Vulnerability management is a critical component of any organization‘s cybersecurity strategy. As applications and networks become more complex, organizations need dedicated tools to identify and remediate security weaknesses before attackers can exploit them.
In this comprehensive guide, we evaluate the top vulnerability management software platforms to help security and IT teams select the right solution for their environment.
What to Look for in Vulnerability Management Software
Before exploring individual products, here are some key criteria to evaluate during your selection process:
Comprehensive Scanning: The software should scan servers, endpoints, network devices, containers, cloud infrastructure and web applications to build a complete inventory of assets and their associated vulnerabilities.
Risk-Based Prioritization: It should continuously assess vulnerabilities and provide risk scoring to allow your team to focus on the most critical issues first.
Patch Management: The ability to deploy patches and configuration changes across your environment is vital for efficient remediation.
Custom Reporting: Robust reporting tools that allow you to demonstrate progress and compliance are essential.
API Integrations: Integration with IT service management, SIEM and other security products via API improves workflow.
On-Premises and SaaS Options: Solutions that offer both on-premises and cloud deployment give you maximum flexibility.
Top 9 Vulnerability Management Software Recommendations
Based on industry research and first-hand experience, we‘ve selected the top vulnerability management platforms for 2023.
1. Tenable.io
Tenable is an established leader in the vulnerability management space. Tenable.io offers SaaS-based scanning with risk scoring, asset inventorying and prioritized remediation plans. It‘s highly scalable and flexible, with over 30 integrations via API.
Key Features
- Broad asset discovery and vulnerability scanning
- Predictive scoring based on threat intelligence
- Detailed remediation guidance and verification
- Customizable reporting for security and compliance teams
- Integrates with tools like ServiceNow and Slack
Pricing
Tenable.io is priced on an annual subscription based on the number of IP addresses being monitored.
Pros
- Very deep and accurate vulnerability coverage
- Easy to deploy cloud-based architecture
- Helps prioritize remediation based on exposure scoring
Cons
- Can generate large scan data to sift through
- Limited patch deployment capabilities
2. Rapid7 InsightVM
Rapid7 InsightVM emphasizes ease of use while still providing comprehensive vulnerability management features powered by the company‘s leading threat intelligence.
Key Features
- Auto-discovery of assets and delivery of scans
- Virtual Patching to shield unpatched vulnerabilities
- One-click integration with company‘s other security tools
- Flexible on-prem, cloud and hybrid deployment
Pricing
Rapid7 uses an annual subscription model based on number of assets. Bundles start at $29 per asset up to volumes over 1,250 assets.
Pros
- Very intuitive user interface
- Integrated threat intelligence adds risk context for prioritization
- API integrations with other Rapid7 products
Cons
- More limited asset discovery compared to Tenable
- Patch management requires add-on module
3. Qualys VMDR
Qualys VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response) brings together several capabilities into a unified cloud platform, including vulnerability assessment across hybrid environments.
Key Features
- Broad vulnerability coverage for IT assets
- Prioritized reports with built-in remediation verification
- Detailed compliance reporting for standards like PCI DSS
- Real-time alerts when new threats emerge
Pricing
Qualys has flexible licensing models including asset-based subscriptions starting under $2 per asset as well as unlimited scans for a fixed subscription fee.
Pros
- Unified view across cloud, endpoints and on-premises assets
- Very scalable for large environments
- Configurable dashboards
Cons
- Requires multiple Qualys products for complete workflow
- Limited patch deployment capabilities
4. Tripwire Enterprise
Tripwire takes a data-driven approach to vulnerability management powered by smart asset discovery, risk scoring, and actionable reporting.
Key Features
- Continuous discovery of managed and unmanaged assets
- Vulnerability intelligence from both internal and external sources
- Easy integration with ticket, patch and SOAR solutions via API
- File integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes
Pricing
Tripwire uses an annual license model with pricing tailored to each customer based on assets and required modules.
Pros
- Smart asset classification and tagging
- Detailed change tracking and alerts
- Layered policy compliance controls
Cons
- Requires multiple modules for complete workflow
- More hands-on configuration than some solutions
5. AlienVault USM Anywhere
AlienVault USM Anywhere combines vulnerability assessment with SIEM, behavior monitoring and threat intelligence via the cloud.
Key Features
- Unified vulnerability scans, log analysis and threat detection
- Identification of critical weaknesses across cloud and on-prem
- Correlation of vulnerabilities with threat intelligence
- Native integration with popular tools like ServiceNow
Pricing
AlienVault uses annual asset-based licensing starting under $2 per asset, including unlimited vulnerability scans.
Pros
- Combined view of vulnerability and threat data
- Easy deployment of cloud-based unified platform
- Built-in orchestration playbooks
Cons
- Less flexible licensing model than some products
- Limited to AlienVault ecosystem
6. Kenna Security
Kenna Security emphasizes risk-based vulnerability prioritization to make better remediation decisions.
Key Features
- Predictive risk scoring based on exploitability metrics
- Data science models customized to your environment
- Integrations with SIEM, IT tickets, SOAR and WAF solutions
- Compliance reporting mapped to key standards
Pricing
Kenna uses annual subscriptions based on number of IP addresses monitored.
Pros
- Unique risk scoring methodology
- Easy to ingest and enrich vulnerability data
- API integrations with SecOps ecosystem
Cons
- Light scanning capabilities
- No built-in patching tools
7. Digital Defense Frontline Vulnerability Manager
Frontline VM emphasizes actionable insights, ease of deployment and seamless integrations.
Key Features
- Agent-based and agentless scanning options
- Smart grouping of assets based on tags, locations and business function
- Easy workflow integrations via API
- Unauthenticated scanning for IoT devices
Pricing
Digital Defense uses a quote-based pricing model tailored to each customer‘s requirements.
Pros
- Easy cloud deployment and management
- Comprehensive API and PowerShell integration options
- Packaged consulting and managed services
Cons
- Less flexible licensing compared to some tools
- Limited patch management features
8. BeyondTrust Retina Vulnerability Management
BeyondTrust Retina emphasizes automated network discovery, asset inventory and vulnerability prioritization powered by credentialed scanning.
Key Features
- Automatic network mapping and asset identification
- Privileged credential integrations to enable deeper scanning
- Risk-ranked reporting with one-click drill-downs
- Integrations with ServiceNow, Slack, syslog and more
Pricing
BeyondTrust uses an annual subscription model with asset-based pricing starting under $2 per device.
Pros
- Speed and efficiency from automated discovery
- More accurate scans from credentialed access
- Easy integration with IT workflows
Cons
- Limited endpoint scanning support
- No built-in patch deployment tools
9. Outpost24 Vulnerability Management
Outpost24 emphasizes comprehensive visibility, control and automation for streamlined vulnerability management.
Key Features
- Broad internal and external vulnerability scanning
- Configuration scanning for standards compliance
- Integration with Outpost24‘s other DDI, SIEM and DWAF modules
- API support for custom connections and automation
Pricing
Outpost24 uses annual licensing based on number of IP addresses monitored.
Pros
- Unified view with related Outpost24 modules
- Configuration scans to uncover weaknesses
- Automated ticketing and SDLC integrations
Cons
- More narrow use case focus than some tools
- Limited to Outpost24 ecosystem
Key Considerations for Implementation
While individual product capabilities are crucial, proper deployment and buy-in across your IT organization is vital for an effective vulnerability management program. Here are some key guidelines:
Gain Executive Sponsorship: Frame vulnerability management as a business risk reduction initiative tied to security KPIs.
Clarify Responsibilities: Define if security or IT ops will manage the program and how tasks are split.
Start With Priority Assets: Onboard mission critical assets first before expanding scans more widely.
Integrate With Workflows: Connect data and alerts to existing ticketing, change approval and SDLC systems.
Verify Remediation: Require teams to provide evidence of fixes, not just promises.
Continuously Tune: The platform, scans, reports and metrics will need constant optimization. Plan for it upfront.
Conclusion: Implement Continuous Exposure Monitoring
Vulnerability management tools are invaluable for providing comprehensive visibility into risks across complex environments. By establishing continuous monitoring powered by automated scanning, IT and Security teams can partner to reduce corporate risk exposure over time.
The solutions profiled here represent top options to support mature vulnerability management programs with broad asset discovery, risk-based prioritization, efficient remediation capabilities and detailed reporting.
While capabilities differ across products, any of these market-leading platforms will provide immense value if properly deployed and integrated across your vulnerability management lifecycle.
