SentriKat vs. Qualys VMDR
Qualys VMDR is a cloud-native vulnerability management platform trusted by large enterprises. SentriKat offers full data sovereignty with on-premise deployment, transparent pricing from free, and EU-native compliance — built for organizations that cannot send vulnerability data to a US cloud.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | SK SentriKat | QS Qualys VMDR |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | On-premise + Cloud (your choice) | Cloud-only (Qualys Cloud Platform) |
| Starting Price | Free (Early Access) / €59/mo after | Contact sales ($10,000+/yr) |
| Headquarters / Data | EU-based (Swiss engineering) | US-based cloud platform |
| Compliance | GDPR/NIS2/DORA native | Bolt-on compliance modules (paid) |
| Feature Bundling | All features included in every plan | Per-module pricing (VMDR, PM, CS separate) |
| Agent Footprint | Lightweight shell-script agents (<5 MB) | Heavier Cloud Agent |
| Air-Gapped Support | Full air-gapped deployment | Requires cloud connectivity |
| Vulnerability Focus | CISA KEV (1,484 exploited CVEs) | All 250,000+ CVEs |
| ENISA EUVD Integration | Native EU database integration | No EU database support |
| Vendor Backport Detection | Automatic (4 feeds daily) | Manual verification |
| Pricing Transparency | Public pricing on website | "Contact sales" for all plans |
| CVE Coverage Breadth | Focused (~1,484 KEVs) | 250,000+ CVEs + QDS scoring |
| Endpoint Agents | Windows, Linux, macOS | Windows, Linux, macOS |
Who should choose which?
Choose SentriKat if you need:
- ✓ Full data sovereignty with on-premise or air-gapped deployment
- ✓ Transparent pricing you can see before talking to sales
- ✓ EU-based platform with GDPR, NIS2, and DORA compliance built in
- ✓ All features in one product — no per-module upsells
- ✓ Lightweight agents that work in resource-constrained environments
- ✓ A focused vulnerability feed that eliminates 99.4% of noise
Choose Qualys VMDR if you need:
- ✓ Full CVE coverage across 250,000+ vulnerabilities with QDS scoring
- ✓ A cloud-native platform with no infrastructure to manage
- ✓ Deep integration with a broader security platform (PM, EDR, WAS)
- ✓ An established vendor with extensive enterprise support contracts
SentriKat vs Qualys VMDR: data sovereignty and transparent pricing
Qualys VMDR is a cloud-native vulnerability management, detection, and response platform used by many Fortune 500 companies. It offers broad CVE coverage, the Qualys Detection Score (QDS) for prioritization, and integrates with Qualys's wider security suite including patch management and web application scanning.
The fundamental difference is architecture. Qualys is cloud-only — all your vulnerability data, software inventories, and scan results are processed and stored on the Qualys Cloud Platform, which is US-based. For European organizations subject to GDPR, NIS2, or DORA, this creates a data sovereignty problem. Your vulnerability data — which effectively maps your entire attack surface — is leaving your jurisdiction.
SentriKat gives you the choice. Deploy as a Cloud platform, or run it entirely on-premise within your own infrastructure. For air-gapped environments — military, government, critical infrastructure — SentriKat operates without any cloud connectivity. Your vulnerability data never leaves your network.
Pricing is another major differentiator. Qualys does not publish pricing on its website — you must contact sales for a quote. Industry reports suggest VMDR starts at roughly $10,000/year, with additional costs for patch management, container security, compliance modules, and web application scanning. Each capability is a separate paid module.
SentriKat is free during Early Access (10 agents, all features unlocked). After launch, the Cloud Pro plan starts at €199/month including container scanning, SIEM integration, compliance reporting, multi-tenant support, and SSO. No modules to purchase separately.
For EU compliance specifically, SentriKat integrates natively with ENISA's European Union Vulnerability Database (EUVD) — the EU's own vulnerability catalog mandated under NIS2. It includes built-in reporting templates for NIS2 and DORA compliance requirements. Qualys offers compliance capabilities, but as paid add-on modules without European vulnerability database integration.
SentriKat's lightweight shell-script agents also have a significantly smaller footprint compared to the Qualys Cloud Agent, making them suitable for IoT devices, legacy systems, and environments where resource consumption matters. This is particularly relevant for OT and critical infrastructure environments common in NIS2-regulated sectors.
Keep your vulnerability data where it belongs — in your infrastructure
Free during Early Access. No credit card, no sales call. Deploy on-premise or Cloud — your choice.