Comparison · VM platform
AxVeil vs Qualys
Qualys is a long-established US security vendor whose public catalogue is built around the Qualys Cloud Platform — VMDR for vulnerability management, WAS for web application scanning, PCI for compliance scanning, and Container Security — sold as recurring cloud subscriptions per Qualys public marketing. AxVeil sits in a different lane: consultant-led VAPT and MITRE ATT&CK adversary simulation, scoped per engagement, with a named senior operator and a CREST-aligned report.
Where AxVeil leans in vs. Qualys: depth of operator-led exploitation, no platform-subscription lock-in, and regulator-grade reporting mapped to DPDP / RBI alongside SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS. Where Qualys leans in: continuous asset inventory, scanning cadence, and risk scoring at enterprise scale.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | AxVeil | Qualys |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement model | Consultant-led VAPT, red teaming, and adversary simulation; project-scoped with named lead operator. | Automated cloud-platform scanner subscriptions (VMDR, WAS, PCI, Container Security) per Qualys public marketing. |
| Operator profile | In-house senior operators; CREST-aligned methodology; named on engagement and retest. | Platform engineering and threat research team behind the Qualys Cloud Platform per their public materials. |
| Methodology | OWASP, PTES, OSSTMM, MITRE ATT&CK; CREST-aligned reporting with exploitation evidence. | CVE-driven scanning, signature and policy checks, and risk scoring (e.g. TruRisk) per Qualys public documentation. |
| Pricing model | Project-based quote per engagement; INR or USD invoicing; no recurring platform fee. | Annual SaaS subscription priced by asset, IP, web app, or container scope per Qualys public marketing. |
| Geographic focus | India, APAC, Middle East primary; US/UK/SG delivery available. | Global enterprise customer base per Qualys public materials; US HQ. |
| Compliance mapping | DPDP Act 2023, RBI cyber guidance, SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, GDPR mapped in report. | PCI DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, FedRAMP scope referenced across Qualys public product pages. |
Competitor entries reflect Qualys' publicly available marketing positioning at time of writing. Confirm current claims at qualys.com.
Pricing model contrast
AxVeil
Manual, project-scoped consultant engagement
Consultant-led VAPT and red teaming. Fixed-scope quote per engagement, priced by attack surface, operator days, and retest cycle. INR or USD invoicing. No recurring platform fee. Packaging visible on /pricing.
Qualys
Subscription scanner SaaS
Automated cloud-platform scanners billed as annual subscriptions, typically priced by asset, IP, web app, or container scope per Qualys public marketing. Manual penetration testing, where required, is generally engaged separately.
AxVeil is the better fit when…
You need exploitation-validated findings from a named senior operator, your regulator expects a CREST-aligned pentest report (not a scan report), and you want DPDP / RBI mapped natively alongside SOC 2 / ISO 27001 / PCI DSS. You don't want to fund an annual platform subscription just to commission a manual engagement, and you value depth of human testing over scanner breadth.
Qualys is the better fit when…
You need continuous vulnerability management, asset inventory, and risk scoring across thousands of hosts, web apps, and containers. Your programme is dominated by scanning cadence, patch SLAs, and PCI compliance scans, and your buyer prefers a single cloud-platform vendor. Per Qualys public marketing, the platform suits enterprises with mature continuous-scanning operations.
Migration guide: moving from Qualys-led pentest to AxVeil
- Inventory current scope. Export your latest VMDR asset inventory, WAS web-app list, and any outstanding scan findings or risk scores. AxVeil ingests these as inputs — no need to re-discover attack surface from scratch.
- Map regulator obligations. Identify which controls the engagement must satisfy (SOC 2 CC7.1, ISO 27001 A.8.28, PCI DSS 11.4, DPDP Act 2023, RBI cyber framework). AxVeil's report template maps these directly so your auditor doesn't need re-mapping work.
- Scope the AxVeil engagement. A senior operator works with you to define the statement of work: web, API, cloud, mobile, internal network, and adversary-simulation as needed. Fixed quote, retest included, named lead operator.
- Run in parallel for one cycle. Keep Qualys scanners running for continuous visibility and PCI compliance evidence while AxVeil executes the consultant-led engagement. The two outputs are complementary, not competing — scanner output feeds operator triage.
- Decide on the platform subscription. After the first AxVeil cycle, decide whether to keep VMDR / WAS for continuous coverage or consolidate. Most customers keep a scanner subscription for asset inventory and PCI scans and book AxVeil for regulator-grade pentest evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is AxVeil a vulnerability management platform like Qualys VMDR?
No. Per Qualys public marketing, VMDR is positioned as a vulnerability management, detection, and response platform sold as a recurring cloud subscription. AxVeil is a consultant-led VAPT and red-team firm — engagements are scoped per project with a named senior operator and a CREST-aligned report.
Does Qualys also offer manual penetration testing?
Qualys public marketing focuses on its automated Cloud Platform and scanner suite (VMDR, WAS, PCI, Container Security). Where manual pentest is required, it is typically delivered separately by partners or a dedicated services team. AxVeil only delivers consultant-led offensive testing — there is no platform subscription to fund alongside the engagement.
How does pricing compare between the two?
Per Qualys public marketing, its products are sold as annual cloud subscriptions priced by asset, IP, web app, or container scope. AxVeil prices each engagement as a fixed-scope project quote based on attack surface and operator days, with no recurring platform fee bundled in.
Can AxVeil ingest output from Qualys scanners?
Yes. AxVeil engagements routinely consume customer scan output — including from Qualys VMDR, Qualys WAS, Nessus, InsightVM, or open-source scanners — as one input into the engagement. The deliverable is exploitation-validated findings and a CREST-aligned report, not a re-run of the scanner.
Which is the better fit for a regulator asking for a penetration test report?
AxVeil. Regulator-grade pentest evidence requires an engagement letter, defined scope, exploitation findings, remediation guidance, and a retest cycle — delivered by AxVeil in CREST-aligned format mapped to SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and DPDP / RBI requirements. A Qualys VMDR scan report satisfies a different control family (continuous VM / inventory / scoring).
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Packaging and quote ranges by attack surface and engagement type.
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