Top Qualys Alternatives 2024: Based on 100+ Reviews

Qualys has offerings in the domain of asset management, vulnerability and configuration management, risk remediation, threat detection and response, compliance, and cloud security. Therefore, the right alternative depends on which Qualys product you are considering. Please see the relevant sections for:

• Qualys web application scanning (WAS)
• Qualys vulnerability management detection and response (VMDR)
• Entire Qualys platform

Qualys web application scanning

They claim that their product mitigates risks and enhances the security of web applications and APIs, regardless of the architecture – be it cloud-native or on-premises. It is to minimize risks and decrease the attack surface for contemporary web applications and APIs.

Table 1. Qualys alternatives comparison on web application scanning

* Based on data from B2B review platforms like G2 and Capterra.

Inclusion criteria:

The table was generated using publicly accessible and verifiable data:

• Vendors with more than 25 total user reviews were incorporated, ensuring a comprehensive dataset for analysis.
• The table ranks alternative vendors based on the rankings of reviews.

Businesses may explore detailed analysis and comparison for the alternative tools listed above in the DAST tools article.

Qualys vulnerability management detection and response

This section focuses on providing a comprehensive evaluation of alternative solutions to Qualys vulnerability management detection and response (VMDR). This analysis aims to offer stakeholders insights into various providers, allowing organizations to make informed decisions based on their unique requirements in the evolving landscape of cloud security.

Table 2. Qualys alternatives comparison on vulnerability management detection and response

*The data was gathered from customer review platforms like G2, Gartner, TrustRadius, and Capterra.

Inclusion criteria

The table was generated using publicly accessible and verifiable data:

• Vendors with more than 100 total user reviews were incorporated, ensuring a comprehensive dataset for analysis.
• All vendors provide firewall audits, compliance products, and other network security offerings.
• The table ranks alternative vendors based on the total number of reviews.

Explanation of key features

Real-time scanning involves the ongoing and instant analysis of data, traffic, or activities within a cloud environment to promptly detect potential security threats or critical vulnerabilities.

Deployment summarizes how the vendor’s products are implemented within an organization’s infrastructure. It is a crucial consideration based on the organization’s specific needs, infrastructure, and security requirements.

IPAM, SOAR, TIP, and ITSM serve as indicators of product integration with platforms specializing in IP address management, security orchestration, automation, and response, threat intelligence platform, and IT service management, respectively. Further insights can be found in the comprehensive Firewall Audit Software article.

Qualys Overview

Qualys provides security and compliance solutions through its cloud platform, offering organizations a streamlined and automated approach. With a focus on agility, the platform delivers continuous security intelligence using a single agent. It claims to cover vulnerability detection, compliance, and protection across various IT environments, including on-premises, cloud, containers, and mobile devices.

Detailed analysis of the alternatives top Qualys alternatives

This segment thoroughly evaluates the five alternatives to Qualys featured in the table above. Our analysis is based on extensive user feedback gathered from prominent software review platforms such as G2, Gartner, TrustRadius, and Capterra. The assessment provides a comprehensive overview, encompassing both positive and critical reviews of the firewall audit and compliance solutions of each alternative.

1. SolarWinds

SolarWinds is a Qualys alternative since it claims to focus on integrating advanced IT solutions into daily operations to enhance efficiency and productivity. SolarWinds network configuration manager (NCM) platform is aimed to automate and streamline configuration management across diverse, multi-vendor networks.

Pros:

1. Customizable reports

SolarWinds products, including NPM and NCM, are praised for their scalability and reliability. Users appreciate the ability to create a custom report using various data sources like SQL queries, SNMP, and more. This feature enhances flexibility and provides tailored insights.

2. Vulnerability management

Reviewers find the vulnerability management system, especially the conditions constructor, to be a powerful and straightforward tool. It allows for the creation and customization of alerts based on specific criteria, contributing to effective monitoring¹.

Cons:

1. Limited vendor support and functionality

Users note limitations in vendor support, especially for non-Cisco devices, and express a desire for more functional virtualization and clustering monitoring that caters to a wider range of vendors.

2. Performance issues

Some reviewers report slow performance in the web apps console requests caching, suggesting that improvements in the Redis configuration are needed. This aspect impacts the overall user experience and responsiveness of the system².

2. AlgoSec

AlgoSec, a cybersecurity firm, claims to assist organizations in securing application connectivity through automated management of connectivity flows and security policies, irrespective of location. AlgoSec’s security policy management solution is aimed to simplify and streamline firewall security audits.

Pros:

1. Firewall rule optimization

Reviewers appreciate AlgoSec’s capability to optimize firewall rules, streamlining security policies for enhanced efficiency and performance.

2. Intelligent automation

AlgoSec stands out for its intelligent automation service, simplifying complex tasks like managing firewall policies and identifying obsolete rules. This automation saves time and minimizes the risk of human error, improving overall infrastructure security³.

Cons:

1. Deployment issues

Reviews report issues with deployment, indicating that the process took longer than expected. Deployment challenges can be a barrier to the seamless adoption of AlgoSec⁴.

2. User interface complexity

Some reviewers find AlgoSec’s user interface complex and challenging to navigate, particularly for those less familiar with network security or firewall assessment. The abundance of options and settings may lead to confusion or misconfigurations, hindering user experience.

3. Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Network

Prisma Cloud is another cloud security solution aimed at assisting businesses in monitoring threats, managing access rights, and vulnerability assessment across their cloud environments. It claims to facilitates collaboration between security and DevOps teams, streamlining the development and deployment of secure cloud-native applications from code to cloud.

Pros:

1. Comprehensive security services

Users appreciate Prisma Cloud’s wide range of security services, including threat detection, cloud compliance, and vulnerability management. The platform offers meaningful alerts and thorough information on cloud activities, enhancing visibility and simplifying threat monitoring.

2. Expandability and integration

Prisma Cloud stands out for its ease of expansion through integration with diverse cloud providers and third-party security technologies. This adaptability allows users to enhance their security infrastructure seamlessly⁵.

Cons:

1. Pricing model

The licensing model based on cloud accounts, rather than specific resources, is criticized for being cost-prohibitive during renewal. Users faced challenges transitioning from a small number of accounts to a significantly larger count, affecting the platform’s overall affordability.

2. Automated remediation limitations

The automated remediation capabilities of Prisma Cloud are mentioned as somewhat oversold, with limitations on policy types and limited customizability. Users find that not all policy types come with automated remediation, impacting the platform’s adaptability to specific security requirements.

4. Security Manager by FireMon

FireMon security management software provides functionalities like firewall behavior testing, workflow integration, traffic flow analysis, and rule recertification. The real-time security policy management platform provided by FireMon addresses risks associated with firewall and cloud security policies, manages policy changes, and ensures compliance.

Pros:

1. Efficient change tracking

FireMon is praised for providing real-time reporting on firewall changes, aiding users in tracking and managing multiple firewalls effectively. The centralized management dashboard and streamlined policy pushes have saved time and resources for enterprises⁶.

2. Centralized vulnerability management

FireMon is lauded for consolidating multiple firewalls into a single vulnerability management dashboard, saving time and resources. Users find value in the platform’s ability to normalize data for easy understanding across different vendors and technologies, providing detailed or summary reports as needed.

Cons:

1. Documentation and support

Reviewers express a desire for better documentation to enhance their understanding of the product. Some find the support lacking in terms of subject matter experts (SMEs), suggesting that additional expertise would improve overall support quality⁷.

2. Pricing and licensing

Pricing is considered a drawback, with suggestions for lower pricing. Additionally, the evolving licensing model and the need for certifications geared to specific versions pose challenges for users.

5. Tufin

Tufin focuses on managing extensive and intricate networks, including large-scale hybrid cloud infrastructures and numerous firewall and network devices. The Tufin Orchestration Suite offers a unified solution catering to both network and cloud security teams, addressing needs such as reducing the attack surface and providing increased visibility into secure application connectivity.

Pros:

1. Efficient change management

Users appreciate Tufin’s effectiveness in simplifying firewall changes across a variety of devices. The tool’s customizability, workflow creation, and zone-based policy definition offer flexibility in managing vulnerabilities and automating firewall assessment.⁸.

2. Adaptive automation

Tufin is praised for its adaptability, allowing users to set the automation pace based on their needs. The straightforward update process, rollback capability during upgrades, and strong support contribute to a positive user experience.

Cons:

1. Licensing cost

Some users find the licensing cost to be high, particularly in relation to specific features or integrations. This can be a drawback for organizations with budget constraints or those seeking more cost-effective solutions⁹.

2. Integration and support

Users note that while Tufin offers integration with ticketing tools via API, limited out-of-the-box (OOTB) integrations are available. Additionally, feature requests may take time to be developed, and documentation may not be readily accessible, impacting the overall user experience and customer support satisfaction.

Top platform comparisons

Table 3. The platform comparison covering all Qualys solutions

Disclaimer: The solutions provided as alternatives may not perfectly match Qualys products. Qualys’ solutions were presented in a single category to minimize duplication (e.g. CWP presented only in cloud security).

FAQs

What does a firewall audit tool do?

A firewall audit tool automates the analysis of firewall configurations and ensures compliance by evaluating rulesets, access control lists (ACLs), interfaces, and address translations. It monitors rule changes, conducts scheduled audits, and provides real-time reports on policy misconfigurations and compliance violations, helping organizations enhance network performance, minimize downtime, and bolster security.

How does Qualys find vulnerabilities and characterize network systems?

Qualys employs an inference-based scan engine for vulnerability detection, starting with a pre-scan module that accurately identifies a host by sending crafted packets and interpreting the results. With over 99% accuracy, Qualys determines the host’s operating system, services, and open ports. The inference-based scan engine then selects and runs only relevant vulnerability assessment, minimizing network traffic, system impact, and enhancing accuracy during the scanning process.

Further reading

• Firewalls vs Proxy Servers: Overview, Techniques and Benefits
• Firewall as a Service: Definition & Top 8 Benefits
• Top 12 Firewall Audit Software & Integration-based Comparison in 2024

If you need further help finding a vendor or have any questions, feel free to contact us:

External Links

• 1. A customer review on SolarWinds regarding NPM. TrustRadius. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 2. A customer review on SolarWinds regarding NPM. G2. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 3. A customer review on AlgoSec. TrustRadius. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 4. A customer review on AlgoSec. G2. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 5. A customer review on Palo Alto Network regarding Prisma Cloud. G2. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 6. A customer review on FireMon. TrustRadius. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 7. A customer review on FireMon. Capterra. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 8. A customer review on Tufin. G2. Accessed: 02/March/2024.
• 9. A customer review on Tufin. G2. Accessed: 02/March/2024.