A Comparative Analysis of Vulnerability Management Tools: Evaluating Nessus, Acunetix, and Nikto for Risk Based Security Solutions

TL;DR

This paper compares Nessus, Acunetix, and Nikto vulnerability management tools, evaluating their detection accuracy, risk scoring, usability, automation, performance, and cost to aid organizations in selecting suitable security solutions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparative analysis of three popular vulnerability management tools, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses for risk-based security strategies.

Findings

Nessus shows high detection accuracy and comprehensive reporting.

Acunetix excels in web application vulnerability detection.

Nikto offers a cost-effective solution with decent performance.

Abstract

The evolving threat landscape in cybersecurity necessitates the adoption of advanced tools for effective vulnerability management. This paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of three widely used tools: Nessus, Acunetix, and Nikto. Each tool is assessed based on its detection accuracy, risk scoring using the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), ease of use, automation and reporting capabilities, performance metrics, and cost effectiveness. The research addresses the challenges faced by organizations in selecting the most suitable tool for their unique security requirements.