Vulnerability management software is a powerful tool that can equip businesses of all sizes to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. Businesses can protect themselves from a variety of security risks, including data breaches, malware infections, and denial-of-service attacks with vulnerability management. By automating the process of vulnerability scanning, assessment, and prioritization, these tools allow organizations to save time and money.
Vulnerability management solutions also help businesses comply with industry regulations and standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This software empowers businesses to protect their data, customers, and reputations.
Here are our recommendations for the best vulnerability management solutions in 2023:
- ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus: Best overall vulnerability management software. (Read more)
- GFI LanGuard: Best for an affordable, cloud-based solution. (Read more)
- Qualys VMDR: Best for extensive IT infrastructures. (Read more)
- Tenable Vulnerability Management: Best for managing a large number of cloud-based assets. (Read more)
- CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight: Best for endpoint-centric vulnerability management. (Read more)
- Rapid7 InsightVM: Best for scalability. (Read more)
- Acunetix: Best for web-centric environments. (Read more)
- Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management: Best for organizations with a Microsoft ecosystem. (Read more)
Featured Vulnerability Management Software
Top vulnerability management software comparison
The comparison table below shows the top vulnerability management solutions today. It presents an overview of their core features, integration capabilities, user-friendliness, and scalability:
Speed | Accuracy | Remediation automation | Third-party integration | Ease of use | Scalability | Starting price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus | Excellent | High | Above-average | Decent | Effortless | High | Free, or $695/yr for 100 devices |
GFI LanGuard | Excellent | High | Advanced | Limited | Moderate | Exceptional | Contact sales for quote |
Qualys Vulnerability Management (VMDR) | Excellent | High | Advanced | Limited | Moderate | High | Contact sales for quote |
Tenable Vulnerability Management | Moderate | Inconsistent | Advanced | Extensive | Moderate | High | $2,275/yr for 65 devices |
CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight | Excellent | Inconsistent | Advanced | Decent | Simplified | Exceptional | Contact sales for quote |
Rapid7 InsightVM | Moderate | Variable accuracy with reported false positives | Limited | Decent | Moderate | Exceptional | $6,562.50/yr for 250 assets |
Acunetix | Excellent | High | Limited | Extensive | Simplified | Exceptional | Contact sales for quote |
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management | Excellent | High | Above-average | Limited | Simplified | High | Included with Microsoft Defender |
Jump to:
- Key features of vulnerability management software
- How to choose the best vulnerability management software for your business
- How we evaluated network segmentation tools
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)s
ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus
Best overall vulnerability management software
Overall rating: 4.25/5
- Cost: 5/5
- Core features: 4.75/5
- Integrations: 3/5
- Ease of use: 5/5
- Customer support: 2.75/5
- Scalability: 3.75/5
Vulnerability Manager Plus, a multi-OS vulnerability management and compliance solution, goes beyond the capabilities of traditional vulnerability management tools. It utilizes attacker-based analytics, web server hardening, high-risk software audit, and zero-day vulnerability mitigation. This end-to-end vulnerability management tool gives comprehensive coverage, continual visibility, rigorous assessment, and integral remediation of threats and vulnerabilities, all from a single console.
No matter where their endpoints are located, whether on their local network, in a DMZ network, at a remote site, or on the go, organizations can rely on Vulnerability Manager Plus to provide their distributed workforce with secure working environments. The software is a robust tool for contemporary cybersecurity management that lets businesses take preventive measures against security risks.
Pricing
ManageEngine has three pricing options:
- Free: Up to 25 devices
- Professional: $695 per year for 100 devices
- Enterprise: $1195 per year for 100 devices
Features
- Vulnerability assessment and patch management.
- System auditing and maintenance in line with 75+ CIS benchmarks.
- Web server hardening.
- Zero-day vulnerability mitigation.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
High-risk software audit and uninstallation | Manual deployment is required for missing patches |
Native web server hardening feature | Some updates occasionally fail |
Built-in automated patch deployment | |
Advanced attacker-based analytics | |
Free version available |
GFI LanGuard
Best for an affordable, cloud-based solution
Overall rating: 3.75/5
- Cost: 4/5
- Core features: 4.5/5
- Integrations: 3.25/5
- Ease of use: 2.5/5
- Customer support: 4.25/5
- Scalability: 5/5
GFI LanGuard is a comprehensive network security solution that includes vulnerability management as one of its features. It is one of the top choices because it offers complete protection and enhances defense by managing patches, addressing vulnerabilities, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
It utilizes advanced methods to detect vulnerabilities and provides a centralized view of the network. This capability allows organizations to identify and prioritize risks, automatically apply patches, and comply with industry regulations such as PCI DSS and HIPAA.
GFI LanGuard can run in virtual environments and support both agentless and agent-based modes. Users can choose the mode that suits their needs and preferences while reducing the cost and complexity of managing physical servers.
Pricing
GFI LanGuard is licensed based on the number of nodes to be scanned. For more details on their pricing options, you can reach out to their sales team, or start a free 30-day trial.
Features
- Scans, detects, assesses, and helps rectify security vulnerabilities on the network.
- Searches for missing non-security patches, security patches, and service packs.
- In-depth reporting to uncover issues.
- Locks down the network against hackers.
- Provides a complete network security overview with minimal administration.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Supports virtual environments and cloud-based services | Costly for large networks because of its per-node pricing |
Detailed network analysis, including the configuration, apps, hardware, devices, and security status of each node | Some integrations only accessible to more expensive plans |
Automatically downloads and installs the latest patches for third-party apps or operating systems | Pricing is not transparent |
Qualys Vulnerability Management (VMDR)
Best for extensive IT infrastructures
Overall rating: 4/5
- Cost: 4/5
- Core features: 4.75/5
- Integrations: 4/5
- Ease of use: 2.5/5
- Customer support: 4.75/5
- Scalability: 3.75/5
Qualys VMDR, powered by the Qualys TruRisk Platform, combines Qualys Cloud Agent, virtual scanners, and network analysis for streamlined vulnerability management. It automates the entire process, from asset discovery to risk-based assessment and remediation, strengthening threat response.
VMDR provides visibility to prioritize vulnerabilities and assets by business risk. It integrates with configuration management databases (CMDBs), patch management systems, and IT service management (ITSM) solutions for efficient, scalable remediation.
Qualys VMDR is one of our top picks because it supports hybrid and multi-cloud environments, as well as containerized and serverless applications, allowing organizations to scan and secure their diverse and dynamic IT assets.
Pricing
Qualys VMDR has per-asset basis pricing. Contact their sales department to get a quote, or start with a free trial.
Features
- Automated vulnerability remediation prioritization with context.
- Real-time vulnerability and misconfiguration detection.
- Automated asset identification and categorization.
- Custom remediation management.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Scalable, flexible, and cost-effective as users only pay for what they use | Some features that competitors include as built-in options must be purchased separately as add-ons. |
No need to install or manage any hardware or software | Overwhelming interface |
Real-time visibility and analysis | Pricing is not transparent |
Tenable Vulnerability Management
Best for managing a large number of cloud-based assets
Overall rating: 3.75/5
- Cost: 2.75/5
- Core features: 4.25/5
- Integrations: 4.75/5
- Ease of use: 2.5/5
- Customer support: 4.75/5
- Scalability: 3.75/5
Tenable Vulnerability Management, formerly Tenable.io, is a risk-based platform that gives the ability to see all devices and traffic on a network. We’ve selected it as one of the top solutions because of its robust features, including continuous discovery and assessment, integrated prioritization, threat intelligence, real-time reporting, and cloud management. The solution delivers a holistic view of assets and vulnerabilities for precise risk assessment.
Tenable Vulnerability Management software is managed in the cloud and powered by Tenable Nessus. It offers extensive vulnerability coverage, resource-sharing flexibility, and adaptability to various regulatory and compliance requirements. The platform also supports scheduled scans, policy enforcement, scan result analysis, and cloud-based management of multiple Tenable Nessus scanners.
With this solution, security teams can efficiently obtain accurate asset and vulnerability information within dynamic environments. They can also proactively mitigate risks by understanding and prioritizing vulnerabilities.
Pricing
Tenable Vulnerability Management provides an annual subscription pricing model based on the number of assets, starting at $2,275 per year for 65 assets. A free trial is also available.
Features
- Continuous, always-on asset discovery and assessment.
- Built-in threat intelligence.
- Real-time visualization of risk and tracking of vulnerabilities, assets, and remediations.
- Fully documented API and prebuilt integrations.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Full vulnerability context, with affected asset criticality and current and future attacker activity assessment | Interface is occasionally slow and displays outdated data |
Machine learning automation for continuous analysis | Hidden filters and categories for reviewing active vulnerabilities are difficult to find |
Uses agent-based, agentless, and cloud-based scanning |
CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight
Best for endpoint-centric vulnerability management
Overall rating: 3.25/5
- Cost: 2.25/5
- Core features: 3.25/5
- Integrations: 3.25/5
- Ease of use: 3.75/5
- Customer support: 3.25/5
- Scalability: 5/5
Cloud-native CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight is an AI-powered vulnerability management platform that uses scanless vulnerability assessment technology to deliver always-on, automated vulnerability management that prioritizes risks in real time. It is a dynamic tool that works seamlessly with the rest of the Falcon platform modules and integrates harmoniously with other vulnerability management tools.
Furthermore, CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight enables security and vulnerability management teams to collaborate and respond faster to threats by using common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) alongside threat actor profiles and techniques.
Pricing
- CrowdStrike offers tier-based pricing for SMBs and large enterprises. Please contact their sales department for additional details on available plans.
Features
- Consistent vulnerability assessment using CrowdStrike’s single, lightweight Falcon agent.
- Real-time instant visibility on emerging vulnerabilities.
- Automatic risk prioritization through an advanced AI model.
- Real-time threat-based telemetry.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Cloud-based architecture, no device installation and updates required | Vulnerabilities detected are restricted to certain operating systems and middle wares |
Unified protection bridges the gap between vulnerability assessment and threat prevention | Limited report customization options |
No transparent pricing info |
Rapid7 InsightVM
Best for scalability
Overall rating: 3.25/5
- Cost: 2.75/5
- Core features: 3.5/5
- Integrations: 4.5/5
- Ease of use: 2.5/5
- Customer support: 3/5
- Scalability: 5/5
Rapid7 InsightVM evaluates and ranks risk by considering several pertinent factors, such as potential business consequences and attacker behavior. It employs a distinctive Real Risk Score ranging from 1 to 1000, which combines common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) base metrics like business impact and exploitability with exposure measures. This approach offers organizations a more detailed and current perspective on relevance.
We’ve selected InsightVM as one of the top choices because it is engineered for scalability, making it suitable for organizations of varying sizes and with diverse IT setups. By implementing appropriate architecture, planning, and integration strategies, organizations can efficiently expand their vulnerability management procedures using InsightVM.
Pricing
InsightVM is priced on a per-asset basis, on a sliding scale that provides steeper volume discounts the more assets you have. It starts at $26.25 per asset per year for a minimum of 250 assets (or a total of $6,562.50).
Features
- Lightweight endpoint agent.
- Real Risk Prioritization.
- Live dashboards.
- Integrated threat feeds.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Unified ecosystem optimizes security operations and incident response | No longer offers cloud configuration assessment, container security, and built-in automation workflows |
Correlates vulnerability data with real-time endpoint telemetry | High number of false positives as per user feedback |
Live dashboards streamline real-time detection | |
Customizable reporting options |
Acunetix
Best for web-centric environments
Overall rating: 3.75/5
- Cost: 3/5
- Core features: 3.5/5
- Integrations: 4/5
- Ease of use: 3.75/5
- Customer support: 3/5
- Scalability: 5/5
Acunetix is a powerful web vulnerability scanning and management software that improves the security of business web applications and websites. It uses a web crawler to systematically examine website pages for security weaknesses, such as SQL injection (SQLi) and cross-site scripting (XSS).
The software then generates detailed reports that outline the identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and guides on how to resolve them. This enables businesses to prioritize and address critical issues promptly, safeguarding their digital assets.
The software is also scalable and flexible. It lets businesses tailor scans to their specific requirements. Acunetix integrates seamlessly with other tools and platforms and simplifies complex web application management.
Moreover, it assists businesses in complying with various security standards and regulations, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR. Acunetix proves adaptable to businesses of diverse sizes and industries, helping them increase their web security posture.
Pricing
Acunetix offers three pricing plans: Standard, Premium, and Acunetix 360, but they don’t reveal rates for any of them. Contact their sales team for pricing details.
Features
- Automated vulnerability scanning of web applications and websites.
- Automated crawling and discovery.
- Vulnerability assessment and risk ratings.
- Remediation guidance.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Detects over 7,000 vulnerabilities, including weak passwords, misconfigurations, and exposed databases | Designed for web application security scanning and may not perform comprehensive coverage of all types of assets |
Easy-to-use intelligent crawling | Resource intensive |
Flexible API | No transparent pricing |
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management
Best for organizations with a Microsoft ecosystem
Overall rating: 4/5
- Cost: 4/5
- Core features: 4.5/5
- Integrations: 3.25/5
- Ease of use: 3.75/5
- Customer support: 5/5
- Scalability: 3.75/5
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management is a cybersecurity solution that minimizes security threats by adopting a risk-based approach to managing vulnerabilities. This tool can discover risks across various endpoints (both managed and unmanaged), cloud workloads, servers, containers, and network devices. It does this using built-in and agentless scanners. Additionally, it offers real-time visibility into an organization’s software applications, digital certificates, hardware and firmware, and browser extensions.
To prioritize vulnerabilities, Defender Vulnerability Management leverages Microsoft’s threat intelligence, breach likelihood predictions, business context, and device assessments. It swiftly identifies the most significant vulnerabilities on the most important assets and provides security recommendations for risk mitigation. It also comes with built-in workflows and the ability to block certain applications.
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management supports various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and network devices. Regular updates bring new features and capabilities to boost its effectiveness.
Pricing
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management’s core capabilities are included in some Microsoft Defender plans. Premium capabilities can be purchased as an add-on starting at $2.00 per user per month.t. Contact the Microsoft sales team for more pricing information.
Features
- Continuous asset discovery and monitoring.
- Risk-based intelligent prioritization.
- Advanced vulnerability and configuration assessment tools.
- Vulnerability assessments across cloud workloads.
- Security baselines assessment.
- Browser extensions assessment.
Pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Blocks vulnerable applications | Limited support for third party integrations |
Vulnerability and misconfiguration assessments, software inventories, and usage insights | Complex setup |
Both agent-based and agentless scanning options |
Key features of vulnerability management software
Vulnerability management software plays a crucial role in empowering organizations to identify, prioritize, and remediate security vulnerabilities in their systems and networks. To function efficiently, it should have features for vulnerability scanning, risk prioritization, remediation workflow, alerting and notifications, and compliance.
Vulnerability scanning
Vulnerability scanning is used to investigate software, hardware, and network devices for known vulnerabilities. It is essential for maintaining the security of computer systems by actively checking assets for known vulnerabilities.
A good vulnerability management software should support various scanning methods, including authenticated scans with proper credentials and unauthenticated scans. Regular scans of the network and its assets are critical to prevent attacks and ensure overall security.
Risk prioritization
Risk prioritization feature lets organizations allocate resources wisely and refine their security posture by mitigating potential risks. A reliable vulnerability management software prioritizes vulnerabilities by assessing their risk based on factors like CVSS scores, asset criticality, and potential business impact.
Alerting and notifications
The capability to establish alerts and notifications for newly discovered vulnerabilities or changes in status is pivotal within a vulnerability management tool, as it heightens awareness of the vulnerability landscape and potential risks to the organization. These tools also allow for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of vulnerability management activities and performance in real time.
Remediation workflow
Vulnerability management software should feature a streamlined remediation workflow that assigns tasks, tracks progress, and verifies vulnerability resolution. This systematic approach, involving the discovery, prioritization, remediation, and monitoring of vulnerabilities, is fundamental for improving security and compliance within organizations.
Compliance
The software should come equipped with tools to analyze and report on compliance with industry standards and regulations. This feature helps organizations avoid potential legal and financial consequences of non-compliance, such as fines, lawsuits, or sanctions.
Compliance features also maintain the organization’s reputation and brand by demonstrating its commitment to security and privacy. This helps to avoid negative publicity or customer backlash. Additionally, these features enhance the organization’s security posture by aligning vulnerability management practices with industry best practices and regulatory guidelines.
How to choose the best vulnerability management software for your business
Important considerations like features, integrations, scalability, user-friendliness, and software specialization should be factored in before selecting the tool that meets the exact needs of your organization.
Features
Considering the features of a vulnerability management software is paramount as they directly impact the solution’s ability to properly detect, assess, and prioritize security vulnerabilities in your organization’s infrastructure.
For instance, software development companies may need vulnerability management features that integrate with their DevOps processes. Capabilities like integration with CI/CD pipelines and container security scanning are required to find and remediate vulnerabilities in software code and containerized applications.
Integrations
Integrations maximize the efficiency and coverage of a solution by enabling seamless connections with other security tools. Vulnerabilities can be detected and addressed rapidly across diverse IT environments. Aside from that, customization options through integrations allow you to tailor the software to your specific needs, optimizing its alignment with your existing infrastructure and processes.
For example, organizations in the education sector should look for vulnerability management tools that integrate with student information systems (SIS) and learning management systems (LMS). On the other hand, businesses in the manufacturing and industrial fields must consider solutions that integrate with industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA systems for in-depth assessment of their industrial control technology.
Scalability
Scalability ensures that the software can grow and adapt to meet your organization’s evolving needs. As your business expands, your IT infrastructure may grow in complexity and size, which means the software must handle increased scan loads, manage additional assets, and provide consistent performance.
Without scalability, you risk outgrowing your vulnerability management solution, leading to gaps in security coverage, more operational challenges, and potentially the need for costly replacements or upgrades.
User-friendliness
The user-friendliness of the software directly impacts the efficiency of your security team’s efforts. A user-friendly interface and intuitive workflows make it easier for security professionals to navigate the software, configure scans, interpret results, and prioritize vulnerabilities. This leads to more efficient vulnerability management, faster response times, and an improved security posture.
On top of that, user-friendly solutions reduce the learning curve for new team members and minimizes the risk of errors due to complexity or confusion.
Software specialization
Specialization ensures that the software is tailored to address vulnerabilities and threats unique to your industry or business type. For instance, healthcare organizations may require software specialized in HIPAA compliance, while e-commerce businesses might need software that can focus on web application security to protect online storefronts against vulnerabilities commonly exploited by cybercriminals targeting online retail platforms.
Specialized software typically comes with predefined templates, regulations, and best practices relevant to your industry, streamlining the vulnerability assessment and mitigation process. This specialization can lead to more accurate vulnerability management, better compliance, and increased protection against industry-specific threats, making it a key consideration when selecting the right software for your business.
How we evaluated vulnerability management software
In our pursuit of identifying and ranking the best vulnerability management software solutions for 2023, we divided our analysis into six categories: cost, core features, customer support, ease of use, integrations, and scalability. Each of these categories is further divided into more specific criteria, customized to the unique needs and expectations of vulnerability management software.
After defining the criteria and sub-criteria, we assigned scores to each software within these categories. These scores were based on a careful analysis of the software’s performance against the established criteria. The total scores for each solution were then calculated.
Cost – 20%
We evaluated the cost based on the availability of a free trial and free version, tiered pricing for different business sizes, and customized and budget-friendly pricing plans for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Criteria winner: ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus
Core features – 25%
We assessed the quality of each solution’s core features, such as vulnerability scanning speed and accuracy, vulnerability prioritization, remediation automation, reporting capabilities, compliance-related features, asset discovery, and alerts and notifications. We also evaluated extended features such as mobile device and IoT scanning, asset tagging, and trend analysis.
- Criteria winners: ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus and Qualys VMDR
Customer support – 10%
Customer support scores are influenced by several factors, including the availability of customer support channels such as chat, phone, and email, as well as an active user community and complete and up-to-date documentation. Response times and availability to different customer tiers were also taken into account.
- Criteria winner: Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management
Ease of use – 20%
To evaluate the user-friendliness of the vulnerability management solutions across different skill levels, we gathered feedback from multiple review platforms, including both positive and negative comments.
- Criteria winner: ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus
Integrations – 15%
We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of each tool’s integration capabilities, considering three key aspects: quality, quantity, and flexibility.
Quality-wise, we assessed how effectively the tool integrates with essential software categories like patch management systems, SIEM solutions, ticketing, and incident response tools.
We also measured the number of third-party software solutions that each tool could integrate with, which indicates their versatility in accommodating various external systems.
We looked at the software’s customization options for integration. We wanted to see if it offered configuration options, APIs, or other ways to fine-tune the integration process so that organizations could seamlessly align the software with their existing infrastructure and requirements.
- Criteria winner: Tenable Vulnerability Management
Scalability – 10%
We assessed the software’s scalability by examining its ability to seamlessly handle growing demands without resource constraints. We also considered its capacity for streamlined scaling with automation and minimal administrative effort.
- Criteria winners: GFI LanGuard, CrowdStrike Falcon Spotlight, Rapid7 InsightVM, and Acunetix
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do vulnerability management solutions do?
Vulnerability management solutions are software tools that identify and assess security vulnerabilities in an organization’s IT infrastructure and applications, categorize them by risk level, and prioritize them for mitigation.
These tools conduct automated scans to discover weaknesses such as software flaws or misconfigurations, enabling organizations to focus their resources on addressing the most critical vulnerabilities and reducing the overall risk to their systems and data.
Who needs vulnerability management software?
Vulnerability management software is imperative for any organization that relies on IT systems and applications, as it helps proactively determine and address security weaknesses. This includes businesses of all sizes, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, as well as IT professionals responsible for maintaining secure environments.
By using vulnerability management software, these entities can reduce the risk of security breaches, data leaks, and other cyber threats, ensuring the protection of sensitive information and the integrity of their operations.
How are EDR and vulnerability management software different?
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) and vulnerability management are two different types of cybersecurity software that serve different purposes.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) | Vulnerability Management |
---|---|
Detects and responds to active threats and suspicious activities on individual endpoints, such as computers, servers, and mobile devices. | Detects and mitigates potential weaknesses in an organization’s IT infrastructure. |
Monitors endpoint activities in real time, looking for signs of malicious behavior. | Scans systems and applications for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weak security settings. |
Reactive and incident-centric, addressing security threats as they occur. | Proactive, focusing on preventing potential security issues before they can be exploited. |
In short, EDR is used to detect and respond to attacks, while vulnerability management is used to uncover and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Bottom line: Selecting the best vulnerability management software for your business
Choosing the right vulnerability management tool for your business is a significant investment that can have a major impact on its long-term security and success. Prioritizing factors such as alignment with your specific organizational needs, scalability, integration capabilities, and user-friendliness is crucial. Using the steps outlined in this guide, you can perform your own evaluations of our selections as well as do further research until you are satisfied that you have the best possible tool for your unique needs.
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