10 Best Vulnerability Management Tools for IT Professionals

Searching for the best vulnerability management tools in the market today? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve done all the research, compiled data from leading review sites, such as G2 and Capterra, and created this comprehensive guide on what to look for when selecting the best software vulnerability management tools for your business.

How to use this guide on best vulnerability management tools

When using this guide, it’s important to remember that vulnerability management, as a category, is essentially comprised of two functions:

• Vulnerability assessment which includes scanning devices and endpoints for any potential technical flaws; and
• Vulnerability remediation which involves patch and non-patch strategies to maintain the health of your IT network.

It’s worth noting that many companies specialize in one or the other function of vulnerability management. That is, they may only perform continuous and regular scanning or implement automated patch management software to update business applications within an endpoint device.

Deciding which vendor is most suitable for you depends on what you need your vulnerability management tool for. Ideally, find software that enables you to proactively address weaknesses, strengthen your current IT defenses, and reduce your risks of cyber attacks.

What are vulnerability management tools?

Vulnerability management is the process of identifying, assessing, remediating, and managing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in your IT network. It is a critical part of any strong IT environment, especially because unresolved security vulnerabilities can expose your organization to data breaches and other cyber threats.

The best vulnerability management tools reduce the attack surface of your IT network, improve your organization’s security posture, help you meet regulatory compliance requirements, and minimize business risks. As you can see, vulnerability management plays a critical role in your business’s success. In fact, it can be argued that every successful business has some form of internal vulnerability management tool.

How to evaluate a vulnerability management tool

As more and more companies rely on remote or distributed teams, the risk of cybersecurity events has also increased. Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated in their exploitation tactics and techniques to exploit any weakness in an IT network. Your vulnerability management tools should provide end-to-end endpoint visibility of the entire IT infrastructure in a single pane of glass. This is key: You cannot fix what you cannot see.

When complete security is the goal, it is pertinent to have a tool that meets these four key criteria.

4 key features of top vulnerability management tools

1. Automation

Your vulnerability management solution should work silently in the background with automated scans and alerting systems in place. Keep in mind that while the main goal of vulnerability management is to reduce perceived weaknesses and flaws in your IT network, your tool should not disrupt your end users. This is best achieved with IT automation that reduces manual intervention and frees your IT technicians to perform high-value tasks.

2. Reporting and alerts

Reporting for your vulnerability management should be robust, effective, and performed in real-time. The last part is extremely important: Your reporting tool should be able to generate accurate reports based on the latest data. This allows you and your IT team to perform the most appropriate actions to resolve issues.

3. Prioritize issues

Great vulnerability management solutions can prioritize issues based on severity. This optimizes the performance of your IT team, as every technician knows exactly what their workload is and which issue to resolve first. If possible, look for a vendor known for its fast first-response times.

4. Vulnerability detection

Vulnerability management relies on a proactive IT approach. This means resolving detected issues and continuously scanning your IT network to discover any weaknesses or vulnerabilities. By actively searching for vulnerabilities, your organization can stay ahead of emerging risks, adapt its defenses accordingly, and maintain its competitive advantage.

10 best vulnerability management tools for IT professionals

All G2 & Capterra ratings data as of Sept 2024.

1. Syxsense

Syxsense is an automated endpoint and vulnerability platform that reduces your management burden while improving your security at the same time. Its solution gives you endpoint visibility and control with real-time alerts, risk-based vulnerability prioritization, and an intuitive orchestration engine. It also offers built-in compliance and security reporting for PCI DSS, HIPAA, ISO, SOX, and CIS benchmarks level 1 to 3, among others.

The unified solution offers automated endpoint and vulnerability management capabilities so organizations can reduce their risk and improve security in a centralized platform. Its software also offers real-time alerts, risk-based vulnerability prioritization, and an intuitive orchestration engine.

See how Syxsense compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth review of Syxsense alternatives.

Use cases:

• Centralized management and unified solution
• Real-time visibility
• Built-in compliance reporting

Shortcomings:

• User interface can be complex for beginner IT personnel
• Some G2 users have stated that ticket categorization is not always accurate
• Syxsense platform randomly glitches

Syxsense reviews on G2

Syxsense reviews on Capterra

 

2. Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf is a vulnerability management solution that allows you to discover, benchmark, and harden your environment against digital risks. Its tool scans your IT network for five types of vulnerabilities: remote code execution, hardcoded credentials, denial of service, directory traversal, and privilege escalation. Marketed as a “concierge-led managed risk experience,” its software helps you manage prioritization and personalized protection by your concierge security team.

Aside from managed detection and response, continuous vulnerability and risk management, and managed security awareness, users can request optional add-ons, such as incident response. Regardless, all packages leverage machine learning and custom detection rules to deliver personalized protection.

Use cases:

• Threat detection and response
• Continuous vulnerability and risk management
• Managed security awareness

Shortcomings:

• Some G2 reviews have stated that users cannot immediately see active feeds. They need to request information first from Arctic Wolf
• Similarly, users cannot add or remove users without an Arctic Wolf staff
• Customer service could be improved

Arctic Wolf reviews on G2

Arctic Wolf reviews on Capterra

 

3. Tenable Vulnerability Management

Tenable Vulnerability Management is a platform enabling your organization to identify, prioritize, and remediate cyber risks in your IT network. Its solution is managed in the cloud and powered by Tenable Nessus to provide comprehensive vulnerability coverage with real-time assessment and reporting. Its Vulnerability Management is part of the Tenable One Exposure Management Platform or as a stand-alone product.

The Tenable Vulnerability Management platform is an AI-powered exposure management platform that unifies security visibility, insight, and action in a single dashboard.

Use cases:

• Proactive vulnerability management
• Threat intelligence
• Goal-oriented exposure management

Shortcomings:

• Better suited for more experienced IT professionals
• Real-time scanning could be further improved
• Reporting tool is limited

Tenable Vulnerability Management reviews on G2

 

Tenable Vulnerability Management reviews on Capterra

 

4. Qualys VMDR

Qualys VMDR helps you measure, communicate, and eliminate security risks in your hybrid IT, OT, and IoT environments. Its vulnerability management software helps you measure known and unknown risks, prioritize vulnerabilities, and patch devices from anywhere.

Qualys continuously detects critical vulnerabilities and misconfigurations across mobile devices, operating systems, and applications in real time.

Use cases:

• Automatically identify assets
• Continuous vulnerability detection
• Prioritized remediation

Shortcomings:

• G2 users have stated that Qualys platform randomly produces false positives and false negative alerts
• Reporting could be further improved
• Its platform is not as user-friendly as expected

Qualys VMDR reviews on G2

Qualys VMDR reviews on Capterra

 

5. InsightVM (Nexpose)

InsightVM by Rapid7 helps you quickly discover and prioritize active vulnerabilities. In addition to providing complete visibility into your IT assets, InsightVM allows you to proactively remediate detected security flaws through a single console. Other features include lightweight endpoint agents, live dashboards, active risk scores, integrated threat feeds, and policy assessments.

InsightVM integrates with over 40 business applications, including insightIDR, Splunk, and ServiceNow.

Use cases:

• Real-time scanning
• Remediation reports
• Fully supported integrations

Shortcomings:

• Better suited for more experienced IT professionals
• Random false positive alerts
• Complex set-up

InsightVM (Nexpose) reviews on G2

InsightVM (Nexpose) reviews on Capterra

 

6. Automox

Automox offers an end-to-end vulnerability detection solution. Its tool allows you to identify and report various cyber vulnerabilities. its Vulnerability Sync brings two critical functions—vulnerability detection and remediation—in a single dashboard. It uses detection data from CrowdStrike, Tenable, and Qualys that can be easily uploaded into the Automox system.

Automox Vulnerability Scan can be used to patch, configure, manage, and control Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

See how Automox compares with NinjaOne or read a more in-depth review of Automox alternatives.

Use cases:

• Automated patching
• Cross-platform support
• Flexible device targeting

Shortcomings:

• Platform could be easier to use
• Can slow down when scanning multiple devices
• Longer resolution of IT tickets

Automox reviews on G2

Automox reviews on Capterra

 

7. VulScan

VulScan offers complete and automated vulnerability scanning. It lets your IT department detect and prioritize weaknesses that hackers could exploit, giving you peace of mind as you run your business without fear. It is a product of RapidFire Tools, a Kaseya company.

VulScan can manage multiple network environments at scale so you can manage unlimited networks of any size, anytime. It markets itself as a vulnerability-scanning solution that works inside and outside the networks you manage.

Use cases:

• Internal vulnerability management
• Multi-tenant management dashboard
• Vulnerability noise management

Shortcomings:

• External scans need to be manually implemented
• Moderate learning curve
• Reporting tool can be improved

VulScan reviews on G2

VulScan reviews on Capterra

 

8. IBM Security QRadar EDR

IBM Security QRadar EDR allows you to secure your endpoints from cyberattacks, detect anomalous behavior, and remediate in near-real time. Its endpoint detection and response solution uses a more holistic approach to vulnerability management, helping you make more informed decisions about your IT security with its attack visualization storyboards.

Its product features include a cyber assistant, custom detection strategies, ransomware prevention, and behavioral trees. All these comprise a comprehensive EDR tool that helps you regain full control over all your endpoint and threat activity.

Use cases:

• Real-time threat detection
• Attack visualization storyboards
• Advanced continuous learning AI capabilities

Shortcomings:

• Steep learning curve
• Occasionally has “alert overloads”, or when users experience a surge of alerts, according to G2 users
• Reporting function could be further improved

IBM Security QRadar EDR reviews on G2

IBM Security QRadar EDR reviews on Capterra

 

9. SanerNow

SanerNow provides various tools to scan, detect vulnerabilities, analyze, and remediate patch updates. It is a comprehensive endpoint security platform that enables your IT department to identify vulnerabilities continuously and understand potential risks in your IT network. Its solution helps you comply with regulatory benchmarks, such as PCI, HIPAA, NIST 800-53, and NIST 800-171.

According to its website, SanerNow includes over 100,000 checks and more than 150 native and third-party patches.

Use cases:

• Unified cyber hygiene platform
• Patch management for OSs and third-party applications
• Vulnerability management workflows

Shortcomings:

• Better suited for more experienced IT professionals
• Reporting interface is complex
• Platform is not as customizable as expected

SanerNow reviews on G2

SanerNow reviews on Capterra

 

10. NinjaOne

NinjaOne is a powerful vulnerability management and mitigation solution that minimizes your exposure to security weaknesses through real-time monitoring, alerting, and robust automation. Its tool allows you to quickly identify and resolve endpoint patching and configuration issues in all your Windows, macOS, and Linux devices from a single pane of glass.

NinjaOne believes in proactive device monitoring and supports IT teams with up-to-date zero-touch patching and scripting capabilities. Built by a team with a combined experience of over a century in IT management, NinjaOne’s vulnerability management helps you gain 360-degree visibility into your entire IT estate from a single, intuitive console that is easy to deploy, learn, and master.

According to user reviews, 95% of NinjaOne customers experienced patch compliance within a few months of using its solution.

NinjaOne reviews on G2

NinjaOne reviews on Capterra

 

Comparison of vulnerability management for IT professionals (G2)

Comparison of vulnerability management for IT professionals (Capterra)

Choosing the best vulnerability management tool

Selecting the right vulnerability management tool is crucial for maintaining robust security and protecting your organization against potential threats. While there is no “perfect” tool for all businesses, you can choose the right one by carefully considering your needs and environment.

Are you focusing on network devices, applications, or both? Do you need a tool for on-premises systems, cloud-based environments, or both? How well does your tool integrate with your existing security infrastructure? Decide what you want for your vulnerability management tool and your overall IT budget. This keeps you focused on what to look for when speaking with vulnerability management vendors.