Qualys Exposure Management vs Zafran Security comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Qualys and Zafran Security are both solutions in the Vulnerability Management category. Qualys is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.5, while Zafran Security is ranked #22 with an average rating of 9.5. Qualys holds a 4.0% mindshare in VM, compared to Zafran Security’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Qualys users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Zafran Security users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 13, 2026

Qualys VMDR and Zafran Security compete in the vulnerability management category. Qualys VMDR appears to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive asset management and real-time data capabilities.

Features: Qualys VMDR is recognized for real-time asset discovery, customizable dashboards, and detailed cloud security posture management. Zafran Security offers compensating controls, risk-based prioritization, and exposure tracking for efficient vulnerability prioritization.

Room for Improvement: Qualys VMDR users seek an improved user interface, better server application scanning, and enhanced reporting functionalities. Zafran Security could benefit from Boolean search capabilities, enhanced visualization tools, and improved vulnerability modules.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys VMDR offers versatile deployment options and comprehensive technical support but could improve response times. Zafran Security's deployment in hybrid environments and ease of scalability are praised, with users noting excellent support.

Pricing and ROI: Qualys VMDR's pricing is considered high, though justified by integrated features and ROI through improved risk reduction. Zafran Security is viewed as cost-effective, offering flexible licensing models that deliver value for resource-conscious organizations.

To learn more, read our detailed Qualys Exposure Management vs. Zafran Security Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Exposure Management vs. Zafran Security

September 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Qualys TotalCloud

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Vulnerability Management category, the mindshare of Qualys TotalCloud is 1.2%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Qualys Exposure Management is 4.0%, down from 7.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zafran Security is 1.0%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Qualys Exposure Management	4.0%
Qualys TotalCloud	1.2%
Zafran Security	1.0%
Other	93.8%

Vulnerability Management

Featured Reviews

reviewer2859021

Sr Security Engineer at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

Risk-based triage has transformed container security and now prioritizes high-impact threats

The best features Qualys TotalCloud offers currently include managing cloud infrastructure and container security while facing major challenges such as alert fatigue. Traditional vulnerability scanners flag hundreds of CVEs on short-lived Kubernetes containers, some of which have no internet exposure or are gone before we can even triage them. I leverage Qualys TotalCloud to move beyond static CVSS. I use it to implement runtime exposure, correlation risk reprioritization, and shift-left integration. This notifies developers to fix a base image upstream rather than patching live ephemeral instances. In my work with cloud and container security, the biggest operational hurdle was alert fatigue. I use Qualys to shift left from static CVSS severity to context-aware risk prioritization. I correlated raw vulnerability data with real-time risk factors such as public network exposure, active runtime execution, or overly permissive IAM roles. This allows us to immediately drop the priority of isolated containers and escalate lower-severity CVEs that sit on an exposed, high-risk path. We can map these findings directly back to our CI/CD pipelines so developers can patch the root base images upstream. We have drastically cut down the signal-to-noise ratio, saved a lot of manual hours doing triage work, and ensured engineering effort goes directly towards high-impact risk reduction.

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Ajay Paul

System Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

Vulnerability management has prioritized high‑risk patching and simplified bulk system reporting

The primary issue is with the reporting functionality. Even though we fix vulnerabilities, the reports do not reflect the changes immediately. Sometimes we need to manually run a script to scan the systems before Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management will update the scan results. The main issue is the reporting delay, and sometimes the Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management agent will not scan the system, which means we do not receive accurate reports in a timely manner. Additionally, there are many metrics for calculating vulnerabilities, such as the Qualys ID, severity scores, CVSS scores, and other metrics. The abundance of information can be confusing. These two aspects are the most significant negatives I have experienced with this tool.

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Reviewer6233

Information Security Vulnerability Management Executive Advisor at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

Has become an indispensable tool in our cybersecurity arsenal

While Zafran Security is already a powerful tool, there are areas where it could be further improved to provide even greater value. One key area for enhancement is the searching capabilities within its vulnerabilities module. By incorporating the ability to create Boolean searches, users would gain the ability to apply more complex filters and customize their search criteria. This would greatly enhance the precision and efficiency with which security teams can identify and prioritize vulnerabilities. Having such tailored search capabilities would save time and resources by narrowing down vast lists of vulnerabilities to those that meet specific parameters relevant to our unique risk environment. Additionally, integrating more robust reporting and visualization tools would be advantageous. Enhanced dashboards that offer customizable visual representations of risk configurations and threat landscapes would facilitate better communication with stakeholders, making it easier to explain vulnerabilities and the rationale behind certain security measures. This would also aid in demonstrating the improvements and value derived from existing security investments to leadership and non-technical team members.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Qualys TotalCloud is the visibility it provides."

"I highly recommend Qualys TotalCloud to other users."

"I appreciate TotalCloud's real-time protection and remediation features. The remediation options include automated one-click remedies and custom changes that help manage vulnerabilities efficiently."

"I depend heavily on the reports that I have from this tool."

"If someone were to ask me to review Qualys TotalCloud, I would summarize it as an end-to-end solution for cloud security with visibility and governance-grade controls without needing to manage multiple disconnected tools."

"Its excellent graphical interface makes the scanning process simple."

"One of the features I appreciate is the ability to generate daily reports without relying on anyone else."

"The scalability is good as well. I would rate it ten out of ten."

More Qualys TotalCloud pros

"Regarding its competitors in the market, I believe Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management has a strong offering."

"QualysGuard has provided us with a valuable insight into vulnerabilities across our environment."

"The initial setup is straightforward."

"It's worth it, really, when you see the complete picture and see all the factors."

"What I like about Qualys VM is the dashboard presentation. It's very good."

"The most valuable feature is that this solution is very lightweight."

"It is a stable solution."

"Qualys is a very good tool for companies, and the different tools this brand offers bring all the necessary tools for good development for these companies."

More Qualys Exposure Management pros

"Zafran is an excellent tool."

"With Zafran Security, it integrates with your security controls, allowing you to take that risk score and reduce it based on the controls in place or increase the risk based on different factors, such as if the issue is internet reachable or if there's an exploit in the wild."

"We are able to see the real risk of a vulnerability on our environment with our security tools."

"Overall, we have seen about eighty-seven percent reduction of the number of vulnerabilities that require urgency to remediate, specifically the number of criticals."

"We saw benefits from Zafran Security almost immediately after deploying it."

"Zafran has become an indispensable tool in our cybersecurity arsenal."

Cons

"The improvement needed in Qualys TotalCloud is mainly in the artificial intelligence automation agents, where we can customize and create what meets our needs, not necessarily having to use those provided in the tool."

"There is room for improvement in vulnerability scanning, particularly for PaaS environments. Currently, Qualys does not have full access to these instances, which limits its effectiveness."

"Qualys TotalCloud can be improved in the integration piece, especially with ServiceNow, where there's a bidirectional sync integrated, as there is no native capability from Qualys that can give monitoring metrics of how many assets came in and how many failed or were not properly reconciled or combined."

"I would like the ability to disable certain default built-in policies as they can be misleading when creating dashboards. That is the top one."

"The vulnerability part is good, but the policy compliance module needs improvement because it involves a lot of manual work. Specifically, the remediation part of the controls requires enhancements."

"The cloud licensing unit system is unclear, especially since "units" aren't well-defined."

"I chose a rating of nine out of ten because there is a complex interface that sometimes overwhelms new engineers."

"The patching process with Qualys Patch Management, which is part of TotalCloud, does not cover installing certain prerequisites on the servers or workstations. This shortcoming means we must rely on SCCM when any service stack updates or additional prerequisites are needed."

More Qualys TotalCloud cons

"Ticket management"

"I would like to see more accuracy in detections, better reporting capabilities, and better dashboard download capabilities."

"Qualys doesn't have its own tool to deploy the agents all at once, so we need to use third-party tools such as BigFix or something else to deploy the agents, which is my main concern and should be fixed by the Qualys team."

"There needs to be better documentation."

"Qualys should improve their customer experience. They need to improve the tech support experience and the turnaround time."

"It's too early for me to say if there is any room for improvement since we're in the first couple of months of using this solution."

"For a beginning, the initial setup is complex. You have to have some knowledge for setting it up and using it."

"I am not happy with the technical support because I had a very bad experience with them."

More Qualys Exposure Management cons

"I think the ability to have some enhanced reporting capabilities is something they can improve on, as they have good reports but we have asked for some specific reporting enhancements."

"Initially, we were somewhat concerned about the scalability of Zafran due to our large asset count and the substantial amount of information we needed to process."

"The dashboarding and reporting functionality of Zafran Security is an area that definitely could use some improvements."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"As a middle management member, I do not have direct pricing knowledge, but based on the knowledge from our meetings, its pricing is competitive."

"Its price seems higher compared to other tools, but it is worth it. If they could adjust the pricing and make it comparable with other tools, that would be great."

"It isn't cheap, but it's reasonable. It helps us to manage things with very few resources."

"Qualys TotalCloud offers good pricing that is affordable and competitive with the market. Our partnership also provides us with additional benefits."

"Qualys TotalCloud is expensive."

"Although Qualys TotalCloud is relatively expensive due to its unique automation features, its cost-effectiveness is rated an eight out of ten, with ten being the most costly."

"Qualys TotalCloud is cost-efficient and was selected for its value compared to other products."

"While Qualys TotalCloud's pricing is currently acceptable, it is becoming increasingly expensive and may soon be considered overpriced."

More Qualys TotalCloud pricing and cost advice

"When you want to cover yourself for scalability, you will be charged for the number you place on the scan itself."

"The solution is expensive."

"It is a high cost product. Compared to the other solutions, it is around 15 to 20% higher in cost."

"They have recently changed the pricing model, which is now better than it was before."

"The tool's pricing is expensive and I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten."

"An annual license for a single scanner costs around $3,000."

"The price is very reasonable."

"We have an annual contract for Qualys VMDR. I believe it's for either two years or five years."

More Qualys Exposure Management pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

18%

Outsourcing Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	38

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	75

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys TotalCloud?

I was not involved in pricing, setup cost, and licensing, but I can say that the setup was fast, within a quarter, an...

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What needs improvement with Qualys TotalCloud?

In terms of improvements, the features we are using in Qualys TotalCloud are working in the best optimal way, and I d...

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What is your primary use case for Qualys TotalCloud?

I have been using Qualys TotalCloud for the last eight months to scan the hardware and the virtual devices in our inf...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys VMDR?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing shows that we can consider both time and money saved.

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What needs improvement with Qualys VMDR?

I haven't explored Qualys VMDR's vulnerability lifecycle automation yet. One of my analysts mentioned that queries la...

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What advice do you have for others considering Qualys VMDR?

I have some understanding about PeerSpot, and I have visited the website. PeerSpot is similar to TrustRadius. It take...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zafran Security?

Since we stood Zafran Security up in our private cloud, we handle the maintenance on our side. As we opted not to use...

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What needs improvement with Zafran Security?

In terms of areas for improvement, Zafran Security is doing a really great job as a new and emerging company. Oftenti...

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What is your primary use case for Zafran Security?

My use cases for Zafran Security revolve around two primary areas. One is around vulnerability management and priorit...

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Compared 17% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Qualys TotalCloud

October 2026

Download Qualys TotalCloud product report

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Exposure Management

October 2026

Download Qualys Exposure Management product report

Buyer's Guide

Zafran Security

September 2026

Download Zafran Security product report

Also Known As

Qualys TotalCloud with FlexScan

Qualys VM, QualysGuard VM, Qualys Asset Inventory, Qualys Container Security

No data available

Overview

Qualys TotalCloud enhances security posture across cloud environments with continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and risk visualization, ensuring efficient threat assessment and automated remediation for improved cyber risk reduction.

Qualys TotalCloud offers a robust suite of security tools essential for organizations managing multi-cloud infrastructures. By integrating cloud accounts and automating workflows, it supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering comprehensive vulnerability management and zero-day detection. The platform's user-friendly design, combined with its extensive risk management and unified threat assessment capabilities, enables organizations to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities effectively. TruRisk Insights provides clear insights on cyber risks, while the automation options streamline patch management and scanning processes. API integration across IaaS and SaaS environments further enhances resource allocation efficiency and saves time, addressing misconfigurations across cloud environments.

What are the most important features of Qualys TotalCloud?

Accurate Vulnerability Reports: Delivers precise and actionable insights for risk mitigation.
Zero-Day Detection: Identifies and addresses zero-day vulnerabilities proactively.
Unified Threat Assessment: Offers comprehensive evaluation of threats across the environment.
Extensive Risk Management: Manages risks effectively with advanced insights and prioritization.
Continuous Monitoring: Provides non-stop surveillance for vulnerabilities and threats.
Cloud-Native Automation: Streamlines processes and reduces manual efforts using automation.
FlexScan for Internet-Facing VMs: Scans external VMs efficiently to detect vulnerabilities.
Dashboard Risk Visualization: Clear visualization helps prioritize vulnerabilities.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Improved Security Posture: Enhances threat detection and response across clouds.
Time Savings: Automation reduces time spent on manual vulnerability management.
Resource Efficiency: Better allocation of resources through streamlined workflows.
Enhanced Risk Prioritization: Focus on critical vulnerabilities for effective mitigation.
Integrated Cloud Accounts: Facilitates seamless cloud management and security.

Qualys TotalCloud is deployed in sectors needing rigorous vulnerability management, such as finance and healthcare. Companies utilize it to secure multi-cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and GCP, focus on compliance, and integrate security into CI/CD pipelines to detect and remedy threats pre-deployment.

Qualys

Qualys VMDR is a comprehensive cybersecurity tool offering vulnerability management, patch management, and continuous monitoring with real-time asset discovery. It delivers scalable, cloud-based solutions that enhance security operations without additional infrastructure.

Qualys VMDR provides a robust platform for enterprise security, integrating vulnerability management, compliance, and asset inventory for full visibility across cloud and on-premises environments. It features a comprehensive dashboard with threat intelligence-driven prioritization and remediation capabilities. Users benefit from accurate assessments via agent-based scanning and appreciate the intuitive, customizable scanning and reporting interface. However, there's room for improvement in false positive reduction, UI simplification, and integration capabilities, along with enhancements in asset management for large-scale deployments and the vulnerability database. Enhancing technical support speed, patch management, compliance standards, and inter-module navigation would further enrich user experience.

What are the key features of Qualys VMDR?

Vulnerability Management: Identifies and manages security vulnerabilities across environments.
Patch Management: Ensures systems are updated with the latest patches.
Continuous Monitoring: Offers real-time insights into security posture.
Asset Discovery: Provides up-to-date asset inventory and visibility.
Threat Intelligence: Enhances prioritization and remediation processes.
Customizable Dashboard: Facilitates easier scanning and reporting through an intuitive interface.

What benefits can users expect when evaluating Qualys VMDR?

Scalability: Cloud-based deployment offers easy, cost-effective expansion.
Accurate Assessment: Agent-based scanning keeps security data current.
Enhanced Security Operations: Comprehensive features streamline vulnerability management.
Advanced Reporting: Facilitates detailed insights for better security decision-making.

Qualys VMDR is widely used in industries needing stringent security and compliance measures, offering comprehensive vulnerability and compliance management. It is deployed to secure web applications, servers, and crucial assets, supporting a wide range of sectors by ensuring policy adherence and vulnerability tracking through its powerful cloud platform.

Qualys

Zafran Security revolutionizes threat management by leveraging existing tools to distinguish between non-exploitable and critical vulnerabilities, ensuring swift action on potential risks.

Zafran Security offers a groundbreaking approach to vulnerability management through its Zafran Threat Exposure Management Platform. This unified platform utilizes existing security tools to filter out non-exploitable vulnerabilities while prioritizing actionable threats. By integrating vulnerability signals from hybrid cloud environments and factoring in IT-specific contexts, such as CVE presence and asset reachability, Zafran sharpens focus on the most critical exposures. Their solution empowers users to manage risks efficiently, cutting remediation time and restoring risk control to security teams. Recognized as the top CTEM solution by Cyber Defense Magazine in 2024, Zafran provides unmatched capability in threat mitigation and risk reduction.

What are the key features of Zafran Security?

Mitigations Module: Identifies effective measures, boosting efficiency with minimal disruption.
Exposure Tracker: Delivers insights into vulnerability trends to enhance strategic planning.
Integration Capabilities: Connects with tools to analyze risks accurately and adjust risk levels.
Weekly Insights: Offers regular updates and scoring to assist leadership in risk evaluation.

What benefits should users expect from Zafran Security?

Prominent Adaptability: The private SaaS setup offers flexible and prompt benefits.
Effective Vulnerability Management: Focuses resources on pressing threats, reducing remediation time.
Streamlined Communication: Customizable dashboards improve reporting and communication.

Zafran Security finds utility in multiple industries needing robust risk management. It enhances vulnerability scoring and prioritization, supporting the assessment and management of exposure. This is particularly valuable in sectors with significant cyber risks, emphasizing identification and swift response to immediate threats, thus reinforcing cybersecurity infrastructures.

Zafran Security

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Agrokor Group, American Specialty Health, American State Bank, Arval, Life:), Axway, Bank of the West, Blueport Commerce, BSkyB, Brinks, CaixaBank, Cartagena, Catholic Health System, CEC Bank, Cegedim, CIGNA, Clickability, Colby-Sawyer College, Commercial Bank of Dubai, University of Utah, eBay Inc., ING Singapore, National Theatre, OTP Bank, Sodexo, WebEx

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Exposure Management vs. Zafran Security

September 2026

Free Report: Qualys Exposure Management vs. Zafran Security

Find out what your peers are saying about Qualys Exposure Management vs. Zafran Security and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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