Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] vs Qualys Exposure Management comparison

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Fortinet and Qualys are both solutions in the Vulnerability Management category. Additionally, 75% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Qualys users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 13, 2026

Qualys VMDR and Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] are competitors in cybersecurity, focusing on vulnerability management and database protection. Our analysis indicates that Qualys VMDR has a superior edge with its extensive support metrics, while Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] offers a comprehensive database security suite that justifies its price through its feature richness.

Features: Qualys VMDR offers automated vulnerability management, detection, and response, emphasizing integration, scalability, and real-time asset discovery. It provides patch management capabilities, ensuring vulnerabilities are swiftly addressed. Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] excels in database security, featuring real-time protection, file-level protection, and detailed activity logs. Fortinet's unique offerings make it an excellent choice for organizations prioritizing database security.

Room for Improvement: Qualys VMDR could improve by expanding its database security features and refining its reporting capabilities. Some users desire enhancements in the user interface for better ease of use. Fortinet FortiDB [EOL], nearing its end of life, requires updates in integration options and deployment processes. Its documentation could also focus more on future-proofing its database protection tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Qualys VMDR provides a streamlined deployment experience, supported by organized resources and excellent customer service. Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] offers thorough documentation and reliable support, but deployment can be somewhat complex due to its specialized nature. Although helpful, its service may need updating as it reaches its end of life.

Pricing and ROI: Qualys VMDR is known for its competitive pricing, achieving favorable ROI owing to optimal resource use. Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] may come at a higher cost, yet its comprehensive database security features justify the investment for specialized needs. Qualys VMDR offers a better balance of cost and value for organizations seeking broad vulnerability management solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Vulnerability Management Report (Updated: October 2026).

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Vulnerability Management

October 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

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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Vasanth Chellappa

CEO & Technical Head Executive at ChellSoft Technologies

Stable with a good interface and excellent technical support

The solution overall is good. All of the features are useful and working well for us. The technical support provided is excellent. The solution is very good at preventing intrusions. You can definitely rely on this solution to cover your security. The pricing of the solution is fair. The interface of the solution is quite stable.

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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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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"With TotalCloud, we can scan through the API. If we are not able to deploy cloud agents on the machine, we can use the API."

"One of the most valuable features of Qualys TotalCloud is FlexScan, which is specifically for internet-facing VMs. We found this feature to be very useful. It was a key differentiator for us."

"The most valuable feature is the consolidated information that it provides from various platforms."

"By integrating TotalCloud, we have significantly reduced vulnerabilities in our deployment pipeline."

"Qualys TotalCloud has helped us view our risk structure, vulnerabilities, and security posture."

"I found the initial setup user-friendly."

"Its dashboards are brilliant. It provides in-depth insights."

"Qualys TotalCloud has positively impacted my organization by providing visibility into the environment."

More Qualys TotalCloud pros

"The most valuable features of this solution are the security aspects."

"The solution overall is good, all of the features are useful and working well for us, the technical support provided is excellent, the solution is very good at preventing intrusions, you can definitely rely on this solution to cover your security, the pricing of the solution is fair, and the interface of the solution is quite stable."

"Customer support for this solution is good."

"When you implement FortiDB in your environment, you get the benefit of three important features: VA, Auditing and Alerting."

"It is extremely stable, and can expand as per our needs due to its stability."

"It is a very good solution, and every day the company is updating and developing its devices."

"The dashboard is very simple. It has an easy to use interface."

"It is a good solution for database monitoring."

More Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] pros

"This solution has provided information about existing vulnerabilities, and helped with quick remediation in case of global malware attacks."

"This is one of the best products I have worked with so far. I like the power of Qualys, and it's a better solution because you can scan a compact file, a BIT file, or batch files. The product already knows what's happening inside, and you don't need to expand the package. Tenable will do the same thing, but you need to have a package issuance claim. With Qualys, we can immediately understand the file, even a compact file. If there's some kind of discovery or incident, you will know what happened in the environment."

"Qualys VM's best features are vulnerability management and customizable scoring."

"They also have threat detection which maps threats. There is a feed that comes from Qualys when a new vulnerability is found. It tells us which machines are infected with that vulnerability."

"The solution shows us classic categories, including high, medium, and low risks. It also shows critical items, and that gives us the advantage of prioritizing things."

"We use QualysGuard to identify all network and compliance-related violations of the assets, and the detailed reports have helped us to provide a certificate of compliance or a clean sheet for our vendors."

"It provides fully automated internal and external vulnerability management."

"Continuous monitoring is a crucial feature that we use more frequently."

More Qualys Exposure Management pros

Cons

"The downside is only in container security, but it has not been a long time since they introduced these models."

"The support process is inefficient due to the excessive number of replies required when submitting tickets."

"TotalCloud could improve the classification of vulnerabilities. Specifically, it could enhance the categorization of what aspects fall under patches resolved by OS or software updates and what pertains to configuration adjustments."

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

"In a future release, I suggest that zero-day vulnerabilities should be predicted in advance using AI technologies. The system is not 100% secure yet, so proactive threat hunting could be enhanced to be more proactive than the current system."

"We encountered challenges identifying the correct resource category for certain items, such as those in containers or storage."

"I sometimes have difficulty detecting or uninstalling certain versions of applications, which I have to do manually."

"There is a lack of data segregation according to criticality or inventory."

More Qualys TotalCloud cons

"I'm an old-school guy. I really don't like web GUI interfaces. They're always slow and laggy and their design is restricted, whereas a binary deployment for an admin tool is always faster, easier, more flexible. I would like that kind of functionality from Fortinet."

"I would like better APIs and integration with other products, like Python and SQL."

"Some use case analyses could be improved."

"The pricing of this solution is a little bit on the high side and can be improved."

"I'm an old-school guy. I really don't like web GUI interfaces."

"We had many issues with the performance and the appliance resource management."

"We had some issues trying to fix some critical bugs, such as the SSL encryption."

"They need to improve the web filter to make it more user-friendly."

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

"The customer support is very bad; when we submit a ticket, we do not get a response immediately."

"When a customer does not have control over vulnerabilities or architecture and needs a solution that automates this function for the company, it can be difficult to identify the vulnerabilities."

"Qualys VMDR is basically susceptible to false positives, and false negatives."

"The price could be better. Asset view is still a legacy feature. I'm not able to extract the information about the asset with complete details. It would be better if they fixed that in the next release. I know Qualys is already working on it, so I'm hopeful it will be available in the next five or six months. That would be something that's changed where I seek improvement."

"Its integration with ServiceNow and other similar products is complicated and can be improved. It should also have virtual batching. They should support more standards and compliance requirements and more customizations. For policy compliance, they can add the standards required by the countries in the Middle East. Each country generates its own standards and frameworks, and those frameworks should be there in all products, not only in Qualys. The market here is huge, especially in the cybersecurity field. Qatar has a framework for Qatar 2022, and each and every company in the public or private sector has to follow the Qatar 2022 framework."

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

"One of the biggest issues from the clients' perspective is that all Qualys computing is on the cloud."

More Qualys Exposure Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Qualys TotalCloud is expensive."

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

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

"Qualys TotalCloud offers cost-effective licensing flexibility."

"I am not sure about the pricing. From what I understand, it is a bit on the higher side, but I do not have the exact numbers."

"The pricing for TotalCloud is attractive and competitive in the market. Given the features, especially the dashboard, I have no concerns regarding pricing."

"TotalCloud's price is about right where I would expect it to be."

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

More Qualys TotalCloud pricing and cost advice

"It's relatively inexpensive in comparison to everything else that has the same functionality. If you're looking at SonicWall or if you're looking at WatchGuard, their prices are about a third higher with relatively the same functionality."

"It is not expensive."

"In the licensing model, the licenses are a little bit expensive."

"The cost needs to be reduced."

"It is not costly."

"We do see over $100,000 in terms of price, for mid-size programs. You likely will pay more than $100,000 without any discount. It is a bit pricey."

"Qualys is cheaper and more affordable than other solutions."

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

"The solution is reasonably priced for the value it provides."

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

"There is a license for the use of this solution. We pay annually instead of monthly to receive a better discount on the price."

"The price is very reasonable."

"Qualys Virtual Scanner Appliance isn't expensive right now. But the price for their product bundles could be better."

More Qualys Exposure Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

18%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

No data available

Financial Services Firm

13%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	38

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	4

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

Questions from the Community

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

We purchased Qualys TotalCloud for GCP and Azure as well. It is comparatively better than others regarding pricing. T...

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What needs improvement with Qualys TotalCloud?

I am unsure about how Qualys TotalCloud can be improved. I do not have anything else to add about the needed improvem...

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

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Qualys TotalCloud

October 2026

Download Qualys TotalCloud product report

Buyer's Guide

Database Security

October 2026

Download Fortinet FortiDB [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

Qualys Exposure Management

October 2026

Download Qualys Exposure Management product report

Also Known As

Qualys TotalCloud with FlexScan

FortiDB, FortiGuard Database Security

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

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

FortiDB software is a comprehensive database security and compliance platform that helps large enterprises and cloud-based service providers protect their databases and applications from internal and external threats. Its flexible policy framework allows you to quickly and easily implement internal IT control frameworks for database activity monitoring, IT audit and regulatory compliance.

Fortinet

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

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Chunghwa Telecom

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

Buyer's Guide

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October 2026

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