Greenbone OpenVAS vs Qualys VMDR -- Open Source Vulnerability Scanner Compared
Greenbone OpenVAS vs Qualys VMDR
Greenbone OpenVAS and Qualys VMDR are both open source vulnerability scanner solutions. Greenbone OpenVAS the most widely used open-source vulnerability scanner with 100,000+ network vulnerability tests, while Qualys VMDR cloud-native vulnerability management platform with integrated detection, prioritization, and patch management. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
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The Verdict
Choose Greenbone OpenVAS if completely free with no licensing costs is your priority and security teams wanting a free, open-source vulnerability scanner with no licensing costs and full customization control. Choose Qualys VMDR if fully cloud-native architecture with no on-prem infrastructure required matters most and organizations wanting an all-in-one cloud-based VM platform with integrated patching and asset inventory.
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Qualys VMDR | Greenbone OpenVAS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Custom pricing based on asset count / Typically from $3,000/year for small environments | Free (open source) / Greenbone Enterprise appliances from $5,000/year |
| Pricing Model | Per-asset (annual subscription) | Open source with commercial appliance options |
| Open Source | No | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud | Self-Hosted |
| Best For | Organizations wanting an all-in-one cloud-based VM platform with integrated patching and asset inventory | Security teams wanting a free, open-source vulnerability scanner with no licensing costs and full customization control |
| 100,000+ network vulnerability tests ... | Not available | Supported |
| Authenticated and unauthenticated sca... | Not available | Supported |
| CVE, CPE, and CVSS-based vulnerabilit... | Not available | Supported |
When to Choose Each Tool
Choose Qualys VMDR when:
- +You value fully cloud-native architecture with no on-prem infrastructure required
- +You value integrated patch management eliminates tool-switching for remediation
- +You value truRisk scoring provides actionable risk-based prioritization
- +You want to avoid scanning speed significantly slower than commercial alternatives
- +You want to avoid web interface is functional but dated compared to Tenable or Qualys
Choose Greenbone OpenVAS when:
- +You value completely free with no licensing costs
- +You value open-source transparency allows code audit and customization
- +You value large community with active development and NVT updates
- +You want to avoid pricing is opaque and can escalate at enterprise scale
- +You want to avoid agent deployment required for authenticated internal scanning
Other Greenbone OpenVAS Alternatives
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Microsoft's built-in vulnerability management integrated with Defender for Endpoint
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Pros & Cons Comparison
Qualys VMDR
Pros
- +Fully cloud-native architecture with no on-prem infrastructure required
- +Integrated patch management eliminates tool-switching for remediation
- +TruRisk scoring provides actionable risk-based prioritization
- +Single agent covers vulnerability scanning, patching, and EDR
- +Strong compliance and regulatory reporting capabilities
Cons
- –Pricing is opaque and can escalate at enterprise scale
- –Agent deployment required for authenticated internal scanning
- –User interface can feel dated compared to modern competitors
- –Complex licensing with multiple modules to purchase separately
- –Custom reporting requires significant configuration effort
Greenbone OpenVAS
Pros
- +Completely free with no licensing costs
- +Open-source transparency allows code audit and customization
- +Large community with active development and NVT updates
- +Self-hosted deployment gives full control over scan data
- +Commercial Greenbone appliances available for enterprise support
Cons
- –Scanning speed significantly slower than commercial alternatives
- –Web interface is functional but dated compared to Tenable or Qualys
- –Requires significant Linux administration expertise to deploy and maintain
- –NVT library is smaller and updated less frequently than Nessus plugins
- –No native cloud scanning, container security, or OT/ICS support
Sources & References
- Greenbone OpenVAS — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Qualys VMDR — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Greenbone OpenVAS Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Qualys VMDR Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Greenbone OpenVAS Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Qualys VMDR Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Greenbone OpenVAS Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Qualys VMDR Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Gartner Peer Insights: Vulnerability Assessment[Peer Reviews]
- Forrester Wave: Vulnerability Risk Management, Q3 2023[Analyst Report]
- IDC MarketScape: Risk-Based Vulnerability Management 2024[Analyst Report]
- NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD)[Government Standard]
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog[Government Standard]
Greenbone OpenVAS vs Qualys VMDR FAQ
Common questions about choosing between Greenbone OpenVAS and Qualys VMDR.
What is the main difference between Greenbone OpenVAS and Qualys VMDR?
Greenbone OpenVAS and Qualys VMDR are both open source vulnerability scanner solutions. Greenbone OpenVAS the most widely used open-source vulnerability scanner with 100,000+ network vulnerability tests, while Qualys VMDR cloud-native vulnerability management platform with integrated detection, prioritization, and patch management. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
Is Qualys VMDR better than Greenbone OpenVAS?
Choose Greenbone OpenVAS if completely free with no licensing costs is your priority and security teams wanting a free, open-source vulnerability scanner with no licensing costs and full customization control. Choose Qualys VMDR if fully cloud-native architecture with no on-prem infrastructure required matters most and organizations wanting an all-in-one cloud-based VM platform with integrated patching and asset inventory.
How much does Qualys VMDR cost compared to Greenbone OpenVAS?
Qualys VMDR pricing: Custom pricing based on asset count / Typically from $3,000/year for small environments. Greenbone OpenVAS pricing: Free (open source) / Greenbone Enterprise appliances from $5,000/year. Qualys VMDR's pricing model is per-asset (annual subscription), while Greenbone OpenVAS uses open source with commercial appliance options pricing.
Can I migrate from Greenbone OpenVAS to Qualys VMDR?
Yes, you can migrate from Greenbone OpenVAS to Qualys VMDR. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.
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