Vulnerability Scanning Tools: Key Features to Look For

When choosing a vulnerability scanning tool, it’s essential to balance usability and security. CTOs and VPs of Engineering, who typically lead these decisions, aim to set a high standard for security without sacrificing ease of use.

A recent study by Qualys Threat Research stated that over 26,000 vulnerabilities were published in 2023. This is a significant increase compared to the first quarter of 2022. Naturally, to detect these vulnerabilities without compromising business continuity, several companies are investing in vulnerability scanning tools—tools that help companies monitor their networks, systems, and apps for security vulnerabilities. 

However, as with any product category, vulnerability scanning tools are plentiful. Navigating the options and choosing one that perfectly suits your business can be challenging. Luckily, we’ve done the groundwork for you.   

This blog examines nine of the best vulnerability scanning tools, their benefits, and vital tips for choosing the right one for your business.

What are Vulnerability Scanning Tools?

Vulnerability scanning tools are software applications designed to identify, assess, and report on security vulnerabilities within a company’s IT infrastructure. 

Vulnerability scanning works differently by targeting specific network interfaces, such as internal or external IP addresses and ports.

There are also two types of scans–internal and external scans.

External scans are performed outside an organization’s network to target exposed IT infrastructure. They allow for detecting and managing vulnerabilities in peripheral sites, such as open ports or specialized web application firewalls.

On the other hand, internal scans are carried out within a company to protect applications and systems.

How does vulnerability scanning work?

To elicit a response from devices, various techniques, and tactics can be leveraged depending on the type of scan the vulnerability platform uses. 

Vulnerability scanners can detect and identify password breaches in addition to suspicious applications and services by scanning all network ports. The scanning service identifies malware as well as any coding flaws, reports security fixes or missing service packs, and monitors remote access.

Bonus: Take your network security up a notch with our External Network VAPT Report.

What are the different types of vulnerability scanners?

There are 7 types of vulnerability scanners available right now that will help you probe for threats. They are:

1. Network-based scanners

Network-based scanners are popular among network administrators and penetration testers. These scanners help you discover unknown or unauthorized devices on a network, identify potential perimeter points, and map the network’s topology. 

Interestingly, they simplify the process of finding devices that might be challenging to locate manually.

2. Host-based scanners

Host-based scanners are installed on each host within the system and help constantly monitor the threat surface, assess vulnerabilities, and offer insights into potential damage from insiders and outsiders.

3. Port scanner

A port scanner is a vulnerability management tools that help identify open ports on a network, revealing where data may be sent or received. 

This tool involves sending packets to specific ports on a host and analyzing responses to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities. 

In essence, port scanning is a method to assess the accessibility and potential security risks associated with different network ports.

4. Wireless scanners

For a growing startup, wireless scanners are widely used to identify unauthorized access points and ensure the security of an entire network. 

The service consists of scanning at the intended site, comprehensively analyzing and categorizing wireless devices, and assessing access points for points of susceptibility, such as using all default or weak passwords.

5. Database scanner

A Database Scanner service scans databases by producing credentials to view them extensively. The database scanning tool is updated to the latest version before every scan to ensure optimal measurements

6. Cloud vulnerability scanner

A cloud vulnerability scanner is a tool designed to discover, classify, and rate weaknesses found in a cloud computing platform. 

These scanners automate the scanning process and enable an analyst to identify and respond to possible security vulnerabilities with ease.

7. Application vulnerability scanners 

Application vulnerability scanners, specifically web application vulnerability scanners, are automated tools designed to scan web applications from the outside. 

They aim to identify security vulnerabilities, including but not limited to cross-site scripting, SQL injection, command injection, path traversal, and insecure server configurations.

Top 9 vulnerability scanning tools in 2024

Many organizations use a combination of vulnerability scanners to ensure they’re getting full coverage of every asset, covering the complete picture. Many different scanners have been developed over the years, providing a lot of different features and options.

Here are the 9 vulnerability scanning tools you must know:

1. Invicti

Invicti is an all-in-one security platform that takes care of your web security needs. Vulnerability scanning is Incivti’s forte, and with Predictive Risk Scoring by Invicti, you can predict the associated risks of your applications before you even scan. 

The proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) model evaluates your web assets after Discovery. This way, you’ll get a calculated risk score, making it a walk in the park to identify and test your most at-risk assets.

How does it work?

The application identifies vulnerabilities and helps security teams eliminate them. During the web vulnerability scan, Invicti detects vulnerabilities and then safely exploits them. This process, known as Proof of Concept (PoC), involves executing the actual exploit to confirm the existence of the vulnerability. 

Key features:

• Invicti allows for the continuous scanning of web assets
• It crawls and investigates links, forms, and User Interface (UI) elements to ensure comprehensive coverage
• The scanner can scan unlinked, configured, and hidden files for potential vulnerabilities
• It offers a Vulnerability Trend Matrix, allowing users to compare scans over time on the same asset for trend analysis
• The tool generates reports and conducts compliance checks for industry standards such as PCI DSS, OWASP Top 10, and HIPAA

Pros	Cons
Ease of use and flexibility in scanning allow complete freedom for users	There is not enough documentation on how to use the product
It has a good proof-based scanning feature	It gets quite slow when testing for some vulnerabilities in larger URLs
Invicti (formerly known as Netsparker) features an automation API, enabling seamless integration into Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) systems	It is expensive
Offers continuous scans 24 hours a day and 365 days a year

2. Manage Engine

Manage Engine is a unified IT solution platform that offers one of the best vulnerability scanning features. It’s an all-in-one vulnerability management software that manages vulnerabilities from start to finish, providing complete coverage for your assets, constant visibility, thorough assessment, and built-in fixing of threats and vulnerabilities, all in one console.

How does it work?

ManageEngine detects current and potential vulnerabilities across all network endpoints, including workstations, laptops, servers, web servers, databases, virtual machines, and content management systems. It provides continuous visibility into endpoints regardless of location.

Key features:

• You will get a 360-degree view of your security exposure 
• You can customize, orchestrate, and automate your entire patching process
• Protect your network from zero-day exploits

Pros	Cons
It has a great UI for easy navigation	Has very limited customization options
It has zero-day vulnerability mitigation	It does not provide multi-tenant capability
Provides reports with actionable recommendations

3. Intruder.io

Intruder.io operates by conducting continuous scans on your network and initiating vulnerability assessments in response to changes, unintentionally exposed services, or emerging threats. You can easily add external targets using URLs and IPs, integrate your cloud accounts, and initiate scans with just a few clicks. 

How does it work?

The platform provides a perspective of your attack surface by integrating continuous network monitoring, automated vulnerability scanning, and proactive threat response into a unified solution.

Key features:

• Include a perimeter scanning tool enabling users to filter information and generate context-based results. 
• The platform’s continuous monitoring functionality conducts automated assessments, aiding teams in addressing issues proactively before potential attacks
• Includes over 65,000 local checks for known vulnerabilities, with regular additions of new checks to ensure comprehensive coverage.
• Offers automated network penetration testing

Pros	Cons
Dashboard gives you all the information that you need in one place	Reports may lack historical data and detailed asset-level insights.
Automatically scans new zero-day vulnerabilities	30-day lock on moving authentication domain targets can be restrictive
It automatically generates reports that will be sent as an email

4. Synk

Synk is a platform designed to swiftly discover and address security issues in proprietary code, open-source dependencies, container images, and cloud infrastructure. Its goal is to integrate security into businesses’ continuous development process seamlessly.

For developers and security teams, Snyk facilitates the quick and effortless identification and resolution of security vulnerabilities. This rapid response to critical vulnerabilities is essential for incident response teams.

How does it work?

In terms of functionality, Snyk Open Source scans project dependencies, analyzing the libraries and packages upon which an application relies. It cross-references these dependencies with a comprehensive database of known vulnerabilities. 

Beyond merely highlighting vulnerabilities, Snyk Open Source also provides actionable remediation guidance.

Key features:

• Identify vulnerabilities and automatically apply fixes during development using an SCA supported by intelligence
• Snyk Code reimagines Static Application Security Testing (SAST) to cater to developers, making security testing more accessible
• Enhance security for cloud-native applications by utilizing Snyk Container
• Reduce risk by automating security and compliance for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) during development workflows

Pros	Cons
Automatically scans for new zero-day vulnerabilities and emergent threats	Initial difficulty in determining scan targets, though support helps through the process
Provides auto mitigation strategies and an auto-fix feature	The user interface of the application can be overwhelming and confusing
Automated insights prevent big production security issues

5. PingSafe

PingSafe is one of the best scanning engines tailored to cover 100% of your cloud infrastructure, leaving no blind spots that might expose your company to security threats. PingSafe guarantees protection for every aspect of your cloud estate, minimizing the risk of security incidents.

How does it work?

Getting started with PingSafe is quick and easy. The agentless approach requires minimal read-only access and delivers results once your account is activated. This method avoids additional cloud costs associated with agent-based approaches and eliminates vulnerabilities linked to the agents.

Key features:

• PingSafe ensures thorough real-time monitoring across your multi-cloud setup
• PingSafe’s Offensive Security Engine works to decode attackers’ modus operandi 
• Gain a holistic view of your entire cloud estate through a single pane of glass
• Support for various standards like SOC 2, PCI, HIPAA, and more with PingSafe’s built-in gap analysis
• PingSafe detects leaked credentials in public developer repositories and seamlessly integrates them into your CI/CD pipeline, providing complete coverage

Pros	Cons
PingSafe’s graph-based