What is our primary use case?
Our security setup utilizes Qualys TotalCloud to assess our Azure environment's compliance with CIS and Azure best practices. We recently added the Qualys Software-as-a-Service Detection Response (SDR) module to further enhance our cloud security posture management.
We implemented Qualys TotalCloud to gain better insight into our environment.
How has it helped my organization?
TotalCloud offers written explanations to guide us through fixing security vulnerabilities and reducing cyber risks. For instance, if we click on a finding like "ensure public access level is set to private for block containers" a CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations benchmark, TotalCloud will not only tell us which specific container is failing but also provide remediation steps. These steps include a clear, step-by-step guide to fix the issue directly from the Azure console or command line, making it easy to address security risks.
After deploying TotalCloud and configuring the connectors for Azure, we quickly gained visibility into our cloud security posture. While the initial setup gathers data, the overall process is swift and delivers immediate insights.
TotalCloud offers a unified way to assess vulnerabilities and threats across both Asset-as-a-service and software-as-a-service applications. While an additional module, Software Detection Response, is required for the same level of detail in SaaS assessments, it integrates seamlessly with TotalCloud and gathers information through the Azure connector. Similarly, the SDR component is used for Microsoft 365 environments, consolidating all threat data into a single report.
It has significantly enhanced our posture management insight and awareness. It provides a valuable third-party perspective, highlighting potential security issues we might have missed with Microsoft's built-in settings. This independent view offers a more objective assessment, similar to having a security expert unaffiliated with Microsoft or any specific platform.
TotalCloud summarizes our cloud security risks in a single view, prioritizing the most important ones. It allows us to generate reports based on severity levels (critical, high, medium) and offers pre-built dashboards like the Azure one, which highlights the most critical control failures along with the number of affected resources. This way, we can focus on addressing the most urgent issues first.
We can use TruRisk in TotalCloud to view a risk score for our virtual machines. This score indicates the overall security posture of the machine, along with details on identified vulnerabilities confirmed and potential. While the TruRisk score is a valuable integration, I haven't had the chance to fully explore its functionalities in our environment yet.
What is most valuable?
While automatic inventory detection upon connection is a helpful feature, a truly valuable capability is assessing an environment's security posture against Azure and CIS best practices.
What needs improvement?
The cloud licensing unit system is somewhat unclear, especially since "units" aren't well-defined. While I'm getting the hang of it, the calculator remains confusing. Overall, simplifying the licensing model would be a big improvement.
Buyer's Guide
Qualys TotalCloud
January 2025
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For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Qualys TotalCloud for one year. However, I have been using Qualys solutions for over 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Qualys TotalCloud is extremely stable. We have not had any issues at all.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Qualys TotalCloud scales effectively for businesses of all sizes. Just like other Qualys solutions, it can handle both small and large environments. Their massive back-end infrastructure is built for scalability, so it can seamlessly adapt to your needs. Our company is on the smaller side but I've seen TotalCloud function smoothly in environments much larger than ours.
How was the initial setup?
There are instructions on how to set up our connectors. Once the connectors are set up and connecting, TotalCloud pulls down what it needs, and it's pretty much it.
While the initial deployment itself was straightforward, it required someone with Azure platform admin rights. Since I lacked those privileges, I needed assistance to handle that aspect. Fortunately, the clear instructions allowed the admin to complete their part without issue. The Qualys configuration, on the other hand, I was able to manage easily. In a small environment where one person might have full access, this entire process would likely be much simpler.
As long as the appropriate rights are in place, one person can deploy Qualys TotalCloud.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented TotalCloud ourselves. Our organization also offers consulting. That's what we do. We have a lot of senior-level people here. The Qualys platform's clear instructions allow for independent setup, though it may take longer for those unfamiliar with the process. Utilizing a consultant can expedite the implementation for those new to Qualys.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
TotalCloud's price is about right where I would expect it to be.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
After researching various solutions like Wiz, I realized most other solutions focus on a single security aspect. Qualys TotalCloud stands out with its full cloud posture management and integration with our existing VMDR and patch management systems. This unified platform offers valuable metadata from one source, unlike other solutions that require managing multiple vendors and systems.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Qualys TotalCloud ten out of ten.
Qualys TotalCloud is designed for continuous operation, eliminating the need for scheduled maintenance. It automatically synchronizes with your cloud environment, be it Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud, to stay up-to-date.
If you have a trusted partner familiar with Qualys, leverage their expertise. Also collaborate with the assigned Qualys Technical Account Manager. Don't hesitate to ask questions; both Qualys' TAMs and the Qualys community are valuable resources. Qualys offers free training and online documentation to help you with most tasks.
I recommend Qualys TotalCloud to others.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor. The reviewer's company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller