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Amit Beniwal - PeerSpot reviewer
Project Manager at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
Jul 14, 2024
Discovers all the assets and identifies existing vulnerabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "You can then direct your team to create a report on the discovered vulnerabilities."
  • "Tenable Nessus could include a broader range of IT assets."

What is our primary use case?

We do infrastructure audits in the state, and we have a lot of organizations and customers for which we do security assessments.

How has it helped my organization?

Nessus assists you to complete the job in a shorter period of time. It discovers all the assets and identifies existing vulnerabilities in the environment. 

You can then direct your team to create a report on the discovered vulnerabilities. Basically, you can use Tenable to shorten the activity and get faster results.

What needs improvement?

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.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with it for ten years.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Tenable is a stable solution. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Tenable's scalability is good. I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten. 

How are customer service and support?

We have no issues with support.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We had used some open-source solutions previously.

We made a switch to Tenable Nessus because of the vulnerability coverage. It has a huge scope.

How was the initial setup?

Nessus is quite easy. It is quite easy to deploy, quite easy for my team to use this software for vulnerability scanning. So it is very easy. 

I would rate my experience with the initial setup a nine out of ten, with ten being easy. 

It took one to two hours.

What about the implementation team?

We do this in-house. We, ourselves, deployed this solution. 

Sometimes we take assistance from the OEM or the reseller, but generally, we make it an in-house activity.

What was our ROI?

There is a ROI in terms of cost savings, time savings and more. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We have one user license at present. The price is okay. I would give it a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend it to others. It's a good solution. Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten. In every aspect, it is good. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Matthew Weisler - PeerSpot reviewer
Sole Proprietor at a tech services company with self employed
Real User
Top 10
Feb 18, 2023
Unlimited assets for one price and quick, agentless results
Pros and Cons
  • "Quick assessments, compliance scores, and results are provided without having to do agents."
  • "It would be nice for the professional module to include some of the reports available in the expert module."

What is our primary use case?

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 provides some other EDR results. 

I have also used the solution in environments where customers only want to pay for master's licensing and conduct vulnerability scanning for 100 to 12,000 endpoints. It took 23 days to create a security center from that page with data imports and API plugins. 

It really just depends on what you need, where your money lies, and what you want to get from the solution at the endpoints. 

What is most valuable?

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. 

What needs improvement?

It would be nice for the professional module to include some of the reports available in the expert module. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable so stability is rated a ten out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is not an issue for the solution itself because it is a software. Scalability really depends on your hardware. 

How are customer service and support?

I have not needed technical support. A colleague reported that a licensing issue took two weeks to resolve. A bigger client was trying to buy five licenses and it took two months. It seems most issues revolve around purchasing or upgrading licenses.  

How was the initial setup?

The setup is straightforward. 

What about the implementation team?

I implement the solution for customers. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution has a single price for unlimited assets and offers both professional and expert modules. The professional module is agentless. The expert module costs around $2,000 and includes agents. 

What other advice do I have?

Be sure you have an appropriate amount of time available if you are not running an agent-based system. Pulling in results for 15,000 endpoints takes time because the solution can only fetch data for eight to ten endpoints at a time. You have to scan or you will have network traffic load issues. 

I rate the solution a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Assistant Director for Computing and Network infrastructure at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 10
Mar 14, 2024
Helps to conduct monthly scans and open tickets for developers to address identified vulnerabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "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."
  • "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."

What is our primary use case?

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. 

What needs improvement?

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. 

It would be beneficial if it could handle minor additions to versions similar to how Debian manages its patches. This feature would allow it to differentiate between patched and non-patched versions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Tenable Nessus is very stable. We encountered some issues with scanning certain network equipment but resolved them by adjusting the parameters. Our main focus is scanning our servers; we haven't experienced any significant problems with that process.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

My company has three users. 

How are customer service and support?

We haven't contacted Tenable Nessus for assistance or questions because we haven't encountered any serious issues, and we are generally satisfied with the product.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We chose Tenable Nessus because we primarily rely on open-source products as a publicly funded institution. About ten years ago, we conducted research to determine the best option, and at that time, it stood out as the preferred choice.

How was the initial setup?

Tenable Nessus' deployment is straightforward. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is free. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product a nine out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Former Employee of Orange Business Services as Head of Security Engineering at a comms service provider with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
May 11, 2023
A simple to use stable solution providing good security but needs improvement in user-management
Pros and Cons
  • "Security is the key number because it can start to scan with a few clicks instead of credits, which is a bit complicated. So simplicity is the first advantage. Then the generated reports are well done and easy to present to management. The quality of the scan is quite good in detecting the severity. The solution has simplicity. Also, it has frequent updates so that is also a valuable feature."
  • "In Nessus Professional, the main drawback was that we could have a single-user login password. So it could be better in terms of security."

What is our primary use case?

The tool was used mainly to do network and security scans in some designated areas. It was part of maintaining the ISO 27k certification for some countries, like Turkey, Egypt, and India. Another usage was that we had regular and yearly scans planned as part of policies on some other network areas that would do network management in the central region and Internet-shared network.

What is most valuable?

Security is the key number because it can start to scan with a few clicks compared to Qualys, which is a bit complicated. So simplicity is the first advantage. Then the generated reports are well done and easy to present to management. The quality of the scan is quite good in detecting the severity. The solution has simplicity. Also, it has frequent updates so that is also a valuable feature.

What needs improvement?

We've got several versions of Tenable, and the one we use is the professional. It's the only one I know because we did not explore others. It was called Nessus Professional, and it should not be confused with Nessus Enterprise, Tenable, or tenable.sc or tenable.io. In Nessus Professional, the main drawback was that we could have a single-user login password. So it could be better in terms of security. Of course, we could have as many users as we wanted, and we got about fifteen users, but we couldn't distinguish the rules in this solution. If you wanted to allow some people to do a scan of some areas and some other areas, we would have to go through an expensive version. So, with the professional edition, the management of users needed to be improved. We could have a new user-defined.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution since 2003.It has been twenty years.


What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution. Fifteen users are using the solution.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support team is good. But one drawback is that they must give more attention to small customers. We had only ten licenses in the professional mode, one of the cheapest.

So we found it easy to get attention and always found the solution.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We paid about six thousand dollars per license.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated Qualys but the pricing scheme was different so did not go with that. Although Tenable was much more limited than Qualys.

What other advice do I have?

People should use it because it is straightforward and simple. I would rate it seven out of ten, for the simplicity of usage and the quality of the security assessment that is done and the reporting.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Tharaka Shameera - PeerSpot reviewer
Intent Manager at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Sep 9, 2024
Identifies and addresses vulnerabilities but the dashboard needs improvement

What is our primary use case?

We use Tenable Nessus as a vulnerability management tool. It helps identify vulnerabilities in our system, how to address them, and what mitigation steps are required. We can assign high, medium, or low priority levels and schedule scans to run at specific times. The tool generates vulnerability assessment reports, valuable in our organization's environment for continuous security assessment.

How has it helped my organization?

We can onboard our organization's access and run scans as needed. We can also share the scan results every year and perform many other tasks with Tenable.

What is most valuable?

It’s a strong vulnerability assessment tool for management and serviceability. It is a reliable product that helps us identify vulnerabilities in our system effectively. I use it to scan our environment with SSM and generate vulnerability assessment reports.

What needs improvement?

The dashboard could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tenable Nessus for two years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Our team has 10-15 people using this solution. It’s a good tool for vulnerability assessment, and we can identify vulnerabilities in our organization. At this time, we can effectively use it within our organization.

I rate the solution’s scalability a nine out of ten.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is expensive.

I rate the product’s pricing an eight out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2154231 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Analyst at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Apr 14, 2023
You can customize the tool to scan exactly what you want
Pros and Cons
  • "My favorite part about Nessus is that you can customize the tool to scan exactly what you want. Microsoft releases new patches monthly on Patch Tuesday, and a lot of companies track that date. I set up Nessus for the day after Patch Tuesday to see which devices have already pushed those updates from Microsoft, so we can stay updated."
  • "You can scale Nessus to the extent that you can afford it. You need to have a license for every device you scan. As long as you can afford the increased costs, you won't have a problem scaling it."

What is our primary use case?

Tenable Nessus is vulnerability management software. We install Nessus scanners on all our workstations and laptops. It runs scans to check for outdated software and vulnerabilities. At the beginning of each month, I send notes out to the admins about what needs to be updated, and I check at the end of the month to make sure it's done. 

How has it helped my organization?

Nessus helps us keep our software up to date to avoid security vulnerabilities. It's a good tool for auditing our vulnerability management. 

What is most valuable?

My favorite part about Nessus is that you can customize the tool to scan exactly what you want. Microsoft releases new patches monthly on Patch Tuesday, and a lot of companies track that date. I set up Nessus for the day after Patch Tuesday to see which devices have already pushed those updates from Microsoft, so we can stay updated. 

Tenable stays on top of new IT trends in vulnerability management because there's constant innovation. They keep up with the industry. In the past few years, everything has shifted to cloud-based servers. It's a long-term trend that COVID accelerated. Tenable came out with a tool for that. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Nessus  is pretty stable if you have a disaster recovery plan in place. We've never had an outage. The stability depends on the servers where it is running. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

You can scale Nessus to the extent that you can afford it. You need to have a license for every device you scan. As long as you can afford the increased costs, you won't have a problem scaling it.

How are customer service and support?

I rate Tenable support 10 out of 10. They're top-of-the-line.  It's the best support I've worked with so far. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What other advice do I have?

I rate Tenable Nessus nine out of 10. I recommend creating a Tenable Community account. Tenable uses that for support, but they also have a massive library of training videos that they call Tenable University. You can also access the Tenable Community forums where experts and general users can share information and ask questions. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
CLAUDIO SANTOS - PeerSpot reviewer
Operation Director at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Reseller
Top 5Leaderboard
Sep 23, 2024
Automates scanning process, enhancing the ability to monitor the security landscape continuously
Pros and Cons
  • "It notifies us of vulnerabilities as they arise, allowing us to respond quickly without manual intervention."
  • "The product could have unique features similar to one of its competitors."

How has it helped my organization?

The platform is essential for vulnerability management tasks and integrates with various data management applications.

What needs improvement?

The product could have unique features similar to Qualys. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Tenable Nessus for about a year to a year and a half. We are using the latest version to ensure access to all the latest features.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

While Tenable offers a robust solution, the main competitor, Qualys, has some unique features. However, Tenable has a larger market share, indicating that it has undergone extensive testing and development based on customer feedback.

How was the initial setup?

The complexity of deploying Nessus largely depends on the customer's operational environment. If the environment has diverse systems, implementation may be more complex, while a more uniform system allows for easier setup.

The timeline for implementation could range from one week to several months based on these factors.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product pricing is dynamic and varies based on the specific needs of each project and customer.

Discounts can be offered based on competition and project requirements, making it a relative cost depending on the context.

What other advice do I have?

The solution automates vulnerability checks, which is crucial for our customers who cannot dedicate a team to monitor security issues constantly. It notifies us of vulnerabilities as they arise, allowing us to respond quickly without manual intervention.

It automates the scanning process, allowing us to schedule regular scans, generate reports, and receive notifications about critical vulnerabilities via email. It enhances our ability to monitor the security landscape continuously.

Overall, I rate it a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
PeerSpot user
Sereyreach Dy - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Infrastructure Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Reseller
Sep 7, 2023
A vulnerability assessment tool with patch management capabilities that offers ease of deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup of Tenable Nessus is very easy."
  • "The problems I faced with Tenable Nessus were related to its dashboard's customization capabilities and its ability to provide data to third-party sources."

What is our primary use case?

I use Tenable Nessus for vulnerability assessment so that you can scan for CVEs and existing CVEs. Tenable Nessus will show you the latest update on those vulnerabilities and where it needs patches, so it goes hand in hand with patch management. As soon as you scan, you can see whether it needs patching, and if needed, you can go ahead and deploy patch management to address the current issue.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of the solution are the policy and the active scan. The features are different for Tenable Security Center since it is more on an on-premises model. The solution also has features like Tenable.io and Tenable Web App Scanning.

What needs improvement?

I wouldn't want to change anything about Tenable Nessus since I haven't found or run into any issues in Tenable Nessus.

I like Tenable since I find everything related to the solution simplified and easy to use. You can approach the online community of Tenable when you run into a problem, and there is a bunch of information available there that you can gather and use for troubleshooting purposes.

I faced some problems with Tenable Nessus when dealing with some of our company's customers in China. The problems I faced with Tenable Nessus were related to its dashboard's customization capabilities and its ability to provide data to third-party sources. The solution should offer simplified data-sharing capabilities. Though we have the dashboards and can customize them, the options for customization are available in the templates provided by Tenable Nessus. It might not be possible with Tenable Nessus to add every component a person wants to a single dashboard since they can only choose whatever is available on the templates provided by Tenable Nessus. The aforementioned areas can be considered for improvement in the solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tenable Nessus for two months. My company operates as a reseller of the product while also having a partnership with the solution.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Around 90 percent of our company's customers work with Tenable Nessus.

How are customer service and support?

For the solution's technical support, our company directly seeks help from the solution's vendor in Vietnam or Singapore, who are very responsive. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Tenable Nessus is very easy. You can get the application's installation file and implement it faster than ManageEngine, making it a simple process. I rate the initial setup of Tenable Nessus a nine out of ten.

The solution is deployed on an on-premises model.

With Tenable Nessus, you have a file, and you just need to install it. In the on-premises model of the solution, you have a dashboard or console that you go to, which is like an internal website that you have set up so that you can get access to the on-premises version of the product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the product's price seven or eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price.

What other advice do I have?

Tenable Nessus is a great tool. I believe everyone should be using Tenable Nessus since it is a tool that can be used for vulnerability assessment when companies face some vulnerabilities to find security holes or threats.

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: December 2025
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Tenable Nessus Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.