Qualys Web Application Scanning Reviews

Name: Qualys Web Application Scanning
Brand: Qualys
Rating: 3.9 (38 reviews)

3.9 out of 5

38 reviews
87% willing to recommend

1,173 followers

What is Qualys Web Application Scanning?

Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) is a fully cloud-based web application security scanner. The scanner will automatically crawl periodically and test web applications to discover potential vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection. The consistent testing equips the automated service to generate consistent results, lessen false positives, and offer the ability to scale to protect thousands of websites effortlessly.

Get the Qualys Web Application Scanning Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Qualys Web Application Scanning, SonarQube Server (formerly SonarQube), GitLab and more!

Qualys Web Application Scanning is the #11 ranked solution in AST tools and #14 ranked solution in application security solutions. PeerSpot users give Qualys Web Application Scanning an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. Qualys Web Application Scanning is most commonly compared to SonarQube Server (formerly SonarQube): Qualys Web Application Scanning vs SonarQube Server (formerly SonarQube). Qualys Web Application Scanning is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 69% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Web Application Scanning

March 2025

Get the report

Helped 842,388 peers since 2012

Featured Qualys Web Application Scanning reviews

SubhajitAich

Security Consultant at Cognizant

I simultaneously work with Tenable and Rapid7, along with Qualys Web Application Scanning. We do not procure the licensing for these solutions. Instead, clients come to us and ask us which solution is best for them. We review their current architecture and define the best solution for them. Later, they purchase the license, and we configure it.

Read full review

Kelvin Oladipo

Team Lead, Cyber Security at Uridium Technologies

Qualys Web Application Scanning ( /products/qualys-web-application-scanning-reviews ) is user-friendly, easy to understand, easy to use, and easy to deploy. Credential scanning is very effective because it goes in-depth into the system, crawling the pages, and reporting on vulnerabilities. The product helps by providing options for remediating vulnerabilities it finds, making it really useful.

Read full review

Koketso Ditlhage

Information Communication Technology Specialist at UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

The scalability of the software could be better. Its licenses are distributed through a third-party supplier at the moment. Thus, it becomes a problem in managing the numbers. The licenses stay the same, but the numbers keep on going up. I currently have 600 assets. If I go for a three-year contract, it will increase by 900 assets. It would have been great if we had direct contact with Qualys for sales and support. In the future, we plan to increase the number of users. In my team, we have three members, and the team working on the risk scan consists of six members. Overall, there are about ten users in our environment. I rate the scalability a five out of ten.

Read full review

Qualys Web Application Scanning mindshare

Product category:

As of March 2025, the mindshare of Qualys Web Application Scanning in the Application Security Tools category stands at 2.0%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Security Tools

PeerAnalyst reports based on Qualys Web Application Scanning reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Application Security Tools	Mar 26, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Mar 26, 2025	Download
Comparison	Qualys Web Application Scanning vs SonarQube Server (formerly SonarQube)	Mar 26, 2025	Download
Comparison	Qualys Web Application Scanning vs Veracode	Mar 26, 2025	Download
Comparison	Qualys Web Application Scanning vs Checkmarx One	Mar 26, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
SonarQube Server (formerly SonarQube)	4.0	25.5%	81%	114 interviews Add to research
GitLab	4.3	3.0%	97%	82 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Qualys Web Application Scanning offers effective scanning, integration with Selenium to automate logins, protection against zero-day vulnerabilities, and OWASP Top 10 scanning. Users appreciate its ease of use, comprehensive reporting, cloud-based deployment, real-time monitoring, and progressive scanning. It effectively reduces false positives and supports integration with DevOps environments. The interface is user-friendly, providing detailed reports and robust vulnerability management, patch management, and PCI compliance. The tool's extensive support and licensing options enhance security for web applications.

"Qualys Web Application Scanning is robust and mature from industry standards."
"Qualys Web Application Scanning is accurate and provides minimal false positives."
"Qualys Web Application Scanning is user-friendly, easy to understand, easy to use, and easy to deploy."

Room for Improvement

Qualys Web Application Scanning requires enhancements in user interface simplicity and false positive reduction. Users seek improved integration capabilities and live HTTP editing. Licensing terms and pricing need adjustment. Reports and documentation require clarity, especially in presenting and analyzing vulnerabilities. The system's scanning speed, API maturity, and automated authenticated scanning can be improved. There is a need for better asset organization, business logic vulnerability detection, and multi-standard compliance to simplify deployment and increase scanning efficiency.

"I have dealt with Qualys's technical support, and any enhancements are challenging. I would rate them a five out of ten."
"New features need to be added, specifically LLM-based solutions."
"I would like it to be cheaper because it is a bit expensive compared to competitors like Tenable Nessus."

ROI

Qualys Web Application Scanning provides visibility into environments, offering competitive licensing that balances scalability challenges. Returns on investment are acknowledged as satisfactory, highlighting its scalability without operational costs for scanner installation. Users report time savings of approximately 70% in scanning and scheduling automation tasks, alongside a decrease in web application failure rates from 20% to 2%. Some users find it premature to quantify returns after six months of usage.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find Qualys Web Application Scanning pricing to be relatively high, with a model based on yearly licenses and asset count flexibility. While the product's pricing is competitive and offers bulk discounts, some users feel it's expensive compared to competitors. The solution supports the “bring your own licenses” model, but it's important to clarify terms upfront. Although many agree the licensing process is straightforward, some smaller organizations find costs prohibitive.

"The product pricing is fair and reasonably priced."
"From my perspective, it is a budget-friendly option."
"Qualys Web Application Scanning's pricing is a bit expensive compared to other solutions available in the market."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Qualys Web Application Scanning for extensive vulnerability assessment and management. They leverage it for web application scans, penetration testing, and auditing the security of their web-based assets. The tool is used for both internal and external asset evaluation to ensure web applications are secure from potential threats. They employ it across various environments, integrating it into development cycles and using it for dynamic scanning and vulnerability detection in cloud and on-premises infrastructures.

Service and Support

Qualys Web Application Scanning's customer service and support receive mixed feedback. Many highlight its responsive support, dedicated channels, and knowledgeable technical assistance, including 24/7 availability. Some users note challenges navigating initial support tiers and suggest more frequent communication. While several praise the resolution speed and effectiveness, others experience occasional delays and transactional interactions. Third-party involvement sometimes affects support efficiency, and direct communications or ticket escalations are necessary for complex issues.

Deployment

Qualys Web Application Scanning's initial setup is notably straightforward for most users, especially for cloud-based deployments which are quick and require minimal team involvement. Challenges arise mainly when configuring internal virtual machines, requiring careful firewall and network policy management. Some encountered licensing and documentation issues during integration, leading to extended time frames. Those with trained engineers find the deployment efficient, aided by comprehensive documentation. The use of software-as-a-service simplifies the process significantly.

Scalability

Qualys Web Application Scanning is praised for its scalability, being cloud-based and allowing easy expansion. Many users report smooth scaling experiences, managing several users efficiently. However, some encounter issues with concurrent scans and licensing management. Organizations appreciate the flexibility in adding licenses and scaling services, especially with cloud infrastructure, although they desire direct contact with Qualys for better management. Scalability is generally well-regarded with ratings averaging eight to nine out of ten.

Stability

Qualys Web Application Scanning is described as highly stable by most users, with no significant issues or downtime encountered during use. Many rate its stability eight or nine out of ten, citing its reliability and minimal bugs. Users report confidence in its consistent performance, noting that any issues have been effectively resolved. They emphasize the scanning tool's robust operation across different environments without experiencing major disruptions or errors.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Qualys Web Application Scanning Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

Retailer

Insurance Company

Healthcare Company

University

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Construction Company

Transportation Company

Non Profit

Performing Arts

Hospitality Company

Logistics Company

Consumer Goods Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Qualys Web Application Scanning with alternative products

Learn more about Qualys Web Application Scanning

Qualys Web Application Scanning is bundled with different scanning technology to carefully scan websites for malware infections and will send notifications to website owners to assist in preventing blacklisting and brand reputation damage. As digital transformation takes place in various organizations, Qualys WAS gives organizations the ability to track and document their web app security status through its interactive reporting capabilities.

Qualys WAS empowers organizations to remediate any web application vulnerabilities quickly. Some of the key tools offered are:

Deep Scanning: All apps and APIs on your internal network and public cloud are covered by Qualys WAS deep scanning to show you any visible vulnerabilities.
DevSec Ops Tool: Detect security issues in your code while still in app development stages and generate comprehensive reports.
Comprehensive Discovery: Discover and catalog new and unknown web apps in your network.
Malware Detection: Scan a website, identify vulnerabilities, and receive alerts to any infections.

Benefits of Qualys Web Application Scanning

Qualys Web Application Scanning offers many benefits, including:

Quick Deployment: Requires no infrastructure or software to upkeep.
Effortless Scalability: Effortlessly launch a deep scan and protect thousands of websites.
Centralized Management: Manage and mend all web app vulnerabilities through a single interface.
Excellent Integration Capabilities: Integrates with Qualys Web App Firewall (WAF) for a single-click virtual patching of found vulnerabilities.
Respond to Threats Immediately: Qualys Continuous Monitoring offers the user a hands-free service by automatically launching scanning and sending notifications of a potential threat.
Cost-effective Solution: Data is analyzed in real time as Qualys WAS is an end-to-end solution; this helps avoid costs associated with managing multiple security vendors.

Reviews from Real Users

Qualys Web Application Scanning stands out among its competitors for a variety of reasons. Two of those reasons are its progressive scan and quick detection of vulnerabilities.

P.K., a senior software developer at a tech vendor, writes, "The feature that I have found most valuable is the progressive scan. It is good. It's done in 24 hours."

Nagaraj S., lead cybersecurity engineer at a tech service company, notes, "I have found the detection of vulnerabilities tool thorough with good results and the graphical display output to be wonderful and full of colors. It allows many types of outputs, such as bar and chart previews."

Qualys Web Application Scanning was previously known as Qualys WAS.

Qualys Web Application Scanning customers

BskyB, Cartagena, ClearPoint Learning Systems, Connect Group, du, Fortrex Technologies, HBOR, HDI, Highlights for Children, The Lithuanian State Enterprise Centre of Registers, City of Miami Beach, Microsoft, MidlandHR, MSCI Inc., Northern Arizona University, Ofgem, Olympus Europa, PhoneFactor, RTL Nederland, ThousandEyes, VGZ Organisatie B.V.