IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment vs Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management comparison

IBM and Qualys are both solutions in the Vulnerability Management category. IBM is ranked #49 with an average rating of 5.0, while Qualys is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.9. IBM holds a 0.7% mindshare in VM, compared to Qualys’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 66% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of Qualys users who would recommend it.

IBM Guardium Vulnerability ...

Read 4 IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment reviews

929 Views
901 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset ...

Read 35 Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management reviews

4,290 Views
1,630 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

IBM Guardium Vulnerability ...

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset ...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment and Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management compete in the cybersecurity domain. Qualys appears to have the upper hand due to superior integrations and proactive threat detection.

Features: IBM Guardium offers database vulnerability assessments, compliance management, and real-time monitoring for robust data protection. Qualys provides extensive IT asset visibility, automated inventory processes, and proactive security gap detection.

Room for Improvement: IBM could enhance its integration capabilities and expand compatibility across more database environments. Its user interface could also benefit from modernization. Qualys might improve its reporting features, reduce false positives in vulnerability detection, and refine its network monitoring functions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Guardium emphasizes easy deployment with strong integration capabilities and effective support. Qualys offers a cloud-based model that simplifies deployment and facilitates seamless updates, with noted benefits in cloud integration ease.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Guardium may involve higher upfront costs with significant ROI through risk mitigation and breach prevention. Qualys, with potentially lower initial expenditure, boasts solid ROI by efficiently managing assets and reducing security gaps, aligning investment with visibility and management gains.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment vs. Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment vs. Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management

February 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

IBM Guardium Vulnerability ...

Ranking in Vulnerability Management

49th

Average Rating

6.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset ...

Ranking in Vulnerability Management

9th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Patch Management (4th), Cyber Asset Attack Surface Management (CAASM) (2nd), Attack Surface Management (ASM) (2nd), Software Supply Chain Security (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Vulnerability Management category, the mindshare of IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment is 0.7%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management is 1.3%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Vulnerability Management Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management	1.3%
IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment	0.7%
Other	98.0%

Vulnerability Management

Featured Reviews

Dr. Sajid Latif

Guardium Administrator at Interactive Group

Improvements sought in database optimization while benefiting from robust security monitoring

We use the analytical functionality of Guardium, but the analytical functionality is not so powerful or flexible because it does not include the application user ID. It only includes the database user ID. To identify risky users, it does not support end users, so IBM must incorporate this feature into the built-in analytical engine of the Guardium. There is only one problem I experienced while using Guardium: the internal database of the collector is MySQL, which is not so powerful or flexible. When you make a query in a MySQL database, it takes too much time to respond. IBM should replace this MySQL database with a more powerful internal database for the logging mechanism so that Guardium can collect logging data flexibly and ensure optimization. My overall experience with Guardium is good. The only problem is that IBM must replace the internal DB, MySQL, with a more powerful enterprise-level database because enterprises use it at an enterprise level, and MySQL does not support optimally.

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Arshad N. R.

Cyber Security Specialist at UBS Financial

Customized dashboards and quick deployment support comprehensive asset management

We use the True Risk Score for vulnerability prioritization, though we do not solely rely upon it since some assets may be decommissioned soon or not in use. From Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management, we primarily focus on internet-facing assets. We have created separate tasks for internet-facing assets and track the True Risk dashboard specifically for these assets. If the True Risk Score is higher for any internet-facing assets, then we take action accordingly. The True Risk Score is very helpful for prioritization. The initial setup was straightforward and easy. We needed to create customized tags, group them twice, and validate whether the operating system detection was true positive or false positive. We encountered some false positives, which required coordination with the IT team for verification. In six months, we had approximately 20-25 machines that needed verification on a weekly basis. We coordinated with the IT team to identify the exact operating system specifications.

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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

"It helped with some of the regulatory requirements. It also helped with some of the security analytics and analysis. It was worthwhile from that perspective."

"The most valuable feature is that it provides a simple English recommendation on actions that you need to take once a vulnerability is discovered."

"The reporting features are good and there are many built-in reports that can be quickly configured."

"The Vulnerability Assessment feature is quite stable and helps identify numerous vulnerabilities in databases."

"The most valuable aspect we receive from Qualys is the remediation."

"The asset management part is very simple and essential, and Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management was particularly effective because the information was available exactly where needed, enabling automation and quick access to necessary answers."

"I really enjoy the flexibility of the interface setup configuration for my network VLANs, which makes it very easy to configure."

"I use it primarily with tagging, asset counts, and groups that we can put them in, and we also use it to tell if a device has been merged and seen in Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management, so that's beneficial for us too."

"I appreciate the feature that simplifies cloud security posture, offering insights into vulnerabilities, and reducing the complexity of managing the security program."

"Regarding return on investment, I first look at the reality of the environment and the decrease in critical vulnerabilities with Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management, which equals a positive return on investment."

"Our favorite features are the tagging and the ability to quickly find assets in the portal."

"Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management offers comprehensive features to cover our entire attack surface."

More Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management pros

Cons

"The interface could be improved by having sub-groups of tests, ultimately making the process of collecting tests faster."

"There is only one problem I experienced while using Guardium: the internal database of the collector is MySQL, which is not so powerful or flexible."

"Building policies is not that easy. There are some things that are turned off by default, for example, displaying values."

"It was not as easy to use. The user-friendliness of it was somewhat lower than what I was expecting. It was also lacking in terms of the ease of the setup. There should be an automatic agent for deployment."

"There can be further simplification to reduce the overall noise and provide ESAM-related data."

"The deployment is somewhat complicated and could be made more user-friendly for most users."

"Qualys could improve by enhancing its dynamic tagging and role-based access control features, and by refining its user interface for a more intuitive and efficient user experience."

"The main aspect that needs improvement is the user interface, which should be more intuitive."

"Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management is moderately good, while Rapid7 is slightly much better."

"Some areas that would be helpful are more comprehensive tagging and the ability to set up better dynamic rules."

"We encountered some false positives, which required coordination with the IT team for verification."

"Integration of Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management, particularly with ServiceNow, takes a very long time, and it needs prioritization of patch rules based on vulnerability risk."

More Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"One thing not advantageous for it was that it was a little bit more expensive. I would rate it one out of five in terms of pricing."

"The pricing is reasonable relative to the features provided, as it collects all module data and operates as a main, centralized inventory, making it a cost-effective solution."

"The Qualys Cybersecurity Asset Management pricing is well-aligned with our usage."

"It is cost-effective because, in a single tool, we are getting everything. All the solutions come in a single license or price."

"Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management can be expensive, especially if we already have VMDR."

"Qualys offers excellent value for money."

"Though the solution is considered expensive, if bundled with other services such as VMDR or cloud agents, its value would significantly increase. It is currently a bit costly, but with bundling, it could become attractive to more customers."

"The pricing for Qualys CSAM is nominal."

"The cost for Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management is high."

More Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

38%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Performing Arts

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	23

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment?

We are still using IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment. We only use IBM Guardium Data Protection and monitoring, data protection and monitoring, classical Guardium. We only use classical Guardium...

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What advice do you have for others considering IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment?

We do not use IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment for data encryption or any other tool for analytics, or identity and governance. We do not use any other solution except for protection and monit...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

I'm not entirely sure about the pricing; I don't know.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

I think the one thing Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management can do better is the package management and the updating process. Knowing that you can't update any of the packages until you've done the...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

I primarily use it for a small, single-site, multi-source setup with multi-WAN inputs. I have a main fiber connection and a couple of failovers while managing different networks across different se...

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Vulnerability Management

January 2026

IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment report

Download IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment product report

Buyer's Guide

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management

January 2026

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management report

Download Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management product report

Overview

IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment scans data infrastructures (databases, data warehouses and big data environments) to detect vulnerabilities, and suggests remedial actions. The solution identifies exposures such as missing patches, weak passwords, unauthorized changes and misconfigured privileges.

IBM

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management provides key features including asset inventory management, end-of-life tracking, dynamic tagging, and integration with CMDB, offering extensive visibility and support for proactive threat response.

Qualys offers comprehensive visibility across hardware and software assets, aiding in tracking unauthorized applications and facilitating automated vulnerability remediation. Its user-friendly interface and dynamic risk scoring enhance security posture management. Users leverage it for vulnerability management and compliance, benefiting from real-time risk identification and efficient operations in cloud and on-premises environments.

What are the key features of Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management?

Asset Inventory Management: Provides detailed visibility over hardware and software assets.
End-of-Life Tracking: Helps identify technical debt by pinpointing outdated hardware and software.
Dynamic Tagging: Allows flexible classification and categorization of assets.
Real-Time Risk Identification: Detects risks as they arise, enhancing threat response capabilities.
CMDB Integration: Streamlines data integration for comprehensive asset insights.

What benefits should users look for in Qualys reviews?

Improved Security Posture: Enables proactive threat management and streamlined operations.
Efficient Remediation: Automates vulnerability management and patch deployment.
User-Friendly Operations: Simplifies cybersecurity operations with an intuitive interface.
Comprehensive Asset Visibility: Offers unparalleled insight into organizational assets.
Scalable Solutions: Facilitates asset tracking across cloud and on-premises environments.

Cybersecurity teams in various industries, such as financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing, utilize Qualys to manage technical debt through end-of-life tracking and facilitate robust patch management. It supports compliance and visibility initiatives, essential for maintaining data integrity and operational security in dynamic environments.

Qualys

Buyer's Guide

IBM Guardium Vulnerability Assessment vs. Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management

February 2026

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