecture, with specific integrations for AI agent workflows and identity intelligence. The platform unifies secrets management, machine identity, and secure access for human and non-human entities across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments. Its core purpose is to control human and machine identities at scale, encompassing secrets, dynamic credentials, certificates, and encryption keys, aiming to eliminate silos, reduce operational costs, and strengthen overall security posture.

features

Key Features of Akeyless

Akeyless provides a comprehensive suite of features designed to secure identities and sensitive data across various operational contexts, emphasizing a zero-knowledge security model and specific capabilities for AI agent management.

  • Secretless, identity-based access for human and non-human entities.
  • Unified secrets management for API keys, tokens, and credentials.
  • Multi Vault Governance across any cloud and environment.
  • Automated Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) for issuance and renewal.
  • Agentic Identity Intelligence to discover and map AI agents.
  • SecretlessAI™ technology to keep secrets out of AI agents.
  • Agentic Runtime Authority for real-time governance of AI actions.
  • Modern Privileged Access Management (PAM) with Just-in-Time (JIT) access.
  • Multi-Cloud Key Management System (KMS) supporting quantum-resilient keys.

use cases

Who Should Use Akeyless?

Akeyless is designed for organizations requiring robust identity security and secrets management, particularly those operating in multi-cloud, hybrid, or AI-driven environments. Its capabilities address specific challenges faced by various technical and security teams.

  • DevOps Teams: To securely inject secrets into CI/CD pipelines, preventing hardcoding and exposure in version control systems.
  • AI/ML Operations: To enable 'secretless' access and govern actions for AI agents and non-human identities, crucial for scalable, autonomous systems.
  • Cloud & Hybrid Enterprises: To standardize secrets management and secure access across AWS, Azure, GCP, and on-premises resources using a single control plane.
  • Security & Compliance Officers: To achieve regulatory compliance (e.g., SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001) with fine-grained access control, comprehensive audit logging, and data residency options.
  • IT Operations: To automate TLS certificate management, reduce outages, and provide secure, passwordless access to databases and servers, including Zero-Trust principles.

how to use

How to Use Akeyless

Akeyless is deployed as a SaaS offering, providing a centralized control plane for identity security. Users typically begin by integrating the platform with their existing infrastructure and identity providers to establish secure access and secrets management workflows.

  • 1Deployment: Integrate the Akeyless SaaS platform with existing cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) or on-premises infrastructure.
  • 2Secrets Onboarding: Import or generate secrets (e.g., API keys, database credentials, tokens) into the Akeyless Vault for centralized management.
  • 3Identity Configuration: Define human and machine identities, including AI agents, and assign appropriate access policies based on least privilege principles.
  • 4Integration: Connect Akeyless with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab), applications, and databases using its API or SDKs for automated secret injection.
  • 5Certificate Automation: Configure Certificate Lifecycle Management policies for automated issuance, rotation, and expiration of TLS certificates.
  • 6Monitoring & Auditing: Utilize the platform's comprehensive audit logs and reporting features to monitor access, track secret usage, and ensure compliance.

pricing

Akeyless Pricing & Plans

Akeyless operates on a paid subscription model, offering a free tier for initial evaluation and limited use cases. Specific pricing for advanced features, enterprise-scale deployments, and comprehensive identity security solutions is typically provided upon direct inquiry with the vendor. The Akeyless pricing page, available at https://www.akeyless.io/pricing/, details the availability of a free tier and outlines the scope of paid plans, without disclosing specific monetary figures.

  • Free Tier: Available for evaluation and limited use, allowing users to explore core functionalities.
  • Paid Plans: Subscription-based tiers designed for advanced features, enterprise-scale deployments, and comprehensive identity security requirements, with pricing available upon request.

Pros

  • +Unified platform for secrets management, machine identity, and secure access, reducing tool sprawl and operational complexity.
  • +Zero-knowledge architecture with patented Distributed Fragments Cryptography (DFC™) for enhanced data security and privacy.
  • +Specialized, advanced features for AI agent identity security, including Agentic Runtime Authority and Agentic Identity Intelligence.
  • +High user satisfaction reported on G2, Capterra, and Gartner Peer Insights for ease of use, intuitive configuration, and robust security features.
  • +Automates Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM), reducing manual effort, potential outages, and simplifying PKI operations.
  • +Supports multi-cloud and hybrid environments with a single, SaaS-based control plane for consistent governance.

Cons

  • As a comprehensive enterprise solution, initial implementation and integration with existing infrastructure may require significant resources and planning.
  • Specific pricing details for paid tiers are not publicly disclosed on the website, requiring direct engagement with the vendor for cost estimation.
  • The breadth of advanced features, particularly for AI agent security, might present a learning curve for smaller teams or those new to sophisticated identity security concepts.
  • Reliance on a proprietary SaaS platform may introduce vendor lock-in considerations for organizations prioritizing self-hosted or open-source solutions.

Policies

Free Tier

Vendor website advertises a free tier.

Pricing Page

View Pricing

Similar Tools

Akeyless vs Competitors

Akeyless operates within a competitive landscape of identity security and secrets management solutions. Its differentiation often lies in its SaaS-first approach, zero-knowledge architecture, and specialized focus on AI agent security.

1
HashiCorp Vault

HashiCorp Vault is a widely adopted, open-source and enterprise secrets management solution known for its flexibility and extensive ecosystem of integrations, often deployed on-premises or as a managed service.

Compared to Akeyless's SaaS-first, zero-knowledge architecture, Vault offers more control for self-hosting but typically involves higher operational overhead and a steeper learning curve. While Akeyless emphasizes AI agent workflows, Vault provides a robust foundation for secrets management that can be adapted for AI, though it may lack Akeyless's specific AI-centric integrations and 'secretless' approach.

2
CyberArk Conjur

CyberArk Conjur specializes in secrets management and workload identity for cloud-native and DevOps environments, integrating with a broader Privileged Access Management (PAM) suite.

Akeyless offers a more unified SaaS platform for secrets, PAM, and certificate management, whereas CyberArk often provides these capabilities through separate products, potentially leading to more complex management. While both manage secrets, Akeyless highlights its 'secretless' identity-based access and specific AI agent security features, which Conjur addresses as part of broader workload identity.

3

Infisical is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted secrets management platform designed for developers, offering a developer-friendly experience for managing secrets across various environments.

Infisical, like Akeyless, focuses on modern, multi-cloud secrets management and is explicitly mentioned for scaling AI agents and non-human identities. While Akeyless offers a proprietary zero-knowledge architecture and a broader identity security platform, Infisical provides an open-source alternative with strong developer tooling and a focus on ease of use for secret synchronization.

4

CData Connect AI focuses specifically on providing governed identities for AI agents, delegated agents, and autonomous workflows, ensuring AI operates with the right identity and permissions at runtime.

CData Connect AI directly addresses the 'AI Tools' aspect of Akeyless by offering an AI identity framework that integrates with existing identity infrastructure. While Akeyless provides unified secrets management and identity-based access for AI agents, CData Connect AI emphasizes runtime identity validation and inherited permissions specifically for AI systems, making it a direct competitor in securing AI interactions.

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