Tenable Nessus Reviews

Name: Tenable Nessus
Brand: Tenable
Rating: 4.2 (80 reviews)

Vendor: Tenable

4.2 out of 5

80 reviews
98% willing to recommend

909 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.

Get the Tenable Nessus Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Tenable Nessus, Wiz, Microsoft Defender for Cloud and more!

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 Wiz: Tenable Nessus vs Wiz. Tenable Nessus is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 50% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 41% of all views.

Helped 832,138 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

HarshBhardiya

SOC Engineer at Just Dial Limited

The user interface of Tenable Nessus feels outdated and could be more user-friendly. Additionally, the documentation is not well-organized, which can be confusing when searching for solutions or specific information related to Tenable Nessus Professional. The reporting feature could be improved by allowing users to create their own templates instead of relying on predefined ones.

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Matthew Weisler

Sole Proprietor at Core-Infosec

The solution has a single price for unlimited assets. Value wise, the solution is also great for pen testers and consultants. The solution is useful for vulnerability and patch management from both the internal and public facing sides. Quick assessments, compliance scores, and results are provided without having to do agents.

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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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Tenable Nessus mindshare

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Tenable Nessus in the Vulnerability Management category stands at 10.8%, down from 14.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Vulnerability Management	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Tenable Nessus vs Wiz	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Tenable Nessus vs Qualys VMDR	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Tenable Nessus vs Tenable Security Center	Feb 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Wiz	4.5	10.9%	100%	20 interviews Add to research
Microsoft Defender for Cloud	4.0	5.1%	94%	74 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Tenable Nessus excels with comprehensive vulnerability detection and management, offering vast platform coverage and flexible scanning options. Users value its ease, reliable reports, rapid issue identification, and effective remediation guidance. The reporting system is user-friendly; integration capabilities enhance user operations. Automated and customizable features ensure high-quality testing and compliance. Affordable pricing and predictive prioritization of threats align with real-world exploits, supporting proactive security measures. The tool is recognized for its stability, scalability, and strong training resources.

"The support has been really cooperative."
"Tenable Nessus has provided increased visibility across the organization's servers."
"The scanning and reporting features are the most valuable aspects of Tenable Nessus."

Room for Improvement

Tenable Nessus needs enhancements in reporting, customization, and user interface. Integration with other tools and a more intuitive dashboard would improve usability. Users seek better vulnerability management, including predictive prioritization and false positive reduction. The cloud transition and flexible licensing are also areas for growth. The scanner should support additional IT assets like mobile devices and offer better documentation to aid in configuration and deployment.

"The user interface of Tenable Nessus feels outdated and could be more user-friendly."
"The user interface of Tenable Nessus feels outdated and could be more user-friendly."
"Sometimes, the categorization for clients was tricky at first, however, they eventually got used to it."

ROI

Tenable Nessus improves security by identifying vulnerabilities and enabling preemptive fixes. Users acknowledge the difficulty in quantifying ROI for security investments but recognize its importance, comparing it to insurance. Nessus aids in cost and time savings, enhances visibility of threats, and helps meet crucial requirements. Many rate it highly for proactive discovery of vulnerabilities, patch deployment, and efficient vulnerability management. Its ability to provide network visibility and tighten controls has been positively received.

Pricing

Enterprise users find Tenable Nessus pricing competitive, with a fixed cost structure that includes annual licensing fees covering a set number of hosts. Costs typically range from $2,500 to $6,000 per year, making it affordable compared to other solutions. Although some deem it expensive, especially for smaller organizations, others appreciate its cost-benefit ratio. Discounts and flexible licensing options are available, and the solution offers reasonable pricing for the provided features and performance.

"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

Users employ Tenable Nessus primarily for vulnerability management and scanning of internal and external networks, including web applications, servers, workstations, and network devices. The tool aids in vulnerability assessment, compliance scanning, and risk evaluation. It assists in identifying security vulnerabilities, conducting remediation, and ensuring security posture across various environments, including cloud and on-premises, for organizations ranging from small businesses to large enterprises. Regular scans help maintain security compliance.

Service and Support

Tenable Nessus support is generally considered good, being responsive and helpful. Email and dashboards are common communication channels. They efficiently solve issues, although response times can occasionally be slow. Challenges exist with custom development work and API documentation clarity. Users find the support both user-friendly and knowledgeable, with a strong turnaround time. The support's effectiveness varies, particularly for small customers or licensing matters, but overall satisfaction remains high. Some rely on community resources and internal expertise.

Deployment

Tenable Nessus's initial setup is described by many as straightforward and easy. Multiple users mention the installation process is quick, often taking just a few hours or less. While a few note moderate complexity or challenges, especially in diverse environments, assistance from partners or documentation often aids in the process. The interface is intuitive, and users can quickly configure and deploy scans. Tenable Nessus typically requires minimal effort, making deployment efficient and manageable.

Scalability

Tenable Nessus is seen as scalable by many, with users praising its ability to handle hundreds to thousands of endpoints effectively. Some note challenges with specific large environments, internet bandwidth, and cloud server issues, but expansion is often tied to licensing adjustments. While some smaller enterprises utilize it seamlessly, scalability concerns arise in larger settings, particularly with data retention and storage. Most users report easy maintenance and stress its capability to manage substantial scaling demands efficiently.

Stability

Users report Tenable Nessus as highly stable, with no major issues like crashes or bugs. Performance is consistent across different environments, and it effectively handles scheduled tasks and scans. Some users encountered minor issues with updates, false positives, and configuration but resolved them. Stability ratings are frequently high, with many awarding it a ten out of ten. Tenable Nessus remains reliable and efficient, especially when setup requirements are met properly.

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

41%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Manufacturing Company

University

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Comms Service Provider

Insurance Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Media Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Transportation Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Performing Arts

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services 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.”