Tenable Nessus Reviews

Name: Tenable Nessus
Brand: Tenable
Rating: 4.2 (78 reviews)

Vendor: Tenable

4.2 out of 5

78 reviews
98% willing to recommend

905 followers

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What is Tenable Nessus?

Tenable Nessus is a vulnerability management solution that aims to empower organizations to be aware of threats that both they and their customers face. It is the most deployed scanner in the vulnerability management industry. Organizations that use this product have access to the largest continuously updated global library of vulnerability and configuration checks. They can stay ahead of threats that Tenable Nessus’s competitors may be unable to spot. Additionally, Tenable Nessus supports a greater number of technologies than its competitors.

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Tenable Nessus is the #1 ranked solution in top Vulnerability Management solutions. PeerSpot users give Tenable Nessus an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Tenable Nessus is most commonly compared to Microsoft Intune: Tenable Nessus vs Microsoft Intune. Tenable Nessus is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 48% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 39% of all views.

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Featured reviews

Matthew Weisler

Sole Proprietor at Core-Infosec

I implement the solution as a vulnerability management tool for client use cases. It can be used for public factors because it sits right where you have tie in and bleeds over or in between other tools as another piece in the EDR puzzle. The solution identifies vulnerabilities, applies patches, and…

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Amit Beniwal

Project Manager at Al Hassan LLC

Tenable Nessus could include a broader range of IT assets. Nowadays, IT is not limited to laptops and desktops. It can be any environment in the organization, such as iOS or Android mobile phones. Apart from that, organizations use APIs and specific tools. We would like Tenable to cover every aspect of IT infrastructure, not just generic systems like laptops, desktops, switches, or servers. It should include every kind of device, like Raspberry Pi. This small chunk of devices acts as sensors in several organizations. We would like to be able to scan every device in the network, and the solution should present vulnerabilities within their system.

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Venugopal Potumudi

Senior Consultant at Tata Consultancy

Tenable is for scanning the vulnerabilities on the endpoint. That's the prime use case. It can also be extended for scanning web publications, et cetera. Nessus is a very stable product. And it has been a pioneer and has been around for a long time. Their vulnerability dashboards are very good to…

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Tenable Nessus mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Tenable Nessus in the Vulnerability Management category stands at 13.2%, down from 16.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Oct 9, 2024

Valuable Features

Tenable Nessus offers valuable features including robust vulnerability scanning and detection, remediation suggestions, comprehensive reporting, and vulnerability prioritization. Its ease of use, user-friendly interface, and flexibility enhance its usability. It integrates well with other tools and provides fast, reliable results across various platforms. Its affordability, scalability, and up-to-date database are appreciated by users for effective management and assessment tasks, making it a preferred choice for vulnerability assessments and compliance checks.

"It notifies us of vulnerabilities as they arise, allowing us to respond quickly without manual intervention."
"You can then direct your team to create a report on the discovered vulnerabilities."
"We have around 500 virtual machines. Therefore, we conduct monthly scans and open tickets for our developers to address identified vulnerabilities. These scans cover the servers, other network equipment, and appliances in our infrastructure."

Room for Improvement

Tenable Nessus needs improvements in reporting functionality, including customization and integration capabilities. The user interface and graphical interface require enhancements for better usability. Cloud deployment features and accurate vulnerability detection, particularly for web applications, are lacking. Pricing and license flexibility are concerns. Tenable Nessus has issues with automated scanning and role-based access control. False positives and outdated remediation recommendations need addressing. Performance on system resources and user management functions could be optimized. Security updates and device scanning breadth should be expanded.

"The product could have unique features similar to one of its competitors."
"Tenable Nessus could include a broader range of IT assets."
"One significant drawback we encounter is the tool's tendency to flag patched packages incorrectly. For instance, if a package is patched by Debian maintainers but not updated to a major or minor version, Nessus may still flag it as vulnerable based on its database. This discrepancy leads to false alarms and requires our developers, system admins, and DevOps teams to address them."

ROI

Users highlight that Tenable Nessus significantly reduces vulnerabilities, preventing costly attacks. It fulfills essential security requirements by providing proactive scanning and issue detection, making it comparable to an insurance policy. The tool offers strong return on investment by enhancing visibility, enabling timely patch deployments, and achieving vulnerability management goals. Nessus improves cost and time efficiency, with many users rating its return at five out of five for its capabilities and benefits.

Pricing

Enterprise users find Tenable Nessus pricing to be competitive, though opinions vary by region and organization size. Users appreciate the affordability relative to features, especially for small and mid-sized businesses, and note fixed annual licensing costs without hidden fees. While some cite high costs, others benefit from flexible licensing options and consider it a sound investment, often comparing favorably to competitors. Discounts are appreciated, but more flexibility in asset management and pricing could enhance value.

"The product pricing is dynamic and varies based on the specific needs of each project and customer."
"The price is okay. I would give it a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive."
"The product is free."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Tenable Nessus for vulnerability management, internal and external network scanning, and security assessments. They deploy it to evaluate security posture during mergers and acquisitions, scan for vulnerabilities in servers, workstations, databases, and web applications. Nessus assists in compliance tracking, remediation planning, patch management, and real-time monitoring. Users conduct scheduled assessments and address identified risks to maintain a secure environment and ensure compliance through regular vulnerability scanning and reporting.

Service and Support

Tenable Nessus customer support is responsive and helpful, with quick resolutions mentioned by many users. Some note efficient response times, although a few describe delays. Users appreciate the support for user interactions, with specific critiques regarding API documentation and license handling. Most find tech support reliable, praising the team for assistance with configurations and critical inquiries. Some indicate a lack of need for support due to successful internal management and training received.

Deployment

Users found Tenable Nessus's initial setup simple and intuitive. Many mentioned it involved downloading and running the software in a short time. Some appreciated guidance from Tenable or partners, while others noted it was helpful but not always necessary. Those with diverse systems experienced varying levels of complexity, often related to network configurations. Several users highlighted that deployment took from a few hours to a few months, depending on their specific needs.

Scalability

Tenable Nessus can handle scalability according to different user needs. It may suit medium-sized enterprises but faces challenges with large-scale deployments. Users commend its scalability within specific environments but encounter issues with cloud bandwidth and data retention. It allows scaling by adding licenses or nodes as needed. Scalability is largely determined by hardware capabilities and license agreements, catering to a variety of user scales from small teams to larger enterprises with multiple devices and locations.

Stability

Users consistently report that Tenable Nessus is extremely stable, with minimal issues like network blips. It reliably performs scheduled scans without crashing or freezing. Some mention initial configuration challenges or update frequency causing delays. Stability ratings range from seven to ten out of ten, with users emphasizing its reliability in different environments. While some users note occasional false positives or manual updates, Tenable Nessus consistently meets stability expectations.

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

Download our Tenable Nessus Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

39%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

University

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Insurance Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Media Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Transportation Company

Performing Arts

Outsourcing Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Logistics Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

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Tenable Nessus Benefits

Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by deploying Tenable Nessus include:

Ease of use. Tenable Nessus is designed with security administrators in mind. It is built so that users can manipulate it intuitively without having to undergo special systems training. Users can create security policies with the greatest level of ease and can initiate scans of their entire networks with only a few clicks.

Support and resources. Tenable Nessus has both a support system of clarification resources and technical support for users to rely on. The solution has a resource center that contains guides and tips that can clarify things that confuse users and can aid them in gaining the maximum level of value. Additionally, users can reach out to Tenable Nessus’s technical support team, which is available around the clock and is reachable via a number of methods. This makes it simple for users to get help if they need it.

Reduction of threat vectors. Tenable Nessus provides users with the ability to reduce the number of potential threat vectors that a hacker can exploit. It enables users to find where the vulnerabilities in their networks are so their security won’t be compromised. They can then quickly address those weak points and head off issues before any have the chance to arise.

Tenable Nessus Features

Report customization. Tenable Nessus enables users to customize the security reports that their system produces. They are able to set Tenable Nessus to generate reports that contain the information that is most relevant to their business objectives. Users can also utilize these report customization capabilities to customize the formats of their reports.

Vulnerability triage capability. Included in the Tenable Nessus security suite is a feature that enables users to conduct a triage of their vulnerabilities. The solution can apply one of five ratings to vulnerabilities that it detects. This makes it possible for organizations to work on addressing issues by order of severity.

Scaling. Tenable Nessus can scale to meet an organization’s needs by migrating the network that it is connected to, to other Tenable solutions. Users can scale up their systems as their security demands increase. It is capable of reaching hundreds of thousands of systems.

Reviews from Real Users

Tenable Nessus is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Two major advantages it offers are its ease of use and its vulnerability scanning feature.

Rallis F., the principal security architect at a technology vendor, writes, “The ease of use is the primary valuable feature. This specific version is very straightforward. I like the ability to modify it and configure it based on the different policies.”

Sandip D., a cyber security expert at Birlasoft India Ltd, writes, “The vulnerability scanner is the most valuable feature. It's an important feature for us. We use the plugin output for that. It shows us the exact version of Nessus and what is needed for remediation. Based on that, we decide what should be remediated first to get the best result for security.”