7 Best Security Audit Tools: A Complete Guide

A security audit is a complete evaluation of an organization’s information systems. This includes scanning networks, physical devices, applications, software, and firewalls and evaluating employee safety training.

Given the alarming surge in data breaches, which have increased by over 72% since 2021, organizations should prioritize security to reduce risks.

Promptly employing security audit tools is the key to staying safe and avoiding becoming a statistic in a cybersecurity attack.

Here are some of the top cybersecurity audit tools to consider: 

• Astra Security
• Sprinto
• Qualys
• Nessus
• Symantec
• Palo Alto Networks
• Check Point

Top 3 Cybersecurity Audit Tools Comparison

Features	Astra Security	Palo Alto	Qualys
Platform	SaaS	SaaS	SaaS
Capabilities	Continuous automated scans with 9300+ tests, manual pentests	Threat Prevention, IDP, continuous monitoring, and remediation guidance	Automated monitoring and threat detection with remediation
Accuracy	Zero false positives	False positives possible	False positives possible
Compliance	OWASP, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, ISO27001, SOC2, and more.	HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR	PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR
Workflow Integrations	Slack, JIRA, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, etc.	Cisco, AWS, Slack, and more	IBM, Splunk, Cisco, and more
Price	Starting at $1,999/yr	Available on quote	Available on quote (Trial starts at $500/month)
Used by Customers Like	Go Daddy, Ford, UN, DLF	Accenture, Salesforce, Dish	Ancestry, CapitolOne, Cisco

Top 7 Security Audit Tools

1. Astra Security

Key Features:

• Platform: SaaS
• Pentest Capabilities: Continuous automated scans with 10,000+ tests and manual pentests 
• Accuracy: Zero false positives (with vetted scans)
• Compliance Scanning: OWASP, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, ISO27001, and SOC2
• Publicly Verifiable Pentest Certification: Yes
• Workflow Integration: Slack, JIRA, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, and more
• Price: Starting at $1999/yr

Astra Security provides comprehensive security audits with the assurance of zero false positives in vetted scans to find all vulnerabilities across your systems—networks, web applications, mobile applications, and APIs.

Our vulnerability scanner can find system loopholes using NIST and OWASP methodologies, testing for 10,000+ test cases. The list of tests is updated fortnightly to include emerging vulnerabilities, known CVEs, OWASP Top 10, and SANS 25. 

Astra’s user-friendly dashboard displays the vulnerabilities found in real-time with the severity scores and allows collaboration with the target’s development team for a smoother patching process.   

We can help you achieve and maintain compliance with our specific scans for regulatory standards like PCI-DSS, SOC 2, GDPR, ISO 27001, and HIPAA. Our publicly verifiable certificate can be displayed on your website to showcase its reliability and security-conscious nature. 

Pros:

• Detailed reports that can be customized to the level of detail required.
• Remediation assistance and customer support.
• Easy to use and navigate.
• Pocket-friendly. 
• Assures zero false positives with vetted scans. 

Limitations:

• Does not provide free trials but offers a $7/week trial.

2. Sprinto

Key Features: 

• Platform: SaaS-based compliance automation platform
• Core Functionality: Automates compliance and audit readiness
• Compliance Scanning: SOC2, GDPR, ISO 27001, HIPAA and more
• Workflow Integration: Slack, AWS, GCP, Azure
• Pricing: Available on quote

Sprinto’s intelligent automation speeds up security auditing, which can be completed in weeks. Some of its main features include a compliance checklist and systems integration. 

With Sprinto’s automation-driven SOC 2 compliance program, cloud-hosted businesses can quickly, accurately, and efficiently prepare for audits. It automates all the tedious work associated with achieving compliance before you meet with auditors.

Pros:

• Provides zero-touch audits. 
• Automated evidence collection. 
• Conducts live sessions to construct better security plans. 

Limitations:

• Can be a bit difficult to navigate and has a learning curve.

3. Qualys

Key Features

• Platform: Cloud-based security and compliance platform
• Core Functionality: Vulnerability management, detection, and response 
• Compliance Scanning: PCI DSS 4.0, GDPR, HIPAA, and more 
• Pricing: Available on quote

Qualys is a cloud security audit tool for assessing cloud assets, vulnerabilities, and compliance status. Its extensive database of known CVEs is constantly updated and known for its scalability and accuracy.

With its VMDR and Threat Protection, Qualys protects hybrid IT infrastructure with a single cloud platform that continually finds, levels, and fixes vulnerabilities on all devices.

Pros:

• A highly scalable security audit solution.
• Provides vulnerability management, detection, and response.
• Accurate reporting that is easy to follow. 

Limitations:

• Can be slow when scanning. 
• Difficult to navigate for beginners. 
• Slightly on the expensive end. 

4. Nessus

Key Features:

• Platform: SaaS   
• Core Functionality: Vulnerability scanning and assessment
• Workflow Integration: AWS, GCP, Jira, Azure, and other Tenable product
• Pricing: Nessus Pro starts at $4,700/year

Nessus is a web application security audit tool released by Tenable. It helps with point-in-time analysis of security systems to find vulnerabilities that may be plaguing them. 

They also provide a detailed reporting feature that details the vulnerabilities found and the appropriate patches for them. 

Pros: 

• Helps find missing patches that are critical to maintaining security. 
• Point-in-time analysis of security system. 
• Helps achieve compliance with the scans. 

Limitations:

• Advanced technical support is only available upon additional payment. 
• Takes time to complete scans. 
• It can be an expensive solution.

5. Symantec

Key Features:

• Platform: Hybrid (cloud and on-premises)
• Core Functionality: Endpoint protection, threat detection, data loss prevention, and access control
• Pricing: Starts at $39/year

Accenture just acquired Symantec’s cyber security software, which protects networks, data, and devices against malware and viruses. 

Symantec offers cloud workload protection, which provides automated security measures, including cloud security audits, for your cloud providers and customers. In addition to security audits, it also provides anti-malware, intrusion prevention, and more. 

Pros:

• Provides end-point protection and threat detection. 
• Has malware detection capabilities with the capacity for immediate remediation.  
• Can be integrated within the CI/CD pipeline. 

Limitations:

• A pricey solution that may not be feasible for small to medium-sized companies. 
• Could provide better integration possibilities.

6. Palo Alto Networks

Key Features:

• Platform: Cloud-delivered security platform
• Core Functionality: Next-generation firewall, threat prevention, cloud security 

Palo Alto Networks is a leading cybersecurity solution provider focusing more on prevention than detection. Its products protect networks, applications, and cloud environments. 

Their new-age firewalls guard your network, Prisma Cloud safeguards cloud apps, and Cortex XDR uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and neutralize threats in all directions—from the cloud to your network.

Pros:

• Strong focus on prevention and threat detection.
• Advanced threat intelligence and analytics.
• Strong reputation for innovation and product development,

Limitations:

• Can be complex to manage and configure.
• Pricing can be higher compared to some competitors.
• Focus on prevention might require additional tools for incident response.

7. Check Point

Key Features:

• Platform: Hybrid (cloud and on-premises)
• Core Functionality: Network security, endpoint protection, cloud security

Among cybersecurity companies, Check Point Software Technologies is an expert that offers customers an extensive selection of security solutions, from cloud security to network security and endpoint protection. 

Check Point prioritizes prevention and threat detection while providing complete security to organizations of all sizes.

Pros:

• Strong focus on network security with advanced firewall capabilities
• Vast product portfolio addressing various security needs
• Global presence and strong customer support

Limitations:

• Can be perceived as a more traditional security vendor compared to newer competitors
• Product portfolio can be complex to manage
• Pricing can be competitive but might vary based on specific requirements

What Features Should You Look for in a Security Audit Tool?

1. Comprehensive Vulnerability Scanning

The tool should be able to continuously monitor and scan assets to find hidden or new vulnerabilities. Using automated scanning often, you can detect vulnerabilities that arise post-pentest and with every software update or feature addition.

A scanner integrated into your CI/CD pipeline would make it convenient to conduct continuous tests.

2. Pentesting

The security audit provider should be able to conduct continuous pentests to assess an organization’s security posture regularly and find vulnerabilities that quick scans could’ve missed.

Based on the target organization’s initial scope and needs, it should deploy its automated scanner combined with manual pentesting efforts to find its security flaws.

3. Detailed Audit Report

Detailed audit reports are an essential feature of security audit tools as they help customers make fixes based on risk priority. It should also include detailed remediation steps for patching each vulnerability within the report and their CVSS scores. 

It would also be helpful to have an audit provider that offers customizable reports tailored to the level of technicality the reader requires. For example, this would be different for a CTO vs. a security engineer.

4. Remediation Support

They should be able to provide expert assistance with vulnerability remediation for your organization’s security. 

This includes supplying POC videos, immediate query clearance, detailed steps within the security audit report, and prioritized remediation plans based on risk assessment.

5. Compliance-Specific Scan

Compliance-specific scans can help your organization achieve and maintain the compliances it requires in a completely hassle-free manner.  It conducts compliance checks for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, and SOC2. 

A dashboard devoted to compliance can help you choose the compliance you want to scan for based on which the scan detects any and every non-compliance that needs to be remedied. 

Types Of Security Audit 

1. Network Security Audit 

Network security is an integral part of overall IT security. Employing network security audit tools to conduct audits regularly is very important, as networks usually see high data transfer and storage activity. 

This involves examining devices like routers, switches, firewalls, and servers for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and unauthorized access points. Organizations can protect sensitive data from breaches, unauthorized access, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks by identifying weaknesses in network security.

2. Web Application Security Audit

Web security audit tools help identify vulnerabilities and loopholes in web applications before they can be exploited. This staves off various threats, like DDoS attacks, and can even help find business logic errors. 

These audits examine the application’s code, infrastructure, and functionality to find weaknesses such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other common vulnerabilities. 

3. Cloud Security Audit 

Cloud security audit tools scan cloud servers, where copious amounts of data and applications are stored and transmitted. Cloud server providers should conduct regular audits to ensure all vulnerabilities are found and fixed. 

These audits assess cloud environments’ configuration, access controls, data protection measures, and overall security posture. 

Essential Steps In A Security Audit

1. Define Scope

This is the initial phase of the audit, where the security audit provider and the customer agree upon a scope detailing the number of assets to be audited, the rules of attack, and the understanding of the client’s needs. Proper scoping is required for a thorough security audit to avoid scope creep and legal troubles. 

2. Scan Assets

This is the second phase of a security audit, where the organization’s assets are scanned for any vulnerabilities or areas of non-compliance using automated security audit tools. Open-source and freely available security audit tools can be used for this task. 

3. Risk Evaluation

The vulnerabilities discovered are categorized based on the threat’s severity. This is usually based on CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) scores, in which 8-10 represents critical vulnerabilities, 5-7 medium-level vulnerabilities, and 1- 4 low-level vulnerabilities.

4. Audit Report

Once the security audit provider completes the security audit, it generates a detailed audit report for the customers to help them understand the measures taken, vulnerabilities found, remediation measures that can be opted and help with good documentation of security. 

5. Remediation

The audit report will contain remediation measures for the vulnerabilities found on them. These vulnerabilities are to be remediated and patched based on criticality; the ones with high criticality should be patched immediately. 

Final Thoughts

Security audits are in increasing demand from most compliance departments, and customers are beginning to see value in maintaining high levels of security. They help assure the quality of your security system, increase trust in your brand, and also help achieve compliance. 

These audits require systematically assessing networks, systems, and applications to identify vulnerabilities and establish countermeasures for securing sensitive data.

The rising incidences of data breaches solidify the importance of strong security measures. This article discusses some critical features to consider in a security audit tool, including penetration testing, automated scanning, and remediation support. 

We have compared and contrasted the top seven security audit tools so you can evaluate your needs and make the right choice. Our top three picks would be Astra Security, Palo Alto Networks, and Qualys. Ultimately, choosing the right security audit tool depends on the customer’s budget, organizational size, industry, and specific security requirements. 

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