Finding vulnerabilities is only half the job. The real challenge — and the real risk — lies in the gap between discovery and remediation. Most vulnerability scanners hand IT teams a long list of issues and leave them to figure out the remediation workflow on their own, often with separate tools, separate budgets, and significant delays. ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus closes this loop entirely: it scans, assesses, prioritizes, and remediates vulnerabilities from a single console, without requiring additional tools. This VMDR (Vulnerability Management, Detection and Response) approach dramatically reduces the window of exposure between when a vulnerability is found and when it is fixed.
Developed by ManageEngine (a division of Zoho Corporation), Vulnerability Manager Plus is a multi-OS vulnerability management and compliance solution that combines continuous vulnerability assessment, attacker-based risk prioritization, built-in patch management, security configuration management (SCM), zero-day mitigation, and CIS benchmark compliance — all from one unified platform. It supports endpoints on local networks, DMZ environments, remote offices, and roaming devices.
What Sets Vulnerability Manager Plus Apart
The market is filled with vulnerability scanners that produce reports. What distinguishes Vulnerability Manager Plus is that it acts on those reports. The built-in patch management module — covering Windows, macOS, Linux, and over 300 third-party applications — means that from the moment a vulnerability is identified, the path to remediation is one click away in the same interface. Security configuration management adds another layer, continuously auditing system settings against CIS benchmarks and deploying secure configurations where gaps are found. The result is a platform that manages the full vulnerability lifecycle rather than just the discovery phase.
Key Features of ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus
1. Continuous Vulnerability Scanning & Assessment
Vulnerability Manager Plus continuously scans all enrolled endpoints — workstations, laptops, servers, DMZ systems, and roaming devices — for vulnerabilities across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems and thousands of third-party applications. The platform checks against a database of over 160,000 known vulnerabilities, presenting findings with full context: CVE identifier, CVSS severity score, affected systems, patch availability, and age of the vulnerability. Scan results are consolidated in a central dashboard that gives security teams immediate, actionable visibility across the entire endpoint estate.
2. Attacker-Based Risk Prioritization
Not all vulnerabilities deserve equal attention. Vulnerability Manager Plus applies attacker-perspective analytics to prioritize which vulnerabilities represent the most realistic and immediate risk. Prioritization factors include CVSS severity, public exploitability (whether active exploits exist in the wild), vulnerability age, number of affected systems, and patch availability. This intelligence-driven approach allows IT and security teams to focus remediation effort where it matters most, rather than chasing every CVE with equal urgency.
3. Built-in Patch Management
The integrated patch management module is one of the most significant differentiators of Vulnerability Manager Plus versus standalone scanners. Patches for Windows, macOS, Linux, and over 300 third-party applications can be downloaded, tested, and deployed directly from the same console where the vulnerability was identified. Administrators can trigger remediation directly from scan results without context-switching to a separate tool. Patch testing against a pilot group before production deployment is supported, along with rollback capabilities if a patch causes issues.
4. Zero-Day Vulnerability Mitigation
Zero-day vulnerabilities present a unique challenge: no official patch exists yet, but the vulnerability may already be under active exploitation. Vulnerability Manager Plus addresses this with a library of pre-built, tested mitigation scripts that can be deployed as workarounds while the official patch is awaited. This capability was particularly valuable during high-profile zero-day events such as Log4Shell and PrintNightmare, where organizations using Vulnerability Manager Plus could reduce their exposure immediately rather than waiting for vendor patches.
5. Security Configuration Management (SCM)
Misconfigured systems are responsible for a significant share of security incidents, yet they are often invisible to patch-focused tools. The SCM module in Vulnerability Manager Plus continuously audits endpoint configurations against more than 75 pre-built CIS Benchmark policies, detects configuration drift from secure baselines, and provides precise remediation guidance for each identified gap. Common issues addressed include unnecessary services running, firewall misconfigurations, excessive file system permissions, and insecure authentication settings.
6. Web Server Vulnerability Management
Internet-facing and internal web servers are frequent targets for attackers. Vulnerability Manager Plus audits web servers for expired SSL certificates, inappropriate web root directory access, insecure HTTP headers, and other common web server weaknesses. These findings are reported with specific remediation guidance to help teams harden their web infrastructure before attackers identify the same gaps.
7. High-Risk Software Audit
Some software is inherently dangerous regardless of patch status. End-of-life applications that no longer receive security updates, peer-to-peer file sharing software, unauthorized remote desktop tools, and software unsupported by the vendor are all identified by the high-risk software audit module. Administrators can remove flagged software directly from the console without needing additional tools.
8. Active Port Audit
Open ports that serve no legitimate business purpose represent unnecessary attack surface. The active port audit module scans all endpoints for open ports, identifies unauthorized or suspicious port activity, and provides details on the services running behind each port. This visibility helps security teams close unnecessary entry points and detect potentially malicious services.
9. Antivirus Audit
The antivirus audit module checks all network endpoints to verify that antivirus software is installed, active, and up to date. Systems without protection or with outdated definitions are flagged as vulnerabilities, giving administrators a complete picture of endpoint protection gaps across the organization.
10. CIS Benchmark Compliance
With support for over 75 pre-built CIS Benchmark policies covering Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, Vulnerability Manager Plus gives organizations a structured framework for measuring their security posture against industry-accepted standards. Compliance status is reported at the endpoint level, with detailed violation breakdowns and remediation steps. This capability directly supports audit and regulatory requirements under ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST 800-53, and similar frameworks.
11. Network Access Control (Quarantine)
The Enterprise edition includes network quarantine capability. Non-compliant or compromised endpoints can be automatically or manually isolated from the network, containing potential threats before they spread. This is a key capability for organizations implementing a Zero Trust network model where device compliance is a prerequisite for network access.
12. Network Device Vulnerability Management
Beyond endpoints, the Enterprise edition supports scanning network infrastructure — routers, switches, firewalls — for firmware vulnerabilities. Network devices are frequently overlooked in vulnerability management programs, yet they often run outdated firmware with known critical vulnerabilities. This module closes that gap with a separate add-on license for network devices.
13. Reporting & Dashboards
Executive dashboards provide at-a-glance visibility into the organization’s vulnerability posture, compliance status, and patch progress. A comprehensive library of pre-built reports (executive summaries, compliance reports, technical drill-downs) is available in PDF, CSV, and XLSX formats. Custom query reports allow security teams to generate precisely targeted reports for any combination of systems, vulnerability types, or time periods.
Editions & Pricing
Free Edition
A permanently free edition is available for up to 25 endpoints. It includes advanced vulnerability scanning and assessment, attacker-based risk analysis, zero-day detection, high-risk software identification, and port auditing. This is a genuine production-ready tier for small organizations, not a limited trial.
Professional Edition
Starting at $695/year. Designed for organizations with endpoints on a local area network (LAN). Covers the full vulnerability assessment and remediation feature set including built-in patch management, SCM, zero-day mitigation, web server audit, antivirus audit, and CIS compliance reporting.
Enterprise Edition
Starting at $1,195/year. Designed for organizations with distributed endpoints across WAN environments, remote offices, or roaming users. Adds network quarantine (NAC), roaming device management, and advanced distributed management capabilities on top of all Professional features.
Both paid editions are available as annual subscriptions or perpetual licenses. A 30-day free trial of the full Enterprise feature set is available for all new installations. Pricing scales with endpoint count and custom quotes are available for large deployments.
Vulnerability Manager Plus vs. Standalone Vulnerability Scanners
Tools like Qualys, Tenable Nessus, and Rapid7 InsightVM are powerful vulnerability scanners, but they operate primarily in the assessment layer — they identify vulnerabilities and generate reports, leaving remediation to be handled by separate processes and tools. Vulnerability Manager Plus takes a different approach by integrating the remediation layer (patch management, configuration deployment, software removal) directly into the same platform. For organizations that do not already have a mature, integrated VM and patching stack, this consolidation significantly reduces operational complexity and cost. It is not positioned as a replacement for enterprise-grade scanners in large, specialized security operations environments, but for the broad middle market of organizations seeking comprehensive coverage without the complexity and cost of assembling multiple specialized tools, it presents a compelling alternative.
Vulnerability Manager Plus vs. Patch Manager Plus
ManageEngine offers both products, and the distinction is worth clarifying. Patch Manager Plus is a dedicated patch management tool covering Windows, macOS, Linux, and 850+ third-party applications with highly granular deployment control. It is the right choice when the primary requirement is systematic, automated patching at scale. Vulnerability Manager Plus includes a patch management module (covering 300+ applications) but is broader in scope, adding vulnerability assessment, risk prioritization, SCM, zero-day mitigation, compliance reporting, and high-risk software auditing. Organizations that need only patching should evaluate Patch Manager Plus first. Organizations that need a comprehensive vulnerability management program should start with Vulnerability Manager Plus.
Compliance Standards Supported
Vulnerability Manager Plus generates audit-ready reports mapped to the requirements of ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST 800-53, SOX, and CIS Controls. The combination of continuous scanning, configuration auditing, and detailed remediation records provides the evidence trail that auditors typically require. Reports are available in multiple formats for direct inclusion in compliance documentation packages.
System Requirements (On-Premises)
- OS: Windows Server 2012 R2 or later
- CPU: Minimum 2 cores (4 cores recommended)
- RAM: Minimum 4 GB (8 GB recommended)
- Disk: Minimum 40 GB free space
- Database: Bundled MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server
- Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Edge (latest versions)
- Managed endpoints: Windows 7+, macOS 10.10+, major Linux distributions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does Vulnerability Manager Plus differ from a standard vulnerability scanner?
Standard vulnerability scanners identify and report vulnerabilities but rely on external processes and tools for remediation. Vulnerability Manager Plus integrates built-in patch management, security configuration deployment, software removal, and zero-day mitigation scripts directly into the same platform, enabling IT teams to move from discovery to remediation without leaving the console or switching tools.
Does Vulnerability Manager Plus require an agent on each endpoint?
Yes. A lightweight agent is installed on each managed endpoint to enable continuous scanning, real-time reporting, and remediation execution. Agent deployment can be automated via Group Policy, login scripts, or software distribution tools for bulk enrollment across large environments.
Can Vulnerability Manager Plus patch third-party applications?
Yes. The built-in patch management module covers over 300 third-party applications including Adobe products, Java, Chrome, Firefox, Teams, Zoom, and others, in addition to Windows, macOS, and Linux OS patches.
How does zero-day mitigation work without an official patch?
For zero-day vulnerabilities where no vendor patch exists yet, Vulnerability Manager Plus provides pre-built, tested mitigation scripts that implement workarounds to reduce exposure. These scripts can be deployed immediately while waiting for the official vendor patch, significantly reducing the window of risk during active exploitation campaigns.
What CIS Benchmarks are supported?
Vulnerability Manager Plus includes over 75 pre-built CIS Benchmark policies covering Windows desktops and servers, macOS, and major Linux distributions. These benchmarks provide ready-to-use compliance baselines without requiring organizations to build custom assessment frameworks from scratch.
Is the free edition truly permanent?
Yes. The free edition for up to 25 endpoints does not expire. After installation, a 30-day evaluation period provides access to all Enterprise features. Once the evaluation ends, the installation reverts to the free edition unless a paid license is applied.
Is a perpetual license available?
Yes. Both Professional and Enterprise editions are available as annual subscriptions or perpetual (one-time purchase) licenses. The perpetual license requires only an annual maintenance and support renewal for continued updates and support.
Does the platform support roaming or remote endpoints?
Yes. The Enterprise edition includes Roaming Device Management for endpoints outside the corporate network, enabling continuous vulnerability scanning and patch deployment for remote workers without requiring a VPN connection.
Can Vulnerability Manager Plus scan network infrastructure (switches, routers, firewalls)?
Yes, in the Enterprise edition with an additional network device license. The platform scans network device firmware for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, extending coverage beyond endpoints to the broader network infrastructure.
Does Vulnerability Manager Plus integrate with SIEM platforms?
Yes. A dedicated Splunk add-on is available for integration with Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud. The platform also integrates with ManageEngine Analytics Plus and Tenable Vulnerability Management and Security Center for extended correlation and analytics.
Conclusion
ManageEngine Vulnerability Manager Plus occupies a valuable position in the security tooling landscape: a comprehensive VMDR platform that goes meaningfully beyond scanning to close the remediation loop, at a price point accessible to organizations that cannot justify the cost and complexity of enterprise-grade scanners plus separate patching and configuration management tools. Its free edition for 25 endpoints makes it easy to evaluate against real infrastructure. For organizations ready to move beyond point-in-time scans and manual remediation tracking toward a continuous, integrated vulnerability management program, Vulnerability Manager Plus provides a practical and cost-effective foundation.
To obtain a genuine Vulnerability Manager Plus license with full support, contact us for pricing and purchasing assistance.
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