

Qualys Web Application Scanning and Contrast Security Assess are competitors in the web application security tool category. Contrast Security Assess appears to have the upper hand due to its advanced features and real-time monitoring capabilities, despite higher pricing.
Features: Qualys Web Application Scanning is known for its thorough scanning, detailed reporting, and user-friendly interface. Contrast Security Assess offers real-time monitoring, seamless integration into development environments, and proactive vulnerability detection, making it feature-rich.
Room for Improvement: Qualys Web Application Scanning could enhance scalability, detection accuracy, and adaptiveness to emerging threats. Contrast Security Assess could improve documentation, simplify the setup process, and better adapt to rapidly evolving security landscapes.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys Web Application Scanning is appreciated for simple deployment and strong customer support, suitable for less experienced security teams. Contrast Security Assess, while effective, presents a steeper learning curve with users needing more setup guidance despite effective customer service.
Pricing and ROI: Qualys is known for competitive pricing and quick ROI, attracting cost-conscious buyers. Contrast Security Assess, with its extensive features, justifies higher costs by delivering substantial long-term ROI, particularly in complex environments.
In the past, my company employed five security engineers, but with Contrast Security Assess, we only have two people.
Contrast Security's customer support is very active and overall incredible.
They have various options in the vulnerability management process, and when we initially bought our license, we didn't realize we needed PCI for better results, which isn't included in the default configurations.
Once we purchase the license, we have access to top-notch support.
I have dealt with Qualys's technical support, and any enhancements are challenging.
It produces similar vulnerability results as other tools such as Nessus based on version checks instead of real impact checks.
At one point, there was a limitation on reporting for 100,000 assets at a time.
It is licensed for assets, so we just contact the team for additional licenses if needed.
Contrast Security Assess is genuinely more accurate than most tools I have worked with because it uses instrumentation from inside the application.
I would love to see more customizable, out-of-the-box reporting that speaks to both technical and non-technical people without extra configuration.
With the growing reliance on AI, Qualys Web Application Scanning should be updated to handle AI-based applications and LLM-based attacks.
Qualys Web Application Scanning does IP-level testing, requiring direct input of credentials, and can only scan a few pages to provide known generic vulnerabilities.
One area of improvement is reducing false positives by prioritizing agent findings over remote findings when there is a corresponding local agent finding.
The annual licensing for Contrast Security Assess costs about $20,000 to $100,000 per year, and per application, it costs about $5,000 to $15,000 per year.
They offer discounts on bulk licenses, making it cheaper compared to competitors like Veracode DAST.
I find it a bit expensive compared to other competitors.
Regarding pricing, I think for personal use, it is costly, but if organizations are ready to pay, then it is fine as they are using it.
The agent lives inside the running application, allowing it to see exactly what is happening in real-time. This means we are getting accurate alerts instead of a long list of potential issues that require manual investigation.
It effectively detects vulnerabilities like the OWASP Top 10 without any issues in reporting.
The product helps by providing options for remediating vulnerabilities it finds, making it really useful.
The advantage of Qualys Web Application Scanning lies in its user-friendly dashboard and appealing reports, which are useful for presentation to leadership.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Qualys Web Application Scanning | 1.7% |
| Contrast Security Assess | 1.6% |
| Other | 96.7% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 2 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 3 |
| Large Enterprise | 7 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 8 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 27 |
Contrast Security Assess is an IAST platform known for accurate vulnerability detection. It integrates into development workflows, offering real-time insights into security issues with minimal false positives, supporting legacy applications and enhancing code security visibility.
Designed to integrate seamlessly into DevOps workflows, Contrast Security Assess automates real-time vulnerability detection and reduces false positives through its powerful IAST features. By continuously monitoring vulnerabilities, it provides a robust option for securing legacy applications and identifying vulnerabilities without lengthy scans. This cloud-hosted platform supports numerous programming languages, making it versatile for security testing across enterprise environments. Users benefit from detailed reports that pinpoint exact code locations requiring remediation, enhancing speed and efficiency in addressing security concerns.
What are the key features of Contrast Security Assess?Companies in industries requiring high levels of application security, such as finance and healthcare, implement Contrast Security Assess for its ability to enhance visibility and detect vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle. Its seamless integration with DevOps processes makes it ideal for environments that prioritize agility while maintaining stringent security standards.
Qualys Web Application Scanning offers advanced vulnerability management, progressive scheduling, and seamless integration with DevOps environments. Its user-friendly design enables enterprises to enhance security with comprehensive scanning and detailed forensic insights.
Qualys Web Application Scanning addresses enterprise-level security challenges by providing robust solutions for vulnerability management, penetration testing, and compliance checks. While easing the navigation process, it supports risk mitigation with precise risk ratings, minimal false positives, and detailed reporting. However, it faces challenges with its complex interface, authenticated scanning, and automation features. Integrating smoothly with CI/CD pipelines, it is suitable for continuous and automated scanning, adapting to diverse company requirements.
What are the standout features of Qualys Web Application Scanning?Organizations across sectors like education, banking, and international data centers leverage Qualys Web Application Scanning for conducting penetration testing, scanning web applications, and managing vulnerabilities. It aids in audit security and compliance, identifying threats, and generating user-friendly reports, making it a valuable asset for maintaining strong security postures.
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