Top 14 Vulnerability Scanners for Cybersecurity Professionals

Vulnerability scanners are valuable tools that search for and report on what known vulnerabilities are present in an organization’s IT infrastructure. Using a vulnerability scanner is a simple, but critical security practice that every organization can benefit from. These scans can give an organization an idea of what security threats they may be facing by giving insights into potential security weaknesses present in their environment.

Many organizations use multiple vulnerability scanners to ensure they’re getting full coverage of every asset, creating a complete picture. Over the years, many different scanners have been developed, providing a lot of different options and features. Here's a list of several, in alphabetical order:

1. Acunetix

Acunetix is a web vulnerability scanner that features advanced crawling technology to find vulnerabilities to search every type of web page—even those that are password protected.

2. beSECURE

beSECURE is a self-service vulnerability scanner from Beyond Security that can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. This solution offers both network and web application scanning and has a vulnerability database that is updated daily. BeSECURE focuses on efficiency and accuracy. Set up is simple and users can get started in minutes with a practical interface and automation capabilities. Additionally, with patented technology, scans have near-zero false positives.

3. Burp Suite

Burp Suite is a web vulnerability scanner that is frequently updated, and integrates with bug tracking systems like Jira for simple ticket generation.

4. GFI Languard

GFI Languard is a network and web application vulnerability scanner that can automatically deploy patches across multiple operating systems, third-party applications, and web browsers.

5. Fortra Vulnerability Management

Fortra VM is a patented network vulnerability scanner that is a part of a cloud-native SaaS security platform. This security platform also offers web application scanning as well as other vulnerability management and threat assessment technology. Fortra VM focuses on accurate and accessible risk assessment, with features like Security GPA®, a informed metric that takes into account both the network security posture rating and the business risk associated with discovered vulnerabilities. Risk ratings are also tailored to an environment with risk rating based on the device’s criticality to the organization’s specific infrastructure.

6. Nessus

Nessus is one of the most popular vulnerability scanners, with over two million downloads across the globe. Additionally, Nessus provides comprehensive coverage, scanning for over 59,000 CVEs.

7. Nexpose

Nexpose by Rapid7 collects data in real-time in order to constantly provide a live view of an organization’s shifting network. Since the CVSS risk score scale is 1-10, this vulnerability scanner developed its own risk score scale of 1-1000 in order to provide more nuance. It takes factors like vulnerability age and public exploits/malware kits into account.

8. Nmap

Nmap is an open source, free security scanner that is also used by organizations for network discovery, inventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host or service uptime.

9. OpenVAS

OpenVAS is an open source vulnerability scanner maintained by Greenbone Networks. The scanner also has a regularly updated community feed, which includes over 50,000 vulnerability tests.

10. Qualys Guard

Qualys Cloud Platform is a hub for Qualys’ IT, security, and compliance cloud apps. It features a robust a vulnerability scanner that helps centralize vulnerability management.

11. Qualys Web Application Scanner

Qualys Web Application Scanner is a cloud-based application that both finds official and “unofficial” apps throughout an environment, and also detects OWASP top ten risks, along with other web application vulnerabilities.

12. SAINT

SAINT’s Security Suite is a holistic scanner that identifies all of the critical assets in an environment, creating asset tags and tracking them to provide faster remediation for the highest priority assets.

13. Tenable

Teneble.sc and Teneble.io provide network and web vulnerability assessments using Nessus technology. They use Predictive Prioritization, which combines vulnerability data, threat intelligence and data science to create a detailed risk score.

14. Tripwire IP360 

Tripwire IP360 is a scalable vulnerability scanner that can scan everything in an organization’s  environment, including previously-undetected assets using both agentless and agent-based scans.

Choosing the Right Vulnerability Scanner

While every scanner on this list is top rated, you still need to choose one that fits your specific needs. So how do you narrow it down? Here are some of the most critical considerations:

• Implementation – Depending on your IT infrastructure, either on-premise of SaaS will be a better fit. Organizations with more restricted environments that want to limit access may do better with on-premise tools, while those working towards a hybrid or fully cloud-based approach would do better with SaaS.
• Features – Each tool has variations in what they offer. Do you need specialized coverage for web applications or network or broad coverage for both? Will you need to audit for compliance purposes? Is automation a priority? What about localization? It’s important to determine your use cases before making your choice.
• Ease of Use – As a foundational part of any security strategy, these tools should not be overly complicated. Running scans should be intuitive and should come with thorough, actionable report generation.
• Customer Support – Effective support has two key ingredients: accessibility and knowledgeability. Look for solutions that prioritize customer support by providing best-in-class teams that are easy to reach and can provide on the spot product expertise.
• Integrations – Proactive security requires multiple layers, and while each must operate independently, it’s even better if they can also work well in tandem. Finding solutions that are compatible can simplify processes and extend the reach of tools.

Vulnerability Scanner Integration with Core Impact

Vulnerability assessments can be greatly enhanced through pen testing. Scanners can uncover thousands of vulnerabilities, and many prioritize remediation based on a vulnerability’s CVSS rating. However, these scores don’t account for an organization’s particular set up.

A vulnerability may only have a moderate risk score, but if it can be used as a pivot point to reach other vulnerabilities or resources, it could have significant consequences on the organization. So a “moderate” vulnerability may be just as, if not more dangerous than one rated as “severe.”  Pen tests add vital context by seeing which vulnerabilities can actually be leveraged to gain access within your environment.

Core Impact, Core Security’s comprehensive penetration testing tool, can import data from all of the scanners mentioned above. Once imported, Core Impact can run a pen test to see if any of these vulnerabilities can be successfully exploited. By validating these vulnerabilities, you’ll know the true risk they pose, and can prioritize which remediation measures should be taken.

Pair Core Impact and Fortra VM for Powerful Offensive Security

The benefit of bundling Core Impact and Fortra VM is creating an overlapping security solution. Fortra VM uses threat intelligence during the scan process and helps determine the risk level of vulnerabilities. It provides context for vulnerabilities when available helping organizations determine which vulnerabilities are the biggest security priority. Core Impact imports this data along with its own information gathered and exploits vulnerabilities with the same real-world attack methods. This determines how much of a security risk each vulnerability poses to an organization.

Adding these two solutions together, security teams can work more efficiently. Automating scans and pen testing helps security teams do more with less. Dynamic, centralized reporting keeps actionable information under a single, centralized security portfolio for remediation guidance and verification.