Patch Management Integration with Nessus Released

Today, Tenable Network Security announced integration between Nessus and a variety of patch management systems that will simplify scanning in cases where credentialed scans are difficult or impossible. The integration allows Nessus and SecurityCenter users to establish direct links to patch management systems. This simplifies patch audits as the systems in your environment do not all have to contain credentials in order to be scanned. You simply need to give Nessus credentials to your patch management server. This integration enhances compliance programs and helps eliminate confusion about the patch status of systems between IT operations and network security teams.

With Nessus patch management integration, you can:

• Retrieve patch manifests and status information from Red Hat® Network Satellite Server, Microsoft® Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), and VMware® Go (formerly known as Shavlik).
• Quickly generate patch compliance reports in Nessus and SecurityCenter, based on the data returned from patch management systems. Presentation of records in the well-known Nessus format can speed auditors’ reviews, and simplify resolution of discrepancies between management systems.
• Retrieve accurate patch status information for systems that can’t be fully scanned by vulnerability assessment tools because of a lack of credentials. Credentials are only required for access to the patch management system.
• Retrieve patch status in environments where scanning is not available due to other constraints, such as limited networking.
• Help eliminate false positives caused by back ported patches in Red Hat Satellite environments.

This integration is available today in the case of Microsoft and VMware Go (Shavlik) systems, and is expected no later than Friday of this week for Red Hat. You’ll find the plugins in the ProfessionalFeed. Configuration documentation is available in the Patch Management Integration documentation. If working with patch management systems is a challenge for you, watch this space – I’ll be posting more details on how this integration works, and you can take advantage of it in your environment.