Layer7 Networking × Qualys

Cloud-native Schwachstellenmanagement, das mit Ihrer Angriffsfläche skaliert.

Qualys

Qualys is a pioneer in cloud-based security and compliance solutions. Their platform delivers vulnerability management, policy compliance, web application scanning, and asset inventory from a unified cloud architecture — no on-premises infrastructure required. With over 10,000 customers globally and the largest vulnerability knowledge base in the industry, Qualys is the standard for continuous security assessment.

The Qualys Cloud Platform uses a combination of lightweight agents, network scanners, and passive sensors to provide always-on visibility into security posture. Assets are discovered, assessed, and prioritised for remediation continuously — not just during quarterly scan windows.

Key Products

• VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection, Response) — Integrated vulnerability scanning, prioritisation, and patch management in a single workflow. Risk-based prioritisation using threat intelligence and asset criticality.
• CyberSecurity Asset Management (CSAM) — Continuous asset discovery across on-premises, cloud, containers, and OT. Automated classification and criticality scoring.
• Web Application Scanning (WAS) — Automated DAST scanning for web applications and APIs. OWASP Top 10 coverage with continuous monitoring.
• Policy Compliance (PC) — Automated compliance assessment against CIS Benchmarks, PCI DSS, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and custom policies.
• Cloud Security (TotalCloud) — CSPM, CWPP, and container security for multi-cloud environments. Unified visibility across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
• Qualys Cloud Agent — Lightweight agent (3-5MB) providing continuous assessment, patch management, and EDR capabilities without network scan dependencies.

Product Capabilities

Why Layer7 Chose Qualys

Qualys delivers vulnerability management at cloud scale without cloud complexity. The agent-based architecture means every asset — whether it's a server in a Johannesburg data centre, a laptop in a home office, or a container in AWS — reports its vulnerability posture continuously. No scan windows, no network access requirements, no missed assets.

The VMDR workflow is what sets Qualys apart from scan-only tools. It's not enough to know you have 10,000 vulnerabilities — you need to know which 50 matter most given your threat landscape and asset criticality. Qualys combines vulnerability severity, exploit availability, active threat intelligence, and asset business context to produce a prioritised remediation list that security teams can actually action.

For Layer7, Qualys integrates naturally with our security architecture practice. Vulnerability data feeds into firewall rule optimisation, informs Palo Alto IoT Security policies, and drives risk-based access decisions in Conditional Access. It's the foundation of evidence-based security — you can't protect what you can't measure.

How Layer7 Delivers Qualys

Continuous Vulnerability Scanning

Qualys Cloud Agent deployment across server and endpoint estates. Network scanner appliance deployment for infrastructure assessment. Scan policy configuration, asset grouping, and automated scheduling for comprehensive coverage.

Vulnerability Programme Management

Design and operation of vulnerability management programmes: SLA definition, risk acceptance workflows, exception management, and executive reporting. We turn scan data into remediation action — tracked, measured, and reported.

Compliance Reporting

Automated compliance assessment against PCI DSS, ISO 27001, CIS Benchmarks, and POPIA-relevant controls. Continuous compliance monitoring with drift detection and automated evidence collection for audit preparation.

Attack Surface Management

External attack surface discovery and monitoring using Qualys EASM. Identification of unknown internet-facing assets, expired certificates, exposed services, and shadow IT. Continuous visibility into what adversaries can see from the outside.

Integration & Automation

Qualys API integration with ITSM platforms (ServiceNow), SIEM (Sentinel, Splunk), and orchestration tools. Automated ticket creation for critical vulnerabilities, SLA tracking, and remediation verification workflows.