Qualys VMDR Reviews

Qualys VMDR is used as a vulnerability management tool. We have more than a thousand users in our company, and we have integrated Qualys with their machines to help update software and measure known or unknown risks, prioritize them, and patch the devices. We monitor and mitigate alerts, and we find vulnerabilities in specific machines or systems, which we then address.

Before implementing Qualys, we used third-party companies to conduct vulnerability audits and paid them separately for mitigation. With Qualys, we now conduct our vulnerability management and mitigation internally, saving both time and money since we can monitor every system and threat without requiring manual processes or third-party involvement. This has resulted in significant ROI and reduced the risk of breaches.

The best features of Qualys VMDR are its patch management capabilities and the ability to mitigate vulnerabilities automatically. The report export feature allows us to see how many incidents have been mitigated and which ones still need attention. The compliance dashboard helps us track and fix threats efficiently, ensuring all machines comply with security standards.

The user interface (UI) is quite complicated. Initial-stage engineers or analysts might miss something due to the complexity. Also, for hybrid users, the agent might get disconnected, requiring users to revisit the office to reinstall the agent. Additionally, the reports could be more interactive.

I have had five years of experience with cybersecurity platforms and have been using Qualys VMDR for that duration.

I would rate the stability of the solution nine out of ten. It is a robust platform that provides consistent performance.

For scalability, I would rate it nine or 9.5 out of ten. The cloud-based architecture allows us to deploy it across multiple locations seamlessly.

The technical support provided by Qualys is good. Queries are responded to promptly, and if needed, we can contact the TAM or any POCs directly. I would rate their support nine out of ten.

Before using Qualys, we used a third-party solution for vulnerability audits and mitigations. However, we switched to Qualys because it allows us to handle everything internally, avoiding the need for additional external services.

The initial setup is agent-based and straightforward, especially if you have necessary tools like Active Directory. Given the cloud-based nature of Qualys, deployment can be completed within a day with appropriate resources.

We have seen a significant ROI with Qualys, which is estimated to be around twenty to thirty percent. It has saved a lot of time and money by allowing us to mitigate issues without user interaction and preventing breaches.

Compared to Tenable, Qualys is quite expensive. However, its performance justifies the cost, making it a worthwhile investment.

We also use Tenable Solutions for vulnerability management. However, Tenable requires manual processes for mitigation, whereas Qualys allows for automated mitigation of vulnerabilities and threats.

I would definitely recommend Qualys to other users. Depending on the number of users and specific needs, Qualys is a good vulnerability management product that offers efficient solutions. I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

We use the product for enterprise network infrastructure scanning.

The product has multiple valuable areas. The process of defining and discovering scans is organized efficiently. It has an effective tagging system and authentication mechanism compared to other tools. Its integration with AD helps us a lot. Additionally, I like the report generation feature.

Qualys could improve the inbuilt dashboards. They could be advanced compared to competitors like Rapid7 and Tenable. They should include a faster reverse integration process. They could enhance its integration with ServiceNow CMDB to ensure that mapping IP addresses, domains, and net bias names is consistent and accurate.

We have been using Qualys VMDR for nearly two and a half years.

I rate the product's stability a nine out of ten. I have rarely seen any stability issues with Qualys.

I rate the product's scalability an eight out of ten. We only recommend some people use Qualys in our organization. It is a limited audience. It is used by the vulnerability management team and a few critical resources from different parts of the cybersecurity department. We have 50 users in total. They should provide role-based access for managers, reviewers, and scanners.

The initial setup process is simple as I have prior experience working on two full-time projects with it. I find it simple as I have enough background knowledge of it.

The product is more expensive than that of any other vendor.

I did work on Tenable's POC and some other vendors. It has some limitations in detecting different types of vulnerabilities or false positives. Qualys is on the higher side when compared to the other tools.

I rate the product an eight out of ten.

We are managing hundreds of AWS and several on-premises accounts using Qualys agents and scanners to provide data inputs for Qualys. We are using several of the Qualys modules, VMDR, Cloud Agents, Connectors along with Global Asset View (GAV).  GAV dynamic tagging is valuable for tracking owners of assets.   

Qualys' main function is to provide us with vulnerability management information for our end users and is a major input to our CMDB.  We rely on a combination of agents and scans to provide us with the system data.   

We are seeing more of the issues we suspected were there. Qualys is allowing us to get an overall picture of our Risk posture. It has enabled us to identify assets we did not know existed.  

However, Qualys has not enabled us to get a complete picture of our risk posture, due to our own limitations in our deployments and limitations in the Qualys back end, dashboards, UI, connector reliability, and the limitations of the Qualys Scripting Language (QSL).  

Qualys implementation requires dedicated back-end support from various teams which was not clearly explained to us or planned for. 

Cloud Agents: lots of control available and very trouble-free. It pulls all systems information, including installed software and open ports. It's very configurable to adjust impact to systems.  

Connectors: Pulls all the cloud information per account and helps to build a CMDB.  Qualys connectors do some control evaluations to help manage these accounts. 

Global Asset View (GAV): With the ability to establish dynamic tagging and perform queries GAV has become a very valuable research tool to our teams. 

Support: It's often overseas and often following a script, basically asking us to redo what we opened the case with. 

Multiple APIs: There seems to be a lack of easy onboarding into Qualys. We had to use manual inputs and some API calls to get items in place. 

Dashboard: It is very rudimentary with very little customization. The Qualys Scripting Language (QSL) works differently in different Qualys modules, so when you get it working in one area you have to modify the syntax in others.  

User account management: We often have to give users more rights than needed just to give them what they need. 

Integration with the various Qualys Modules: You can tell the UI is different based on of the different teams that created them. 

QSL syntax same in all modules

Responsiveness of some of the components: They time out, you get a blank screen, etc.

Backend updates between the various modules: You update connectors and information takes a few minutes to show in VMDR or Global Asset View

Connectors: Connectors have a throttling issue with AWS which causes them to frequently fail unless you manually run them again. 

I've used the solution for three years.

Stability is not the issue. However, the reliably of the different modules is a concern. I have never seen all of Qualys go down. 

The solution is very scalable (with a matching cost, in that, it gets expensive as you grow). 

Our CSM has awesome, however, support is often overseas at conflicting hours.  Support seems to follow scripts and forces us to go through the same scripts. Some solutions required months from Qualys to implement. 

Negative

We used Tenable.IO which we found very limited. However, in our other cloud environment, we had to use Teanble.SC with which we were able to use a Lambda function and a few API calls to make it operate very well in the cloud. 

The setup is complex in many ways, from setting up agents and connectors to trying to create dashboards that fit our needs.  

We managed the setup in-house.

Management is very concerned about the cost of using Qualys; it keeps going up as we pursue 100% deployment. 

The price is very high and escalates quickly based on the number of appliances you need. 

We evaluated Tenable.SC and Rapid7.

If you're going to deploy Qualys it is key to have someone dedicated to supporting the back end, making sure all the components are working as expected.  This is not a fire-and-forget solution. 

The use cases would be for scanning purposes, for identifying assets, identifying and viewing assets, and setting up scan schedules. I use it primarily as a vulnerability management and scanning tool.

When you have everything in one place, the job is very easy. Qualys VMDR having a Russian nesting doll sort of environment does take a steep learning curve, but having everything in one place is quite neat.

The most valuable feature is the asset view where I can find individual assets and take a deeper dive into their information gathering section, potential vulnerabilities, and confirmed vulnerabilities. I also value the scheduling of scans and reports as per the desired timeframes.

The reporting section needs improvement as running reports can take several hours. A more intuitive way to configure reports settings to reduce run time would be helpful. Improvements are needed for sorting QIDs and findings during the reporting section without downloading the entire report. 

Additionally, there is a need to address the issue of retaining report sections when they exceed one or two GBs. For asset management, adding a notification for unscanned assets or those missing CVE ratings would help.

I have been using it for close to three and a half to four years now.

There are rarely any stability issues. Discrepancies are usually anticipated due to the downtime and maintenance window provided in advance. It's a technological tool, and random anomalies may happen, but they are manageable.

Qualys offers one of the best scalability capabilities for large-scale deployments. Its tools and solutions work effectively with large corporations. VMDR helps club multiple vulnerabilities into one QID, which assists with remediation cycles.

Customer support is fast, although there can be a lot of back and forth. However, the overall service is satisfactory and of great quality.

Positive

I have used Nessus and Burp Suite, however, Burp Suite isn't in close proximity with Qualys for scanning purposes. Microsoft Defender offers some advantages with real-time, agent-based scanning that consumes fewer resources.

The initial setup was quite simple and straightforward. Setting up Qualys was fairly easy with clear documentation and guidance.

I am not familiar with the pricing side as I am not a part of that aspect. However, it is on the higher side, but it provides large-scale scalability for vulnerability management.

I have evaluated Nessus and Microsoft Defender for vulnerability management.

Users should go through the training offered by Qualys for all VMDR modules and take an introductory call on how to use and schedule tasks. Setting up one thing at a time and testing the desired results before moving on is advised.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

I am working for an IT firm where I use Qualys VMDR for my clients. I specifically use it for vulnerability detection and vulnerability remediation as part of our vulnerability assessment team. We scan all the assets for vulnerabilities, both servers and client-side, and then share the vulnerability reports with the relevant teams for remediation planning.

The continuous scanning for vulnerabilities, especially the notifications for zero-day vulnerabilities, greatly aids in keeping our systems secure. The accurate vulnerability assessments and the remediation plans they provide enhance our workflow and effectiveness in vulnerability management.

The most valuable feature is the vulnerability assessment. Qualys VMDR is precise in its assessments and categorizes vulnerabilities by severity from one to five. Additionally, they provide detailed reports and possible remediation steps, such as updating from Java version 3.4 to a more secure version.

Qualys VMDR could improve in reducing the occurrences of false positive vulnerabilities. Enhancing this aspect would make the tool even more effective.

I have been using Qualys VMDR for two years.

There are no issues with stability. They notify us of any scheduled downtime a week in advance, usually planning it for weekends to avoid disrupting business operations.

Qualys VMDR handles scalability very well. It offers extensive features and facilities to create groups for assets or servers, making it easy to add new environments or data centers for scanning.

I have heard that their technical support team is very responsive and takes quick action when needed. However, I have never interacted with them personally.

Positive

We have used ZixSense, also known as Ivanti Neurons. ZixSense is more user-friendly than Qualys, however, the latter provides more comprehensive and accurate vulnerability assessments.

The initial setup of Qualys VMDR was easy. We just had to open the Qualys tool, add the IP addresses of the respective servers or hostnames, and start scanning. Access to vulnerability assessment is only provided via IP addresses, not hostnames.

Any changes or maintenance required are managed by the Qualys team following change requests from our upper management.

New users should complete two training programs from the Qualys training center: Qualys Foundation and Qualys VMDR. These certifications provide the necessary knowledge to set up and use Qualys effectively. Qualys also provides a demo trial account for new users.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

We use Qualys VMDR to scan our public websites and products, anywhere that is publicly available. We deploy it through Qualys's cloud scanner.

Qualys VMDR provides us with a quick response to threat findings through regular scheduled scanning, which improves our security operations. It also offers an impressive knowledge base for quick research results and coverage of all vulnerabilities.

The knowledge base is the most impressive feature because it provides quick research results and coverage of all vulnerabilities. Additionally, the real-time threat detection feature provides quick responses to threat findings.

Qualys VMDR should improve authenticated scanning capabilities. It currently only allows basic authorization tokens and preset parameters. In contrast, Burp's in-built browser works more like a proxy, which makes security testing easier and more accurate. Pricing is also an issue; it's high enough to deter mid-sized to small companies. Moreover, the technical support is slow and tends to just reference documentation rather than providing real technical assistance.

I have been using it personally for five years, while my company has been using it for three years.

The technical support is slow to respond. Most likely, they just provide reference links for documentation instead of offering in-depth technical guidance. This level of support doesn't compare well to others like Cisco, Juniper, or Avaya, which offer more hands-on assistance.

Neutral

This goes beyond my scope of responsibilities and is managed by my superior.

The pricing for Qualys products is too high, and the licensing model involves paying for the whole bundle, which may not be affordable for mid-sized to small companies.

We are currently looking for alternatives to Qualys by researching competitor products on the market.

For midsize to small-size companies, Qualys might not be the best choice if you don't have enough funding for security due to its high pricing. Qualys VMDR is still recommended for comprehensive vulnerability management but be prepared for slow technical support.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

Our primary use case of the product is comprehensive vulnerability management and asset inventory across a hybrid environment consisting of both cloud and on-premises deployments. We manage approximately 45,000 endpoints spread across multiple geographical locations.

The platform's most valuable features include its robust vulnerability detection capabilities and automated remediation workflows. These features not only help us identify vulnerabilities promptly but also enable us to prioritize and remediate them efficiently.

While Qualys VMDR is comprehensive, improvements in asset management functionality would be beneficial. Additionally, reducing dependency on multiple agents for data collection across different endpoints could simplify management and resource utilization.

In the next release, enhancements in reporting and analytics would be appreciated. Advanced analytics capabilities for trend analysis and predictive insights could further empower proactive decision-making in cybersecurity management.

I have been using Qualys VMDR for approximately two years now.

The product is stable. I rate the stability a seven. 

I rate the product scalability an eight. 

The technical support services are good. 

Positive

The initial setup was relatively straightforward. They provided comprehensive documentation and support during deployment, which helped streamline the process. 

I would rate the process a seven or eight. 

We implemented the product with the help of in-house resources and support from Qualys.

We evaluated other options such as Tenable and Rapid7.

I rate Qualys VMDR a nine out of ten. 

I primarily use Qualys VMDR for daily scans, onboarding assets, scanning, reporting, and managing the entire vulnerability management process, including test management.

VMDR has significantly improved our organization by simplifying asset discovery and management. We can easily identify and categorize assets, ensuring comprehensive scanning and reporting.

Qualys Patch Management is excellent for keeping our critical servers and third-party applications updated efficiently.

One area of the product that could be improved is the management of vulnerabilities detected on disabled applications. We currently face challenges with unnecessary alerts for Microsoft Defender, which we do not use. Additionally, enhancing the alerts for agent communication failures would be beneficial.

I have been using Qualys VMDR for approximately three years.

The product has been very reliable in our day-to-day operations.

I would rate the product scalability a ten. It easily scales with our organization's growth, allowing us to add new assets and expand our coverage seamlessly. We are considering expanding our deployment to include 500 assets next year.

The initial setup was straightforward, taking less than a week to configure and generate reports. The deployment process was smooth, and we were able to integrate it effectively into our hybrid environment.

Within three months of deployment, we began seeing improvements in vulnerability management. This helped us significantly reduce vulnerabilities and streamline our patch management processes, providing a notable return on investment.

The solution is reasonably priced for the value it provides. Our contract renewal was approximately 2.5 million ZAR for three years, including managed services.

Before selecting Qualys VMDR, we evaluated other options but ultimately chose Qualys due to its comprehensive features and effective proof of concept.

We integrate Qualys VMDR with our infrastructure, conducting weekly scans and generating reports based on the findings. This provides daily views of vulnerabilities, and we use Qualys' patch management to deploy patches promptly, starting with the most severe vulnerabilities, thus reducing our threat exposure. Conducting a thorough proof of concept is essential to evaluate its effectiveness in your environment and to see how it integrates with your existing systems and handles your specific security needs.

I rate it a ten out of ten. 

Our use cases are primarily on-premises vulnerability management and remediation, external attack surface management and vulnerability scanning.

The benefits I've seen are twofold. The biggest benefit is from a security operations perspective, where we are able to drive our security posture upwards by remediating any discovered vulnerabilities. We can also automate the remediation process. The other big benefit is executive reporting because it's very easy to produce trends over time to report on risk.

The most valuable features are vulnerability detection, patching capabilities, and remediation. Cloud security posture management is also very valuable. I find these features valuable because getting a unified view of your cloud security posture across different environments is not always easy. For example, you might have most of your resources sitting in Azure, but you might have a couple of workloads in AWS. Naturally, there are different tools that report on that, so it's invaluable to have those pulled into a single dashboard so you can drive your remediation from a single platform.

If anything, I would like to see the user interface modernized a bit more. Also, there are a lot of various modules, and if they could be consolidated into fewer options, it would make the buying experience easier.

I've been working with Qualys VMDR for the last three years or so.

We haven’t faced any issues, the solution is very stable.

Because the management sits in the cloud, you don't have to worry about management appliances or anything like that on-premise, so the solution is very scalable. You can split your assets into asset groups and delegate management to different teams. Around 1,000 users are using Qualys in my organization across 60 locations.

We've had very few technical issues, and the customer support team has quickly resolved issues we've had.

Positive

In the first step, Qualys provisions your cloud-based management instance. From there, you get a small, lightweight agent deployed by deployment technology like Microsoft Intune, in our case, SCCM, or any deployment technology.

We worked with BCX Namibia and the Qualys team in South Africa while deploying the solution. It took two weeks to deploy the solution. The solution is not difficult to maintain because the management component is cloud-based and is taken care of by Qualys. Any agent upgrades that might be necessary are very seamless.

We have seen an ROI using Qualys. Most breaches nowadays are because of a vulnerability that is exploited. By virtue of being able to identify and remediate these vulnerabilities, I believe we are significantly driving our cybersecurity risk downwards.

The pricing is very competitive, especially because Qualys is integrated and does vulnerability management and remediation patching in one solution, so there's no need for a separate patching solution. You can also get very granular with the amount of IP addresses you can cover. You can go from as few as 16 IP addresses to many more. And the Qualys team is also willing to work with organizations to make the solution make commercial sense. The prices are fixed. We have a yearly subscription model based on the number of IP addresses we’re scanning.

We evaluated vulnerability management in Microsoft Defender, but we found the reporting and functionality lacking compared to Qualys. And then the Microsoft licensing costs were also a bit of a dealbreaker.

If you're considering implementing Qualys in your organization, work with a strong pre-sales partner. Evaluate the product, make sure it does what you need, make sure you buy the features that you need, and make sure to use the training and onboarding material that Qualys has made available on its website so you can leverage the solution's full capability from the start. I rate Qualys VMDR a nine out of ten.

We use it for vulnerability management and report generation mostly. I am trying to solve the issue wherein the stakeholders can get automated vulnerability reports to their mailbox.

Using this product, we now have a vulnerability management cycle wherein VMDR plays a major role. It has greatly increased the capability on the detection aspect of the vulnerability and improved our scope and visibility on all other endpoints.

I like the automated report generation and vulnerability report generation.

I don't have any improvement requests on top of my mind right now. The response time of technical support takes a while.

It's been more than two years now.

I would rate the stability as nine out of ten. It's quite stable.

The solution is scalable.

My rating for the technical support for Qualys is six out of ten. The response time takes a while.

Neutral

I personally didn't use a different solution before Qualys.

Although I was not present during the initial deployment process, it's pretty straightforward. It's just an agent installation, which automatically connects it to the cloud platform, so the implementation won't take as long.

I would recommend Qualys VMDR to the other stakeholders because it already has its place in the market, and it's very reliable.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.