The Best Vulnerability Management Tools Reviewed

A vulnerability manager performs automated checks on system weaknesses for any computer system. You might have heard of “white hat hackers” – people who try to break into a system to check its resistance to attempts by real hackers.

Here is our list of the best vulnerability managers:

1. NinjaOne Vulnerability Manager EDITOR’S CHOICE This cloud-based system is part of a remote monitoring and management package and it focuses on software vulnerabilities with an automated patch manager. Get a 14-day free trial.
2. Invicti (FREE DEMO) This system focuses on securing applications developed in-house and is mainly concerned with code destined to operate online. Access the free demo.
3. Acunetix (ACCESS FREE DEMO) This security package has a lot of options. It can be used as an automated penetration testing tool, and there is also a version that operates as a full vulnerability scanner. Use it as a cloud service or install it onsite on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
4. Intruder (FREE TRIAL) A cloud platform that offers a range of security management services, including a monthly vulnerability scan.
5. ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus (FREE TRIAL) This package includes a vulnerability scanner and all of the tools you need to act on the discovered weaknesses. Available for Windows and Windows Server.
6. ESET Protect MDR This managed security service includes a choice of software plans that provide endpoint protection, email security, vulnerability scanning, patch management, and threat detection. Endpoint agents for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
7. SecPod SanerNow This platform includes a vulnerability manager, a patch manager, and a compliance manager that operates on Windows, macOS, Linux, and cloud platforms. Delivered from the cloud.
8. OpenVAS This security system is free to use, and its full name is the Open Vulnerability Assessment System. Written for Linux but will run on Windows over a VM.

A complete system test that white hat hackers perform is called penetration testing or pen-testing.

A vulnerability manager is an automated penetration tester. While penetration testing can use automated tools that string together system research and attack strategies, a vulnerability manager performs a whole series of tests, rolling on from one to the next without human intervention.

A vulnerability manager is also known as a vulnerability scanner. This tool will work through a list of known hacker strategies. Essentially, that’s all that a white hat hacker does in a pen-testing exercise.

Vulnerability management and pen testing

You might wonder, if vulnerability managers and pen testing perform the same task, when would you use each? As it is a software package, a vulnerability manager is cheaper than pen testers. On the other hand, the white hat hackers that perform pen-testing are highly skilled, and there aren’t many of them, so their rates are very high.

Given that vulnerability, managers are so much cheaper than pen testers; why bother with penetration testing? Although vulnerability managers have all of the techniques of hackers built into them, they don’t have intelligence. The vulnerability just looks for the system weaknesses that would let a hacker in. A pen tester can make instant decisions and take rough guesses that can shortcut procedural instructions.

The difference between vulnerability testing and penetration testing is that a vulnerability manager is organized, but a penetration tester is ingenious. You need both system checking strategies. Given the costs involved in penetration testing, it is conducted much less frequently than vulnerability scanning. Even vulnerability scanning doesn’t need to run continuously. A typical schedule for a vulnerability scan is once a month. You can then order an outside consultancy to perform penetration tests on your system once every six months or once a year.

The actual requirements for system security checks vary according to the system. For example, a very stable network with few innovations and a low rate of added software won’t need checks very often. On the other hand, a system that is constantly being expanded by an in-house development team will need more frequent inspections constantly expanding system.

The Best Vulnerability Managers

There are many vulnerability managers on the market today because it is a service that is very heavily in demand. Unfortunately, while some excellent tools are available, there are others that don’t cut the mustard, so you could get stuck with a vulnerability scan that is less than the best.

As well as taking into account these selection criteria, we made sure to find vulnerability managers that businesses that are all Windows or Linux-only can use.

1. NinjaOne Vulnerability Manager (FREE TRIAL)

NinjaOne Vulnerability Management is part of a remote monitoring and management (RMM) package that focuses on software vulnerabilities. The RMM provides a discovery service that will compile a software inventory for each endpoint. Continuous scanning of each protected endpoint identifies when new software is installed, keeping the inventory up to date. G2’s track record of recognizing NinjaOne, 11 times consecutively, accentuates its proficiency in Endpoint Management.

Key Features:

• Endpoint Software Management: Provides comprehensive monitoring and management of software on all endpoints.
• SaaS Platform: Delivers vulnerability management as a cloud-based service for ease of access and management.
• Automated Patching: Ensures operating systems and applications are up-to-date across Windows, macOS, and Linux devices.
• Compliance Tracking: Offers an audit trail for compliance purposes, detailing patch management activities.

Why do we recommend it?

NinjaOne lets you set up a central configuration policy for endpoints and enforce that by applying those settings to every device. The tool then scans for software and ensures that those packages and the operating systems of all endpoints are kept up to date. Automated patching serves a large number of endpoints without the need for manual intervention.

The vulnerability scanner looks at the version numbers of all of the installed operating systems and software packages. This number indicates the patch status of each piece of software and gets updated each time a patch is applied.

Although the RMM allows technicians to set up a standard configuration for endpoints and apply it to all devices. The tool doesn’t scan for changes, and so it doesn’t cover the configuration aspect of vulnerability management.

This system will automatically monitor all network and server activity, looking for performance issues, while it also scans for new software to record in the inventory, and polls for updates from software suppliers.

If a patch becomes available for one of the software systems listed in the inventory, NinjaOne copies over the installer and queues it up for rollout at the next available maintenance window. Patches are applied out of office hours when endpoints are not in use, so the patch manager will wake up, reboot, and turn off computers when necessary.

Who is it recommended for?

The NinjaOne platform is a complete system monitoring and management package, so if you already have a monitoring system that you like and you only want a vulnerability manager, this package probably isn’t for you. The RM is ideal for managed service providers and in-house IT departments.

NinjaOne doesn’t publish a price list, but you can register for a quote to match your needs..The tool is a SaaS platform and you sign up for the service at the company’s website. You can get a 14-day free trial to fully assess the RMM package.

NinjaOne Vulnerability Management Start a 14-day FREE Trial

2. Invicti (ACCESS FREE DEMO)

Invicti is probably the best vulnerability management tool available for DevOps environments. This is mainly a good choice for the developers of Web applications. The Invicti tool can offer security advice at every stage of the CI/CD pipeline. The package includes Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) and Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST). It is suitable for developers during the build phase, by acceptance testers, when pushing through new development, and by the operations team to check on live systems.

Key Features:

• Continuous & On-Demand Testing: Enables regular and ad-hoc security scans throughout the development lifecycle.
• CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Seamlessly fits into continuous integration and delivery workflows for real-time security feedback.
• Comprehensive DAST & IAST: Offers dynamic and interactive application security testing to identify vulnerabilities in web applications.
• Flexible Deployment: Available as a cloud service or an on-premises solution, catering to different organizational needs.

Why do we recommend it?

Invicti is a Web application security tester that can be used to scan applications under development, at the point of acceptance testing, and during operations. In its operations phase usage, the service acts as a vulnerability scanner. This system tests third-party services and APIs in conjunction with assets developed by the customer.

Vulnerability scans by Invicti work through the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) list produced by The Mitre Corporation. As Invicti is geared towards developers of Web applications, these reported exploits are not enough. The system also has its method of heuristics that examines code under development for possible pitfalls and security glitches.

For an idea of what this service assesses, think of the coupling between functions and how data exchanges can be manipulated. With code under development, these weaknesses are not necessarily “known exploits” and would pass checks that just look for specific CVEs. However, the connections between modules are known to provide gaps that hackers will gladly squeeze into if it gives them a way in, so Invicti can spot those potential hazards before too much work has gone into developing the function.

Integration testing and acceptance testing need to look further at how the new code fits into the existing structure of a Web application or site. So, this offers another point in the pipeline where Invicti can help. It is even possible to automate the code movement through the testing phase by utilizing the integrations available in Invicti.

At the point of sandboxing a new application, Invicti will assess the required system settings that support the software. In addition, it will be looking at how the code uses system resources and examining whether the requirements for the software introduced system security vulnerabilities.

Once the code goes live, Invicti will continue to scan it, examining whether the live environment intrudes new vulnerabilities in the package or whether the new code weakens the security of an existing application.

As it is very focused on in-house development, Invicti is not so hot on patch management. When the software developers are in the back office, there is no point in looking to the supplier for a patch. However, the Invicti system can orchestrate responses to weaknesses with other security tools already operating on the network, particularly for the third-party software that the business uses.

Who is it recommended for?

This system can be used by businesses that are the consumers of Web applications, but the main market for the system lies with the developers and managers of Web services, such as SaaS platforms. The package is useful to screen third-party components before choosing them as parts of a development.

Invicti is available as a cloud platform, and it is also possible to get the system as a software package for installation. The on-premises version runs on Windows and Windows Server. In addition, you can access a demo to assess Invicti.

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3. Acunetix (ACCESS FREE DEMO)

Acunetix is a very flexible service because it is offered in three versions, each with different levels of automation, so depending on which edition you go for, you get an automated penetration testing tool or a vulnerability scanner.

Key Features:

• Versatile Scanning Options: Offers both web and network vulnerability scanning, with a focus on continuous testing.
• Compliance Support: Helps businesses meet standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 through thorough security assessments.
• Advanced Testing Tools: Includes tools like AcuSensor for IAST, Deep Scan for comprehensive crawling, and Out-of-Band Vulnerability Tester.

Why do we recommend it?

Acunetix is a Web application security tester that can drill through third-party APIs and framework functions to discover all of the supporting microservices. The system tests these systems to authorize them for use in development and also in conjunction with the newly created modules during acceptance testing and through its service life.

This is primarily a Web application scanner. It looks for the OWASP Top 10 in Web applications. These are known tricks that hackers use, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. The tool will also scan through look services that support APIs, looking at microservices and serverless systems. In total, Acunetix scans for more than 7,000 Web vulnerabilities – that facility is included in all editions of the product.

Other services in the Acunetix bundle include an Interactive Applications Security Tester (IAST), called AcuSensor, the Acunetix Deep Scan crawler, and the Acunetix Out-of-Band Vulnerability Tester. These tools are available in all editions and can be run on demand. The plans also include a Web application discovery module that chains all services from a starting point in a user-facing system, such as a Web page. In addition, the local services vulnerability scanner will read through code written in JavaScript, .NET framework, and PHP.

The three different versions lend themselves to different deployment scenarios. For example, the Standard edition performs scans on-demand so that penetration testers would use this version. The two higher versions, called Premium and Acunetix 360, offer continuous automated vulnerability scanning.

Those two higher versions are both suitable for businesses that follow data privacy standards. They count towards compliance with PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. The Premium plan is ideal for IT operations departments because it also scans the internal network and internet-accessed Web applications. This network vulnerability scanner looks for more than 50,000 known vulnerabilities.

Both of the higher versions can be used for DevSecOps environments. However, the Acunetix 360 edition is more suitable for the CI/CD pipeline operating scenario because it includes a workflow creation and management system. In addition, constantly expanding system Acunetix offers static, dynamic, and interactive application testing features. These plans also include integrations for orchestrated development management, connecting through to tools such as GitLab, Jira, Jenkins, and Bugzilla.

One of the shortfalls of Acunetix is that it doesn’t include an associated patch manager or configuration manager to fix the problems that it discovers automatically. However, this package is more aimed at Web applications than standard third-party software packages, and that operating environment doesn’t usually produce software updates. However, if you opt for the Premium edition to secure your network, you can connect Acunetix results to a third-party patch manager.

Who is it recommended for?

You would use Acunetix as part of your development environment for the creation of Web applications. You can also extend this system to provide network vulnerability scanning by integrating the free OpenVAS system (see below). Like Invicti, this package is available as a SaaS package or for on-premises installation.

Acunetix is offered on the Software-as-a-Service model from a cloud host. However, you can also opt to install the software on your host. The package will run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can assess Acunetix by accessing the demo system.

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4. Intruder (FREE TRIAL)

Intruder offers a range of plans from its cloud platform. Services from this provider start with a unlimited ad-hoc vulnerability scans. These vulnerability scans check websites for known exploits and also examine your network’s external profile. Once your vulnerability to outsiders has been assessed, the system conducts tests from within the network. In total, Intruder has a database of over 10,000 vulnerabilities to look for and conducts over 11,000 professional and open-source checks depending on what plan you are on.

Key Features:

• Extensive Vulnerability Database: Searches for over 10,000 vulnerabilities, offering comprehensive scans based on a vast range of known exploits.
• Flexible Scanning Options: Provides on-demand vulnerability scans, allowing for timely assessments of security posture.
• Penetration Testing Service: Available as a premium option, delivering expert human-led testing for deeper security insights.

Why do we recommend it?

The Intruder system is an external attack surface assessor that is available in plans that also provide internal vulnerability scanning. The price difference between the three plans is very big and so buyers of the service would be attracted to a specific plan – either external scans or frequent network scans.

The entry-level vulnerability scanning service is called the Essential edition. You can add on the ability to launch vulnerability scans on demand, automatic emerging threat scans, cloud account integration and API & developer integrations by choosing the higher Pro edition. This service also monitors possible problems with SSL/TLS certificates and gives you access to the network view. The Pro plan also releases research data on emerging threats to look out for.

The top-tier plan of Intruder is called the Vanguard edition. This gives you all of the vulnerability scanning features of the Pro edition plus the services of a human penetration testing team and extended vulnerability discovery.

Who is it recommended for?

The three plans of Intruder have different audiences. The lowest plan has a broad appeal for all businesses that want to ensure that hackers can’t get into their systems. The top plan is almost five times the price of the lowest plan and is probably too expensive for SMBs.

Plans start from $101/month when billed yearly. You can get a 14-day free trial of their Pro edition. All plans feature online chat support and detailed vulnerability assessment reports.

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5. ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus (FREE TRIAL)

ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus is the ultimate vulnerability management tool because it doesn’t just discover system security weaknesses; it fixes them. While it is common for a vulnerability management package to include both a vulnerability scanner and a patch manager, Vulnerability Manager Plus has many more utilities that act on the vulnerability scan results.

Key Features:

• Integrated Vulnerability and Patch Management: Combines a powerful vulnerability scanner with an efficient patch manager for comprehensive security oversight.
• Zero-Day Vulnerability Protection: Identifies potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited in zero-day attacks, enhancing preemptive defense capabilities.
• Frequent Scans: Conducts scans every 90 minutes, ensuring timely detection and management of vulnerabilities.

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus is an on-premises scanner that operates within the network. It checks out endpoints running Windows and Linux and also network devices. The top package includes a patch manager, which also applies to devices running macOS. The service focuses on system misconfigurations and can automatically fix them.

The vulnerability scanner in the Vulnerability Manager Plus bundle scans operating systems, software, and system settings, looking for loopholes known as entry points for hackers. In addition to these standard checks, this scanner assesses other issues not yet listed as known hacker exploits that could be used for attacks. This protects your system against zero-day attacks, which are new strategies that no one has tried yet.

While many vulnerability management services give your system a scan once a month, the ManageEngine system runs every 90 minutes. First, it checks the network for all devices, so it can enroll new devices that you add between scans – you don’t have to set up that new device in the scanner dashboard. Next, the scanner ranks all of the system weaknesses and displays them all in a list ordered by priority.

If you gave the system permission, Vulnerability Management Plus would automatically trigger other modules to fix the problems that it discovers. But, first, it will run the automated Patch Manager. This service is included in the ManageEngine bundle, but it isn’t tied to the vulnerability manager. You can also use it yourself outside of the processes of Vulnerability Manager Plus.

The Patch Manager checks for patch availability, store the downloaders for them and then schedules them for installation. That schedule will work on a series of windows that you specify so that installation doesn’t disrupt normal office activities. It also orders patches accounting for any patch dependencies. Finally, if there is no patch available for the discovered vulnerability, Vulnerability Manager Plus provides a script that will implement a workaround.

Many system weaknesses are due to poorly managed device settings. Vulnerability Manager Plus includes a Configuration Manager that will reorganize those settings and then prevent changes to them. It will also examine all ports and ensure that those not in use are closed. Those that need to be opened will be password protected where possible.

The vulnerability scanner also produces a risk assessment of all of the software that it discovers. In some cases, it will show that a package makes the entire system vulnerable to attack and should be removed.

Who is it recommended for?

ManageEngine provides the Free edition of Vulnerability Manager Plus for small businesses with up to 25 endpoints. This delivers all of the functions available in the Professional edition, which includes the configuration scanning and repair functions. The Enterprise plan adds on the patch manager and compliance reporting.

Comprehensive Endpoint Coverage: Scans endpoints running Windows, Linux, and, with the top package, devices running macOS, for a wide range of vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability Manager Plus installs on Windows and Windows Server. It is available in three editions: Free, Professional, and Enterprise. The Free version is limited to managing 25 devices. The Professional edition is suitable for handling a LAN, and the Enterprise edition will cover multiple sites. You can get a 30-day free trial of the Professional edition.

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6. ESET Protect MDR

ESET Protect MDR is a managed detection and response service that adds the services of security technicians to a range of endpoint protection and cloud security systems. The options on this menu of services include a vulnerability scanner that has an automatic patch manager associated with it.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Vulnerability Search: Targets a broad range of vulnerabilities, searching for over 35,000 potential security issues.
• Automated Software Updates: Includes an automatic patch manager to update out-of-date software, reducing vulnerabilities.
• Prioritization of Threats: Organizes discovered vulnerabilities by severity, enabling focused and efficient remediation efforts.

Why do we recommend it?

ESET Protect MDR provides the services of a team of cybersecurity experts as a managed service. The security operations center uses ESET software to provide security monitoring. This package includes a vulnerability scanner and a patch manager to resolve out-of-date software. The cybersecurity team will produce solutions for all other discovered weaknesses.

The vulnerability scanner can be run on demand or set up to run regularly on a schedule. The console for the service is based in the cloud and end clients are able to see there the discovered vulnerabilities. This console is central to the ESET Protect system and is available for those customers who prefer to buy the software without the managed service.

The weaknesses that the vulnerability scanner discovers are ordered by priority, with the most severe problems appearing first. This enables the technicians to tackle the biggest issues first.

Managed service providers can use this system to service their clients without the need for the ESET SOC team. This is because the cloud-based console that centralizes all of the functions of the ESET package is available in a multi-tenant architecture. This keeps the data of MSP clients separate.

The ESET Protect software includes endpoint protection software that identifies malware and intruders. This endpoint unit will also implement responses to shut down detected threats. Higher plans of the ESET Protect package add on a central, cloud-based threat hunting system. This can also be set up to automatically implement responses. These solutions are communicated to the ESET endpoint agent and also to third-party security tools.

The endpoint unit in the ESET Protect package is available for mobile devices as well as for computers. It will run on Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Who is it recommended for?

The MDR package is suitable for businesses that don’t have cybersecurity specialists on staff. It is also a cost-effective solution because the managed security service provider is able to benefit from efficiencies by using the same staff to monitor multiple clients. The ESET Protect software is also available without the MDR service for companies to use themselves and for MSPs for security monitoring for their clients.

The MDR service can be combined with any of the editions of ESET Protect and so there is no free trial for the entire package. However, once you have decided on the level of service you require, a 30-day free trial is available for that edition. The starting point for your investigation is to contact ESET

ESET Protect Contact ESET

7. SecPod SanerNow

SecPod SanerNow is a SaaS package that is hosted in the cloud and performs security protection for networks, endpoints, and cloud platforms. The system requires agents to be installed on the protected endpoints and cloud platforms. These gather information that is uploaded to the SanerNow server to create hardware and software inventories.

Key Features:

• Extensive Vulnerability Coverage: Scans for over 160,000 weaknesses, with daily updates to the vulnerability database.
• Rapid Deployment and Scanning: Utilizes endpoint agents for quick installation and simultaneous scanning, reducing system impact.
• Integrated Patch Management: Automatically manages patches for identified software vulnerabilities, streamlining the remediation process.

Why do we recommend it?

The SecPod SanerNow vulnerability manager is a cloud-based system but it is able to provide internal network scanning through the installation of an agent. It can scan network devices and also endpoints running Windows, macOS, and Linux. The tool can also scan cloud platforms. The package includes a patch manager.

Endpoint agents are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. All installed agents run in parallel when operating in vulnerability scanner mode. This simultaneous operation means that a standard system scan takes only five minutes to execute. One agent is nominated as a network vulnerability scanner. A Continuous Posture Anomaly Management unit in the platform performs vulnerability scanning for cloud services.

The vulnerability manager works from a list of weaknesses that is maintained on the SecPod server. This has a total of 160,000 conditions to look out for and it is revised daily to account for newly discovered threats. Scanning can be run continuously.

The discoveries of the scanners are uploaded to the SecPod cloud server where they are assessed. The console for the SanerNow system displays a summary of vulnerability scan results that groups discovered weaknesses by severity. This provides a prioritized list of problems that need to be dealt with.

Each vulnerability list entry suggests solutions when the issue is caused by lax device configurations. As the administrator fixes these weaknesses, the rerun of the vulnerability scan will update the console report and show a reduced number of vulnerabilities.

Security weaknesses that are caused by outdated software or operating systems can be dealt with automatically by the patch manager that is included in the platform. The SecPod server regularly checks the producers of operating systems and software packages for patches. When they are available, the server copies over the installers, verifies them, and then stores them in a library.

The patch manager instance running for an account holder analyzes the version numbers of discover software to identify which can be patched. In these cases, the patch is scheduled in the account patch management console and then rolled out to the relevant endpoints as soon as possible. The patch manager relies on a maintenance calendar that the account holder needs to set up.

Who is it recommended for?

SecPod provides per-device pricing for SanerNow, which makes it accessible for businesses of all sizes. The package is run in the cloud as a SaaS package with no upfront installation costs. This is a suitable service for all types and sizes of businesses and it provides an option for continuous vulnerability scanning.

All of the activities of the vulnerability scanner and the patch manager are logged. These records are stored and will provide compliance reporting for HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, and ISO. You can assess the SanerNow system with a 30-day free trial.

8. OpenVAS

The full name of OpenVAS is the Open Vulnerability Assessment System. This is an open-source project, which means it is free to use. You might not jump straight to this option because some businesses have a policy of only using software that is professionally supported. OpenVAS doesn’t have that feature. However, as it is free, you could install it and use it as a benchmark to judge the other vulnerability management tools you test. It isn’t unreasonable to expect that a paid product should be better than this free scanner.

Key Features:

• Open Source Accessibility: Offers a robust vulnerability scanning solution without any cost, encouraging widespread use and customization.
• Extensive Vulnerability Coverage: Features a comprehensive database of over 50,000 network vulnerabilities for thorough security assessments.
• Community Support: Benefits from an active user community for advice, tips, and shared network vulnerability tests (NVTs).

Why do we recommend it?

OpenVAS is a highly respected free, open-source vulnerability scanner. Like many successful open-source tools, this package is maintained by a for-profit business. Greenbone tends to use OpenVAS as a marketing tool for its paid systems. So, you will be pushed to buy the Greenbone Enterprise Appliance instead.

The active community that uses OpenVAS is contactable through a community message board. That can be a good source of guidance on using the tool and vulnerability assessments in general. In addition, the vulnerability database is composed of network vulnerability tests (NVTs). Other users of OpenVAS supply these, and the list includes more than 50,000 conditions.

There is a paid version of OpenVAS, which is called Greenbone Vulnerability Management. That has a commercially gathered NVT database and also provides professional support. However, that product is challenging to acquire because Greenbone doesn’t sell its products direct.

OpenVAS installs on Linux, and it is integrated into Kali Linux. Therefore, it is possible to run it on Windows over a VM. This system has a GUI interface and can also be used as a command-line utility.

Who is it recommended for?

OpenVAS is referred to by its supplier as the Greenbone Community Edition because the company is trying to gain brand recognition from its investment in the free tool. OpenVAS is relatively easy to use and it doesn’t take much training to understand how to set up a scan.

The vulnerability scanner is integrated into Greenbone Security Manager as the trial version, which you can download for free.

Vulnerability Management FAQs