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Nessus
Nessus identifies vulnerabilities and misconfigurations across networked systems. It offers detailed scanning capabilities with customizable policies to support compliance and risk management efforts.
Why these ratings?
Cyberse perspective
Summary by Cyberse
Microsoft Sentinel may be considered a good fit for you due to its powerful capabilities.
Here’s a few tips on how to maximize its capabilities:
We use the following criteria to rate this product’s functionality:
Cost considerations
Nessus Professional is a flat annual subscription of about $3–4 K, so total spend is predictable. Competing scanners often bill per asset or add higher platform fees, making Nessus comparatively less costly. Extra charges are limited to optional cloud and compliance add-ons, so unplanned expenses are uncommon.
Capabiliities
Nessus scans networks, servers, and common cloud setups for known weaknesses, but does not cover phishing, mobile apps, or IoT devices. Manual attack chains and red-team exercises need separate tools. Suites that include those areas offer wider coverage, so Nessus sits mid-range for capabilities.
Team expertise
Tenable Research, the group behind Nessus, includes the original Nessus creator plus analysts who routinely publish CVEs and present at DEF CON, demonstrating recognized expert credentials. Their researchers have spent well over a decade discovering and validating real-world vulnerabilities, not just maintaining code. That sustained, senior-level talent places Nessus at the top end of vendor expertise in the penetration-testing market.
Tools & methodology
Nessus focuses on automated vulnerability scanning with plugin-based checks, and leaves test planning, scoping and reporting structure to the user. The product offers limited exploitation or root-cause analysis guidance, so findings stay at a generic “what is vulnerable” level. Competing penetration suites bundle a step-by-step methodology and custom attack tooling that Nessus does not provide.
Company reputation
Tenable, the company behind Nessus, has operated for over two decades, is publicly traded, and is a regular presence at major cybersecurity conferences. Industry analysts note a large, stable customer base with strong renewal rates and multiple award recognitions. No public records show data leaks, NDA breaches, or legal disputes that would tarnish its standing.