Bastion review
A broad self-hosted control layer for privileged SSH and RDP operations.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Bastion is a self-hosted privileged access management platform for IT teams and managed service providers managing Linux and Windows servers. It centralizes browser-based SSH and RDP access, with per-server permissions, role-based access control and time-limited approvals. The vendor positions it for organizations managing approximately 20 to several hundred servers, making it a fit for teams that need governed access across a server estate rather than a basic SSH endpoint alone.
Its strongest distinction is the depth of control around privileged sessions. Administrators can record SSH and RDP sessions, view them live, rotate passwords automatically and retain tamper-resistant audit logs. SIEM audit-event export supports connection with existing security monitoring workflows, while time-limited approvals add a defined access window. These capabilities make Bastion relevant where reviewable access, session oversight and centralized auditability matter as much as connectivity.
Bastion also extends beyond access management through centralized Linux and Windows patch management. Agents connect outbound from managed servers, while the platform runs in the customer’s infrastructure across web, Windows and Linux environments. According to the vendor’s commercial approach, price and scope are discussed during a trial deployment based on server count and environment rather than presented as fixed plans. Choose Bastion when self-hosting and a wider privileged-operations scope align with your requirements; teams seeking only a narrowly focused SSH server may find its broader controls unnecessary.
Bastion pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Browser-based SSH/RDP with approvals, recording and live viewing
- Password rotation, tamper-resistant logs and SIEM export
- Role-based access plus centralized Linux and Windows patch management
- Where it doesn't
- Pricing and scope are discussed during a trial deployment
- Self-hosted deployment runs in the customer's infrastructure
- Broader privileged access features may exceed SSH-only needs
Bastion fact sheet, pricing and score →
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