Qualys provides visibility of inaccessible IT assets

Qualys announced a new Out-of-Band Configuration Assessment (OCA) module that allows customers to achieve complete visibility of all known IT infrastructure by pushing vulnerability and configuration data to the Qualys Cloud Platform from systems that are otherwise difficult or impossible to assess.

OCA’s expanded data collection approach completes customers’ global IT asset visibility by significantly broadening the types of technologies supported by the Qualys Cloud Platform.

An API-based sensor module, OCA enables customers to add metadata from unscanned assets into the Qualys Cloud Platform to gain deeper assessment of configuration, and achieve better visibility of potentially critical vulnerabilities across their full environment.

Security teams strive to minimize risk by securing all enterprise assets from cyber threats. However, a sub-set of these assets may remain at risk due to remote scanning challenges such as inaccessible locations, placement on highly secure disconnected “air gap” networks or with sensitivity to scans. Qualys OCA offers customers a simple alternative method to reduce that risk by assessing the security of these critical disconnected assets via an API that extracts asset, configuration and vulnerability data and delivers it into the Qualys Cloud Platform for inclusion in their overall security and compliance program.

“This new groundbreaking method of data extraction helps customers extend their single-pane-of-glass visibility to all assets, which is a key first step to ensuring continuous security,” said Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO, Qualys, Inc. “As a new addition to the Qualys sensor family, Offline Device Assessment gives customers the ability to broaden compliance programs to include such highly locked-down devices and those on air-gapped networks.”

Qualys Out-of-Band Configuration Assessment offers customers:

Flexible data collection: Offline and inaccessible device metadata and configurations can be collected out of band via automation or manually, and then uploaded into the Qualys Cloud Platform via API or directly via the simple user interface.

Multiple cloud apps supported: Data collected via OCA is shared across apps in the Qualys Cloud Platform, and currently leveraged by Asset Inventory, Policy Compliance, and Vulnerability Management. The data is processed and treated just like data from agents or scanners, allowing these data to be incorporated into existing compliance and vulnerability reporting.

Automated and customizable data collection: Customers can automate their process for data collection and integration to suit their unique needs. They control how, when, and what data is accessed on their devices and by whom.

Part of the Qualys Cloud Platform, the Qualys family of sensors provide customers continuous visibility on premises, at endpoints or in the cloud. Qualys Cloud Platform sensors are always on, giving customers continuous 2-second visibility of all their IT assets.

Remotely deployable, centrally managed and self-updating, the sensors come as physical or virtual appliances or lightweight agents, as well as the OCA module. Qualys also offers native integrations with third-party cloud platforms for full visibility.

Licensing and availability

Qualys OCA module is free. Customers can allocate a sub-set of licenses to this module. Qualys OCA will be generally available starting in September.