EDR solutions ensure an organization's endpoints are running properly by monitoring and troubleshooting tech on the network. Compare the top tools now.
EDR solutions ensure an organization's endpoints are running properly by monitoring and troubleshooting tech on the network. Compare the top tools now.
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Vulnerability scanning (vulscan) tools scan assets to identify missing patches, misconfigurations, exposed application vulnerabilities, and network security issues to be remediated. The top vulscan tools provide actionable lists of vulnerabilities and the context to understand their significance, such as the type of vulnerability and its severity, bolstering your overall security posture. To help you select the best-fitting vulnerability scanning solution, we’ve evaluated the top options and their use cases.
The seven top vulscan tools to consider are:
Tenable: Best overall vulnerability scanner and enterprise vulscan option
Invicti: Best for comprehensive website and application (webapp) scans
StackHawk: Best entry-level webapp scanner for small DevOps teams
Nmap: Best open-source tool for free IT infrastructure and port scanning
ConnectSecure: Best basic infrastructure scanning for service providers
Wiz: Best specialist tool for clouds, containers, and infrastructure as code
Featured Partners: Vulnerability Management Software
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Tenable builds on the popular Nessus vulnerability scanning tool to deliver integrated enterprise-scale vulnerability detection that evaluates 47,000 unique IT, IoT, OT, operating systems, and applications. It provides consolidated capabilities for network security and website and application (web app) vulnerability scanning, backed by proprietary research that discovers zero-day vulnerabilities and powers its proprietary threat intelligence feed.
Pros
One tool to scan both IT infrastructure as well as websites and applications
Executive dashboards and powerful filtering to dig into findings
Internally developed threat intelligence provides warning for 0-day vulns
Cons
Requires multiple licenses to obtain full capabilities for scanning
Some users complain of false negatives and limited API integration
Unsuitable for entry-level needs due to steep learning curve and limited free scans
Tenable provides their products based on annual subscriptions with multi-year discounts. They offer Nessus network vulnerability in three versions and a separate license for web application scanning.
Tenable Web App Scanning: Starts at $6,300 per year for five domains
Nessus Essential: Free, but only scans 16 IP addresses and doesn’t include compliance checks, content audits, or technical support
Nessus Professional: Starts at $3,990 per year for unlimited IT and configuration assessments and has options for advanced support and on-demand training
Nessus Expert: Starts at $5,990 per year and builds off of Nessus Professional to add external attack surface discovery, infrastructure as code (IaC) scanning, and more
Tenable provides their products based on annual subscriptions with multi-year discounts. They offer Nessus network vulnerability in three versions and a separate license for web application scanning.
Preconfigured templates to enable quick starts
Automatic full scans trigger with all new vulnerabilities added
Continuous scans check vulnerabilities and compliance configurations
Multi-tenant options and customizable templates for IT service providers
Automated alerts for Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) tools
Invicti delivers the most comprehensive array of website and application vulnerability scans and reduces wasted time with the fewest false positives in the industry. The robust scanner offers automated on-premises or SaaS-hosted scanning that integrates with standard development pipeline tools for efficient workflows. Invicti, formerly known as Netsparker, remains the industry leader in both the diversity of web app scans and the quality of the results.
Pros
Detects misconfigured configuration files
Actively reduces false positives and provides proof of exploit
Integrates with pipeline tools and issue trackers (Jenkins, Jira, GitHub, etc.)
Cons
Users complain of a steep learning curve
Customers complain about ineffective multi-factor authentication testing
Users notice slowness in the scans on larger web applications
Invicti doesn’t publish pricing information but bases licenses upon the number of user seats and scanned websites. The three levels of licensing include:
Standard: Provides on-premises installation of a desktop scanner for one user
Team License: Provides ongoing multi-user access and provides capabilities for built-in workflow tools, PCI compliance, and asset discovery
Enterprise: Licenses provide access to hosted and on-premises deployments as well as custom workflows and dedicated tech support
Automated and continuous scans to update website, application, and API inventories
DAST, IAST, and SCA options for dynamic (DAST) and interactive application security testing (IAST), as well as Software Composition Analysis (SCA) testing
Crawls dynamic-input pages and complex paths authenticated by form submission, OAuth2, NTLM/Kerberos, multi-level forms, password-protected areas, and more
Continuous updates regularly increase the capabilities of this enterprise tool
For more on the best webapp vulnerability scanning tool options, read our article comparing Invicti against AppScan, Burp Suite, and more.
StackHawk offers more limited scanning options but provides a free tier to kick-start vulnerability scanning capabilities for the needs of smaller or inexperienced DevOps teams. The highly focused DAST scanner integrates with CI/CD automation and Slack to triage findings and enable rapid correction. Teams unfamiliar with webapp scanning can gain experience, develop workflows using StackHawk’s free tier, and continue using StackHawk as they grow.
Pros
Unlimited scans for one application for the free tier enable robust entry-level capabilities
Unlimited scans on unlimited applications starting with the lowest paid tier
Continuously adds features that apply to all versions of the tool
Cons
Requires use and knowledge of Docker infrastructure
Only provides email-based support for the free version
Requires a paid license for more than one application
Stack Hawk offers four licensing levels, which can be billed monthly. Customers can also receive discounts for annual billing.
Free Tier: Enables DAST scanning for one application, automatable in CI/CD
Pro Tier: Costs $42 per developer per month (minimum of five) with unlimited scanning, expanded integrations, custom test data, and either email or Slack customer support
Enterprise Tier: Costs $59 per developer per month and adds single sign-on, role-based permissions, API access for scan results, dedicated Slack support, and an option for premiere Zoom support
Custom pricing: With volume discounts available for large development teams
DevSecOps integration for CI/CD, GitHub, and Slack to improve speed for remediation
API support for REST, GraphQL, and SOAP integration and API security testing
Custom scan discovery allows more advanced scanning options
cURL-based reproduction criteria to reproduce alerted vulnerabilities for analysis
Articles on the best webapp vulnerability and entry-level vulnerability scanning tools suitable for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) cover StackHawk more deeply. These articles compare StackHawk against Dastardly, Detectify, Zap, and more.
Nmap – Best Open-Source IT Infrastructure & Port Scanner
Nmap incorporates pre-configured vulnerability scanning scripts to methodically scan open ports on each IP address in a target range for potential misconfigurations and vulnerabilities. As an open-source tool, it provides a quick, free, and lightweight network security solution that can be easily incorporated into other automated deployment and scanning scripts. The favorite tool for ethical and malicious hackers, Nmap provides a glimpse of what vulnerabilities an attacker might see.
Pros
Free, open-source tool with a large user base and active community support
Quickly scans open ports on a system and determines available TCP/UDP services
Interrogates ports to determine running protocols, applications, and version numbers
Cons
No formal support for customers
Requires some expertise in IT knowledge and programming to use effectively
Requires programming to integrate results into ticketing platforms or management tools
Nmap is an open-source tool that is free to end users and requires only a license when incorporated into commercial tools.
Quick host discovery to determine available IP addresses and open ports on a network
Uses TCP/IP stack characteristics to guess device operating systems
500+ developed scripts for enhanced network discovery and vulnerability assessment
Custom Nmap scripts provide powerful automation and integration capabilities
ConnectSecure is a vulnerability scanner that managed IT service providers (MSPs) and managed IT security service providers (MSSPs) select because of its flat-rate pricing, multi-tenant capabilities, and dedication to distribution through partners. It scans for vulnerabilities and compliance issues for endpoints (Windows, MacOS, Linux), servers, network equipment, printers, and mobile devices (through Mobile Device Management integration).
Pros
Excellent coverage of the expected devices for most simple IT environments (endpoints, servers, and basic network equipment)
Customizable reports enable provider or customer-branded reports
Options for basic ticket generation or vulnerability management, such as applying patches or prioritizing vulnerabilities
Cons
It may not be suitable for more complex needs and environments that must scan complex cloud environments, containers, IoT, etc
Requires an agent to be deployed for most functions
Additional vulnerability management and other capabilities may increase the complexity of deployment and configuration
ConnectSecure offers a 14-day free trial and four tiers of flat-rate pricing:
Up to 1,500 Devices: $299 per month
1,501 to 2,500 devices: $399 per month
2,501 to 5,000 devices: $599 per month
5,001 to 7,500 devices: $899 per month
7,501 to 10,000 devices: $1199 per month
More than 10,000 devices: Contact for a quote
Multi-tenant capabilities with prioritized multi-client reporting and role-based customized reports with white-label options
Visual client dashboards provide easy-to-understand, customizable, and non-technical automated reports for clients
Robust integration options with popular ticketing systems (ConnectWise, SyncroMSP, etc.) and communication tools (email, Slack, Microsoft Teams)
Robust asset and threat management options for asset discovery, patch deployment, compliance management, and prioritization of threats and vulnerabilities
Thanks to free trials and a free tier, ManageEngine’s Vulnerability Manager Plus helps small IT teams start scanning endpoint devices and web servers for vulnerabilities with minimal investment. Integration with other ManageEngine tools enables future expansion as an organization’s sophistication and capabilities grow. The free tier allows the smallest teams to develop a vulnerability scanning and management program with assurance of support for future growth.
Pros
Combines vulnerability assessment, compliance, patch management, and system security configuration into one tool
Entry-level-friendly with easy setup, low cost, and coverage of everyday IT needs
Open port detection for all IT assets
Cons
Doesn’t offer extensive integration options for 3rd party ticketing or vulnerability management tools
Doesn’t support automatic deployment to the cloud or scan containers, IoT, or webapps
Immediate patch deployment may be limited
ManageEngine offers three editions of Vulnerability Manager Plus, all licensed annually for a single technician and with free trials available for the paid tiers. The scanning of network devices may require additional licenses.
Vulnerability Manager Plus Free: Permits scans for up to 20 workstations and five servers
Vulnerability Manager Plus Professional: Starts at $695 to scan up to 100 workstations
Vulnerability Manager Plus Enterprise: Starts at $1,195 for 100 workstations and adds audit compliance, patch management, remote shutdown scheduling, and more
Operating system and third-party software scans detect end-of-life software, peer-to-peer software, as well as unpatched vulnerabilities
Detects setup vulnerabilities with scans for default credentials, firewall misconfigurations, open shares, and user privilege issues
Basic web server vulnerability scanning for unused web pages, misconfigured HTTP headers/options, expired certificates, and more
Read our article on the best entry-level vulnerability scanning tools suitable for small and medium businesses (SMB) to compare Vulnerability Manager Plus against Tenable Nessus Essentials and GFI Languard.
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Wiz – Best Specialist Tool for Cloud & Container Scanning
Wiz provides specialized vulnerability scanning for multi-cloud, Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Kubernetes containers, and other cloud infrastructure without affecting business operations or stealing resources from active workloads and processes. It natively connects to virtualized resources to provide hyper-focused vulnerability detection for the newest classes of IT assets.
Pros
Agentless scanning does not consume container or virtual machine resources
Cloud native solution for cloud infrastructure
Scans integrate directly into CI/CD workflows for efficient DevSecOps performance
Cons
Users report setup can be cumbersome and tedious
Integrations can be difficult or incomplete
Actions must be established for each project for scanning – they can’t be cloned
Wiz doesn’t publicly list pricing but does offer custom pricing quotes based on the number of billable cloud workloads running in an environment. The AWS marketplace lists starting prices for 12-month Cloud Infrastructure Security Platform contracts as $24,000 for Wiz Essentials and $38,000 for Wiz Advanced with cloud detection, response, and other capabilities.
Native cloud connections to AWS, Azure, Google, Oracle, and Alibaba
Kubernetes built-in support on multiple platforms
Infrastructure-as-code scanning and cloud infrastructure entitlement management
Incorporates zero-day vulnerabilities discovered by the Wiz research team
This list of the top vulnerability scanners draws from research on the top solutions for the significant vulnerability scanning categories. Buyers searching for vulnerability scanning tools primarily seek standalone solutions that can be installed or integrated with existing security stacks and IT ticket processes.
Therefore, inclusion criteria focus primarily on stand-alone vulnerability scanning tools, although some entry-level vulnerability management tools were considered and evaluated based exclusively on their vulnerability scanning capabilities. The criteria exclude solutions incorporating vulnerability scanning features into other tools such as penetration testing, asset management, patch management, etc.
To select the best options from the remaining tools, we considered the key criteria relevant to the buying decision: scanned assets, user skill, price and licensing, scanning capabilities, integrations, and customer support.
Scanned Assets
The types of assets a vulscan tool scans provided the first criteria for segregating the tools. After all, direct comparisons between webapp and network scanners often fail because of the phenomenal differences between the scans. We segregated the tools into comparison sets based on website and application, IT infrastructure, and specialty scanning needs (IoT, cloud, container, etc.).
User Skill
User skill, sophistication, and resources became the next considerations for comparison. For example, the sophisticated needs of an international bank (enterprise) cannot be compared to the straightforward and streamlined needs of a small high school (entry-level or SMB). Additionally, we considered the specialized needs of managed service providers for multi-tenancy, customized reports, etc.
Price & Licensing
Price remains a key consideration for all buying decisions. When comparing products, we considered the price-to-features ratio, pricing transparency, availability of details for required and optional licenses, annual or volume discounts, and availability of free trials.
Scanning Capabilities
We evaluated all tools on their core scanning features, vulnerability source quality, and false positive information. We evaluated infrastructure scanners based on support to scan various devices in the modern environment, including IoT, network equipment, and containers. We compared webapp scanners based on scan type (DAST, IAST, etc.), CI/CD integration, API scans, and support for web forms, passwords, and dependencies.
Integrations
Vulnerability scanning tools must integrate with the existing process for ready adoption and deployment. For integration concerns, we considered ease of installation, administration, deployment options (SaaS, on-site, docker container, etc.), automation, and exporting vulnerabilities to existing IT ticketing systems or security incident and event management (SIEM) solutions.
Customer Support
Everyone needs help at some point, so for customer support, we considered hours of availability, diverse contact options (phone, Slack, etc.), and options for premium support. We also included support for sales channel partners under this category to consider the needs of various service providers and resellers.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why Are There So Many Types of Vulnerability Scanning Tools?
The first vulnerability scanners tested local network devices, and those needs remain. However, the expanding scope of IT assets drives the development of specialty vendors focusing on specific assets and enterprise vendors adding new features to their already-complicated tools.
Meanwhile, the universal need for vulnerability management leads to incorporating vulnerability scanning capabilities in other tools (penetration testing, endpoint security, etc.) or adding management and remediation capabilities to existing vulnerability scanners.
Is Vulnerability Scanning the Same as Patch Management?
Vulnerability scanning is not the same as patch management. Patches will correct some vulnerabilities, but others stem from misconfiguration or deliberate selection of dangerous options in firewalls, security tool settings, or writing software. Vulnerability scanning needs to be performed separately, but it can be used to confirm patch installation.
For resource-constrained teams, many tools offer free trials that can be used to test drive capabilities. When in-house vulnerability scanning proves unmanageable, consider vulnerability-management-as-a-service (VMaaS), MSPs, or MSSPs to offload the tasks and ensure critical vulnerabilities are detected and remediated quickly.
Can You Use Multiple Vulnerability Scanning Tools?
A typical organization often uses multiple vulnerability scanning tools to test all IT assets thoroughly. The best solution may even use redundant scanning tools to compare results.
For example, you can simulate typical hacker activity using free, open-source vulnerability scanners such as Nmap. Then, you can use commercial vulnerability scanners to analyze the results further, detect false positives, and prioritize remediation.
A strong security posture depends on quickly identifying and resolving vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. Vulnerability scanners start the detection process and complete the cycle with another round of scans. The final scans confirm vulnerability elimination and generate reports to prove asset security for executives, stakeholders, and compliance auditors. Vulnerability scanners help boost network security against cyber threats by proactively detecting weaknesses.
eSecurity Planet lead writer Chad Kime covers a variety of security, compliance, and risk topics. Before joining the site, Chad studied electrical engineering at UCLA, earned an MBA from USC, managed 200+ ediscovery cases, and helped market a number of IT and cybersecurity products, then transitioned into technical writing policies and penetration test reports for MSPs and MSSPs.
eSecurity Planet is a leading resource for IT professionals at large enterprises who are actively researching cybersecurity vendors and latest trends. eSecurity Planet focuses on providing instruction for how to approach common security challenges, as well as informational deep-dives about advanced cybersecurity topics.
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