Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs Tenable Vulnerability Management comparison

Qualys and Tenable are both solutions in the Vulnerability Management category. Qualys is ranked #8 with an average rating of 9.2, while Tenable is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.2. Qualys holds a 1.1% mindshare in VM, compared to Tenable’s 5.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Qualys users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Tenable users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 27, 2025

Tenable Vulnerability Management and Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management are leading solutions in cybersecurity asset management. Qualys often has the upper hand due to its comprehensive features and holistic integration, while Tenable is valued for its adaptability and tool integration in diverse environments.

Features: Qualys offers asset categorization, dynamic tagging, and integrated modules, providing a one-stop solution that minimizes manual tasks. Tenable is known for its extensive scanning capabilities and real-time monitoring, appealing to users who need comprehensive asset coverage across various infrastructures with intuitive audit processes.

Room for Improvement: Tenable could enhance its dashboard customization and reporting efficiency, with smaller enterprises finding its complexity a challenge and asking for a more intuitive interface and broader integration options. Qualys might improve custom tagging flexibility and reporting, with some users experiencing inefficiencies in software discovery and categorization. There's a call for simpler UI and better support for non-IT assets.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys facilitates flexible deployments across hybrid and on-premises environments, while Tenable excels with cloud deployments. Both provide technical support, but Qualys is preferred for quicker response times and easier escalation, whereas Tenable is noted for longer support times and quality concerns.

Pricing and ROI: Both Tenable and Qualys are considered premium-priced, but their capabilities justify the cost for larger organizations. Qualys is praised for transparent pricing and added value across modules, potentially offering more cost efficiency for mid to large enterprises. Tenable’s strength lies in integration and scanning, yet it may seem expensive upfront. Both solutions have shown ROI through effective risk mitigation, with Qualys’ bundled offerings potentially lowering total cost of ownership.

To learn more, read our detailed Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs. Tenable Vulnerability Management Report (Updated: August 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs. Tenable Vulnerability Management

August 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Zafran Security

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Vulnerability Management category, the mindshare of Zafran Security is 0.9%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management is 1.1%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Tenable Vulnerability Management is 5.2%, down from 9.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management

Featured Reviews

Israel Cavazos Landini

Associate Director IT Security Operations at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

Weekly insights and risk analysis facilitate informed security decisions

I appreciate the weekly insights Zafran provides, which include critical topics for networks and IT security, allowing us to evaluate which insights apply to our environment. The organization score feature is valuable to keep the leadership team updated on how our infrastructure fares security-wise. The applicable risk level versus base risk level feature is beneficial because prior to Zafran, we only used the base risk level, but now understand that risk depends on the asset itself. Zafran is an excellent tool.

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Scott Frederick

Director of Vulnerability Management at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Well-integrated with our vulnerability scanning utilities and efficient in asset tagging and identification

Our favorite features are the tagging and the ability to quickly find assets in the portal. Additionally, I do like the fact that Qualys CSAM is integrated with the rest of our vulnerability scanning utilities. We use the full suite from Qualys. The fact that it is integrated makes it very easy to understand. It shares tagging information with VMDR. That is very nice. Qualys CSAM has discovered assets not previously covered by our vulnerability management program. Primarily, if we have assets without vulnerabilities, they become less visible, but Qualys CSAM alerts us to them because they have IP addresses and are attached to our network. It could discover everything from printers to servers to endpoints. It could discover UPSs, network devices, and across all operating systems. It discovers our security badge readers and digital signage. We have to feed that the IP address ranges, but beyond that, it finds everything in our internal network. We were able to realize its benefits within the first quarter of installing it. We did have to take some time to learn it and understand how to operationally leverage what it was telling us, but it was very quick. In addition to vulnerabilities, Qualys CSAM helps identify other risk factors to a degree. For instance, we can see if servers or assets have incorrect naming standards. We have our network segmented into development model, test, and production, and we have server naming standards that identify which management they should be in. If a production server has the naming standard of a development model server, we can find that. That is one area we have used it for. We are not fully using TruRisk, but we are using the Qualys detection score that is central to our corporate risk prioritization approach. It has completely replaced our homegrown one.

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Mani Bommisetty

Infrastructure patching Manager at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Streamlines vulnerability management with excellent reporting and potential AI integration

Tenable is user-friendly and excels in reporting. It allows me to easily fetch and schedule reports. The software's discovery feature aids in strengthening our security posture. The single-sensor installation process on various operating systems is smooth, unlike Rapid7, which requires different versions for separate systems. Furthermore, Tenable enables vulnerability management through potential AI integration that consolidates efforts and resolves multiple vulnerabilities simultaneously.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Overall, we have seen about eighty-seven percent reduction of the number of vulnerabilities that require urgency to remediate, specifically the number of criticals."

"Zafran is an excellent tool."

"Zafran has become an indispensable tool in our cybersecurity arsenal."

"We are able to see the real risk of a vulnerability on our environment with our security tools."

"We saw benefits from Zafran Security almost immediately after deploying it."

"When you implement a dynamic tag using a query, you do not need to manually tag all the servers. It categorizes all the servers that come under that query. The tagging part is automatically done within a few minutes. It reduces the effort."

"Tags are very useful for us since we can tag virus applications in infrastructure types such as databases, operating systems, or web platforms."

"Authorized and unauthorized software visibility is the best feature for me. It helps me understand security controls on our network and where we lack visibility. With a single security tool, we are able to get an extensive list."

"I appreciate the feature that simplifies cloud security posture, offering insights into vulnerabilities, and reducing the complexity of managing the security program."

"Qualys CSAM helps find all the assets. It categorizes information based on various criteria such as host and tenant version. It provides in-depth visibility into both hardware and software."

"Qualys CSAM is valuable for providing end-of-life and end-of-sale information. It gives me visibility into the number of products or hardware items that are end-of-life."

"Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management offers comprehensive features to cover our entire attack surface."

"Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management offers valuable features such as continuous vendor support, rapid response times, dedicated vendor partnerships, and advanced technical capabilities for risk identification."

More Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management pros

"The most valuable feature for me is container scanning because I am interested in CICD security."

"It helps us create remediation projects and assign the console’s responsibility to specific engineers."

"The vulnerability management itself is the most valuable feature as well as references to the mitigation techniques."

"One of the most valuable features of Tenable.io Vulnerability Management is its exportability, which allows us to conduct risk assessments efficiently."

"It is easy to manage. Most of the information the tool provided helped to further investigate the vulnerability and its impact."

"It has greatly impacted us by providing asset visibility."

"A new user can easily understand the workflow, even if they are creating users for other divisions and the user is a beginner."

"The initial setup is mostly straightforward."

More Tenable Vulnerability Management pros

Cons

"I think the ability to have some enhanced reporting capabilities is something they can improve on, as they have good reports but we have asked for some specific reporting enhancements."

"Initially, we were somewhat concerned about the scalability of Zafran due to our large asset count and the substantial amount of information we needed to process."

"The dashboarding and reporting functionality of Zafran Security is an area that definitely could use some improvements."

"Currently, in the EASM module, the scan frequency is limited to once daily, but allowing end users control over scan scheduling would be advantageous."

"The UI needs improvement as it can become overwhelming after prolonged use."

"Some areas that would be helpful are more comprehensive tagging and the ability to set up better dynamic rules."

"In my opinion, the area that needs improvement is the role-based access control (RBAC). The access privilege management needs to be more robust and streamlined to enhance user access management."

"The deployment is somewhat complicated and could be made more user-friendly for most users."

"Further research and development are needed to enhance integration with other cloud agents and products, particularly improving communication with external products and vendors."

"Qualys CSAM is not super responsive, and there can be delays sometimes, especially with the network passive sensor. You might see duplicate objects which eventually disappear but it takes time. If that can be done faster, it will be great."

"The only minor issue is occasionally being redirected to multiple teams, causing slight delays."

More Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management cons

"It's not a user-friendly tool since it has a complicated interface."

"The pricing of the solution could be more reasonable."

"The only drawback of the solution is that it is expensive."

"The solution’s pricing could be improved."

"The initial setup is complex and has room for improvement."

"They've been able to think about everything in terms of where the world is going and the type of assets that you've got. They've everything sorted out in that aspect, but you have to pay for most of the other components that they've got to give you complete visibility across your tech surface. If it already had those capabilities in-built, without having to add them on to take advantage of them, it would be a very compelling value proposition."

"I don't recommend Tenable.io Vulnerability Management for web scanning"

"The tool's reports are bad. They're not very customizable or flexible. During audits, we often have to exclude things that aren't relevant to our organization, but we can't do that easily with the reports. They come in HTML or PDF format, and we can't compare current results with previous ones in Excel because we never receive reports in Excel."

More Tenable Vulnerability Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"Qualys is competitively priced for its features. Its pricing is suitable for large organizations with more than 4,000 assets, but for smaller organizations with few assets, such as banks, the costs might be high. They should come up with packages that are suitable for small organizations."

"The pricing is market-competitive."

"Though the solution is considered expensive, if bundled with other services such as VMDR or cloud agents, its value would significantly increase. It is currently a bit costly, but with bundling, it could become attractive to more customers."

"The cost for Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management is high."

"The Qualys Cybersecurity Asset Management pricing is well-aligned with our usage."

"Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management can be expensive, especially if we already have VMDR."

"The pricing for Qualys CSAM is nominal."

"The pricing for Qualys Cybersecurity Asset Management is reasonable, with an annual subscription costing around $1,000 per year or a monthly subscription starting at approximately $72 per month, depending on the specific package and features included."

More Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management pricing and cost advice

"The tool is reasonably priced."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is low, and ten is high price, I rate the pricing an eight. So, it is a pretty expensive solution."

"There are additional features that can be licensed for an additional cost."

"The solution is not too expensive."

"A yearly payment has to be made toward the solution's licensing costs."

"Tenable.io is not known for being a cheap product."

"Tenable.io Vulnerability Management's pricing solution model isn't great."

"Tenable charges around $40 per device."

More Tenable Vulnerability Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zafran Security?

Since we stood Zafran Security up in our private cloud, we handle the maintenance on our side. As we opted not to use...

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What needs improvement with Zafran Security?

In terms of areas for improvement, Zafran Security is doing a really great job as a new and emerging company. Oftenti...

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What is your primary use case for Zafran Security?

My use cases for Zafran Security revolve around two primary areas. One is around vulnerability management and priorit...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

The pricing is reasonable relative to the features provided, as it collects all module data and operates as a main, c...

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What needs improvement with Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management helps us prioritize assets according to operating system, kernel version, insta...

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What is your primary use case for Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

We are using Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management for daily activities such as identifying new assets through networ...

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What's the difference between Tenable Nessus and Tenable.io Vulnerability Management?

Tenable Nessus is a vulnerability assessment solution that is both easy to deploy and easy to manage. The design of ...

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What do you like most about Tenable.io Vulnerability Management?

The tool has an easy-to-use interface.

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What needs improvement with Tenable.io Vulnerability Management?

I don't think I have any additional features to add for improvement, as Tenable Vulnerability Management does a prett...

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Tenable Nessus vs Tenable Vulnerability Management

Compared 16% of the time

Amazon Inspector vs Tenable Vulnerability Management

Compared 8% of the time

Tenable Security Center vs Tenable Vulnerability Management

Compared 7% of the time

Qualys VMDR vs Tenable Vulnerability Management

Compared 5% of the time

Rapid7 InsightVM vs Tenable Vulnerability Management

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Zafran Security

July 2025

Download Zafran Security product report

Buyer's Guide

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management

August 2025

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management report

Download Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management product report

Buyer's Guide

Tenable Vulnerability Management

July 2025

Download Tenable Vulnerability Management product report

Also Known As

No data available

Tenable.io

Overview

Zafran Security integrates with existing security tools to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities effectively, proving that most critical vulnerabilities are not exploitable, optimizing threat management.

Zafran Security introduces an innovative operating model for managing security threats and vulnerabilities. By leveraging the threat exposure management platform, it pinpoints and prioritizes exploitable vulnerabilities, reducing risk through immediate remediation. This platform enhances your hybrid cloud security by normalizing vulnerability signals and integrating specific IT context data, such as CVE runtime presence and internet asset reachability, into its analysis. No longer reliant on patch windows, Zafran Security allows you to manage risks actively.

What are the key features of Zafran Security?

Threat Exposure Management: Utilizes existing tools to prioritize vulnerabilities and manage threats.
Integrative Analysis: Combines security data with IT context for precise vulnerability management.
Real-time Risk Reduction: Enables immediate risk management without waiting for patches.
Hybrid Cloud Compatibility: Functions across diverse cloud environments for comprehensive security.

What benefits can users expect from Zafran Security?

Improved Security: Enhances protection by efficiently identifying and mitigating risks.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces unnecessary patching expenses by confirming non-exploitable vulnerabilities.
Time Savings: Frees developers to focus on root causes by handling immediate threats.
Comprehensive Insight: Offers a holistic view of security threats and vulnerabilities.

In industries where security is paramount, such as finance and healthcare, Zafran Security provides invaluable protection by ensuring that only exploitable vulnerabilities are addressed. It allows entities to maintain robust security measures while allocating resources efficiently, fitting seamlessly into existing security strategies.

Zafran Security

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management provides advanced real-time asset visibility, dynamic tagging, and External Attack Surface Management. It streamlines asset discovery and management using cloud agents and IP-based scanning, enhancing risk management and software lifecycle tracking.

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management offers a comprehensive solution for managing asset inventories and tracking software lifecycle states. It facilitates network visibility and supports zero-day vulnerability solutions, enhancing security posture through efficient monitoring. Users benefit from its cloud-based interface, which provides in-depth asset configurations and insights. Key features include automated vulnerability scanning and unauthorized software management, reducing manual efforts. The platform also emphasizes the importance of timely remediation and ongoing risk mitigation across multiple environments. Despite its strengths, users note the need for enhanced integration with additional CMDBs beyond ServiceNow, as well as cost efficiency improvements. Requests also include better report customization, more scan control, and a simplified UI.

What are the key features of Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

Real-time Visibility: Offers continuous insight into asset status and condition.
Dynamic Tagging: Allows for flexible organization and assessment of assets.
External Attack Surface Management: Identifies potential threats from external sources.
Automated Vulnerability Scanning: Reduces manual scanning efforts and identifies vulnerabilities instantly.
Unauthorized Software Management: Detects and manages software not approved for use.
Asset Purge Rule: Automates the removal of obsolete assets from the inventory.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Enhanced Security Posture: Gains stronger defense through effective asset monitoring.
Efficient Risk Management: Identifies threats quickly, enabling timely resolutions.
Improved Compliance: Assists in meeting industry standards and regulations.
Reduced Manual Effort: Automates repetitive tasks, saving time and resources.
Comprehensive Insight: Provides detailed data for informed decision making.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management enhances asset control by offering visibility into hardware and software configurations. It aids in maintaining security compliance and identifying unauthorized software, crucial for sectors with strict regulatory requirements.

Qualys

Managed in the cloud and powered by Tenable Nessus, Tenable Vulnerability Management (formerly Tenable.io) provides the industry's most comprehensive vulnerability coverage with real-time continuous assessment of your organization. Built-in prioritization, threat intelligence and real-time insight help you understand your exposures and proactively prioritize remediations.

Tenable

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Global Payments AU/NZ

Buyer's Guide

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs. Tenable Vulnerability Management

August 2025

Free Report: Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs. Tenable Vulnerability Management

Find out what your peers are saying about Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs. Tenable Vulnerability Management and other solutions. Updated: August 2025.

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