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Businesses are more concerned than ever before about their security posture, and with good reason—the risk of cyber attacks has never been higher. Neither has the cost of a breach, which can have significant impact on business continuity, expose customer data, and damage the organization’s reputation.
Vulnerability management tools can proactively monitor business networks for weaknesses and promptly mitigate risks. These software applications can integrate with other security tools and systems to close security gaps with automated processes, helping to maintain a secure environment and reducing overall risk exposure.
We’ve done the heavy lifting and compared the top vulnerability management tools to help you make the right choice. Here are our top picks:
- Qualys VMDR: Best for Complex Business Environments
- Tenable Vulnerability Management: Best for Risk-based approach
- TripWire: Best for Industrial Businesses
- ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus: Best for Built-in Patching
- Intruder: Best for Attack Surface Monitoring
Top Vulnerability Management Tools Comparison
| Vulnerability Scanning | Attack Surface Visualization | Automated Scans and Alerting | Remediating Reports | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualys VMDR | Insights from over 150k vulnerabilities and 20+ threat sources | Yes | Yes | Latest threat intel analysis | Free 30-day Trial |
| Tenable Vulnerability Management | 200+ integrations for workflow automation | Yes | Yes | Easy to understand risk scores | Free-trial |
| TripWire | Agentless and agent-based vulnerability management | Granular risk prioritization visibility | Yes | Industry-leading prioritized risk-scoring | Personalized Demo |
| ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus | 75+ CIS benchmark compliance | Yes | Yes | Attacker-based analytics | Free trials |
| Intruder | Automatically synchronized scan targets | Yes | Yes | Effortless compliance and reporting | 14-day free trial |
Jump to:
- Top Vulnerability Management Tools Comparison
- Top Vulnerability Management Tools for Your Business
- Key Features of Vulnerability Management Tools
- Benefits of Working with Vulnerability Management Tools
- How do I Choose the Best Vulnerability Management Tools for My Business?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Qualys VMDR
Best for Complex Business Environments
Qualys VMDR is a comprehensive tool for vulnerability management with unprecedented response capabilities. This enterprise-grade risk management solution can be easily deployed across complex hybrid environments to quantify risk across vulnerabilities.
It helps businesses with asset management, vulnerability management, threat detection and prioritization, remediation response, continuous monitoring, and more.
Features
- Insights from over 150,000 known vulnerabilities and more than 20 threat sources
- Preemptive alerts with Qualys Threat Database
- Complete categorized inventory
- Six Sigma accuracy for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations detection
- Rule-based integrations with IT service management (ITSM) tools
Pros
- Easy-to-use no-code workflows
- Latest threat intelligence analysis
- Single app workflow
Cons
- Needs an improved graphical interface
- Expensive pricing
- Poor technical support
Pricing
Qulays VMDR is available for a 30-day free trial. The solution is relatively cost-effective as pricing is set on a per-asset basis. Request a quote to meet your specific business requirements.
Tenable Vulnerability Management
Best for Risk-Based Approach
Tenable Vulnerability Management offers a holistic view of the business infrastructure to identify even the rarest risks and weaknesses efficiently. Powered by Tenable Nessus, this cloud-based tool works in real-time to identify security risks and resolve them faster.
Nessus comes with the industry’s most comprehensive risk coverage with built-in threat intelligence and vulnerability prioritization capabilities. It follows a risk-based approach that accelerates vulnerability detection and remediation for the most critical assets.
Features
- 200-plus integrations for workflow automation
- Risk-based view of attack surface
- Always-on asset discovery
- Intuitive dashboard visualizations
- Fully documented application programming interface (API)
Pros
- Easy deployment and configuration
- Highly scalable
- Easy to understand risk scores
- Continuous discovery and assessment
Cons
- Requires more customization features
- Complex navigation
- Licensing issues
Pricing
Tenable offers a free trial. One-, two-, and three-year subscription plans for a minimum of 65 assets are available, with minimum pricing of $2,684.50 per year. The solution scales to 250 assets.
TripWire
Best for Industrial Businesses
Fortra, the global cybersecurity and automation software leader, offers TripWire Vulnerability Management to efficiently detect, prioritize, and neutralize risks. It can be deployed in both on-premises and cloud environments to help businesses identify the biggest security and compliance challenges with TripWire IP360 and TripWire ExpertOps.
Features
- Agentless and agent-based vulnerability management
- Granular risk prioritization visibility
- Customized service plans
- Industry-leading prioritized risk-scoring
- Uninterrupted operations with non-intrusive scanning
Pros
- Holistic visibility
- Easy integration with other tools
- Fast detection and remediation
- Continuous updates
Cons
- No free trials
- Complex learning curve
- High licensing costs
Pricing
Request a personalized demo to see how TripWire solutions might work for your business, or contact sales with your specific requirements for detailed pricing.
ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus
Best for Built-in Patching
ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus is a top-notch solution for security and web server misconfigurations, high-risk software, operating systems (OS), and third-party and zero-day vulnerabilities. This end-to-end vulnerability management tool efficiently scans and discovers all exposed areas and other security loopholes for all platforms, including Windows, Linux, and Mac. It can instantly identify violations, default credentials, and unused users and offer detailed remediation insights.
Features
- 75-plus Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmark compliance
- Integral patching mode for more than 500 third-party applications
- Web server hardening
- Antivirus audits
- Role-based administration
Pros
- Comprehensive coverage
- Centralized management with a single console
- Attacker-based analytics
- High-risk software audit
Cons
- Requires more customization
- Reporting features can be improved
Pricing
All three editions (Free, Professional, and Enterprise) have free trials—see the Edition Comparison Matrix for an explanation of features. For 100 workstations, the annual subscription price for the Professional edition is $695, and $1,195 for the Enterprise edition.
Intruder
Best for Attack Surface Monitoring
Intruder offers continuous vulnerability management to protect businesses from security breaches. Robust security checks using leading technology strengthen the digital infrastructure from emerging threats and vulnerabilities. Trusted by more than 2,500 companies worldwide, it is a credible tool for effective vulnerability management.
Features
- Automatically synchronized scan targets
- Effortless compliance and reporting
- Highest quality cybersecurity
- Perfect visibility for cloud systems
Pros
- Automated scans and alerts
- External perimeter monitoring
- Intelligent results
- Seamless integration
Cons
- Better reporting with more details
- Longer time for scanning unauthenticated websites
Pricing
Intruder offers a 14-day free trial for its Pro plan. It also offers Essential and Premium plans—see the comparison table for a detailed breakdown of features.
Key Features of Vulnerability Management Tools
Vulnerability management involves different stages, from assessing vulnerabilities and prioritizing them to decide upon actions to reassessing the vulnerability list and making adjustments. The continuous process demands proactive monitoring with advanced technology. Here are some of the top features of vulnerability management tools:
Vulnerability Scanning
Regular inspection of potential network exploit points can identify and address vulnerabilities. Vulnerability scanning helps identify security holes and close any gaps before they affect the business. Vulnerability scans can take different formats, such as intrusive and non-intrusive, external, internal, and environmental, limited or comprehensive, and more. Strong vulnerability scanning is essential to any vulnerability management tool, as it can highlight areas that need attention.
Attack Surface Visualization
Cloud assets, hardware systems, and software applications can be potential entry points for threats. To understand vulnerability concentrations and respond to emerging threats, the attack surface needs continuous monitoring to identify any weaknesses, high-risk data flows, or other security breaches. Vulnerability management tools can help with attack surface visualization, offering deeper insights for analysis and remediation with a structured approach.
Automated Scans and Alerting
A critical aspect of vulnerability management is the timely identification of weaknesses in the system configuration. With prompt information and continuous monitoring, it becomes easier to reduce threat risks. But it is impractical to manually scan vast and complex IT infrastructure to check organizational vulnerabilities. Automated scans and alerting can consistently scan all assets and offer real-time information about potential risks. There is also scope for customized alerts to streamline incident response, saving time, effort, and resources.
Remediating Reports
Remediating reports offers actionable insights to effectively and immediately address vulnerabilities. They can also help allocate resources optimally for the maximized impact of remediation efforts. These reports provide complete visibility with real-time tracking and facilitate communication between the concerned teams for a coordinated response, ensuring a robust security posture for the business with systematic identification of vulnerabilities, prioritization based on impact, and mitigation.
Advanced Authentication Functionality
As vulnerability management tools handle the organizational infrastructure and assets, they contain critical security information. Any unauthorized access to these tools can compromise overall business security. Vulnerability management tools must have advanced authentication mechanisms for enhanced user accountability. Implementing proper authentication measures can prevent unauthorized access attempts and data breaches. It can also track potential insider threats and credentials misuse. Vulnerability management tools must also adhere to standard compliance frameworks and regulations for enhanced security.
How to Choose the Best Vulnerability Management Tool
When it comes to selecting vulnerability management tools for businesses, the choice comes down to price, features, and use case. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing infrastructure, consider the potential for scalability in the future, and identify key business requirements.
By selecting the best tool that aligns with your organizational goals, you can ensure optimum security for your business.
Learn more: 5 Top Vulnerability Management Case Studies
How We Evaluated Vulnerability Management Tools
We scored vulnerability management tools on four specific criteria: price, advanced features, ease of use, and support. Based on these criteria, here are the scores.
| Tools | Pricing | Advanced Offerings | Ease of Use | Support | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualys VMDR | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 14.5/20 |
| Tenable Vulnerability Management | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3.5/5 | 16.5/20 |
| TripWire | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 13/20 |
| ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 18/20 |
| Intruder | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 17.5/20 |
Bottom Line: Top Vulnerability Management Tools
Keeping the digital world secure is paramount for enterprise security. Effective vulnerability management can identify and address any existing weaknesses before they escalate into bigger problems.
Invest in reliable vulnerability management tools today to protect your business and its assets. Don’t wait until it’s too late–take action now and ensure the security and growth of your enterprise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are vulnerability management tools necessary for businesses?
Modern business platforms require large-scale exposure for increased reach. But it also increases the chances of cyber threats. Cyber criminals use sophisticated technologies, and even a minor weakness can be exploited.
Vulnerability management tools can help businesses with:
- Continuous monitoring
- Proactive security approach
- Data protection and security
- Detailed threat analysis
- Incident response
Can vulnerability management tools be customized?
Business requirements vary. Vulnerability management tools can be customized to help meet specific requirements. Some common customization options offered are:
- Reporting and dashboard features
- Scanning and assessment policies
- Notification management
- Incident response planning
- Configured escalation procedures
Are vulnerability management tools scalable?
Vulnerability management solutions are tailored to different business sizes, but an organization’s needs may change over time. These solutions are typically scalable and capable of effectively handling expanding business architectures.
