Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Mozilla Observatory VS Qualys SSL Server Test

Compare Mozilla Observatory VS Qualys SSL Server Test and see what are their differences

Mozilla Observatory logo Mozilla Observatory

The Mozilla Observatory is a project designed to help developers, system administrators, and security professionals configure their sites safely and securely.

Qualys SSL Server Test logo Qualys SSL Server Test

This free online service performs a deep analysis of the configuration of any SSL web server on the public Internet.
  • Mozilla Observatory Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-25
  • Qualys SSL Server Test Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-07-21

Mozilla Observatory features and specs

  • Comprehensive Security Testing
    Mozilla Observatory performs a wide range of security tests to assess the robustness of a web application's security configuration, providing an overall security score.
  • Free to Use
    Mozilla Observatory is available to everyone at no cost, making it an accessible tool for developers and administrators looking to improve their website's security posture.
  • Open-Source
    Being open-source, Mozilla Observatory allows users to understand its inner workings, contribute to its development, and ensure transparency in its security assessment methods.
  • Educational Benefits
    The tool provides detailed explanations and resources for each test performed, helping users understand potential security issues and how to mitigate them effectively.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    Mozilla Observatory can be integrated with other automated tools and scripts like SSL Labs and Security Headers, offering a more comprehensive analysis of a website’s security.

Possible disadvantages of Mozilla Observatory

  • Limited Scope of Tests
    The tool primarily focuses on HTTP headers and a few other configurations, which means it may not cover all potential vulnerabilities present in a web application.
  • No Real-Time Monitoring
    Mozilla Observatory does not provide continuous monitoring or alerts, which means users need to manually retest their sites to ensure ongoing security.
  • Not a Substitute for Penetration Testing
    While Mozilla Observatory offers valuable insights into a website's security, it does not substitute for professional penetration testing and in-depth security audits.
  • Potential for Misinterpretation
    Users lacking security knowledge may misinterpret the results, leading either to a false sense of security or misdirected efforts in improving website defenses.
  • Less Focus on Backend Vulnerabilities
    The tool does not evaluate backend systems for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS), which are also critical for overall security.

Qualys SSL Server Test features and specs

  • Comprehensive Analysis
    The SSL Server Test provides a detailed analysis of the SSL/TLS configuration, including protocol support, key exchange, and cipher strength, helping users identify potential weaknesses.
  • Free Tool
    Qualys offers this tool free of charge, making it accessible to anyone interested in evaluating their server's SSL/TLS security without incurring costs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool features a straightforward and intuitive web interface, allowing users of varying technical expertise to perform a server test easily.
  • Grading System
    It provides an easy-to-understand grading system (A+ to F), which helps users quickly assess the overall security of their SSL/TLS configuration.
  • Regular Updates
    Qualys continuously updates the test to incorporate the latest security standards and vulnerabilities, ensuring the tool remains relevant in the ever-evolving SSL/TLS landscape.

Possible disadvantages of Qualys SSL Server Test

  • Public Results
    Test results are publicly accessible, which might be a concern for those who prefer confidentiality regarding their server's security status.
  • No Real-Time Monitoring
    The tool is designed for on-demand testing and does not provide continuous monitoring or automated alerts for changes in SSL/TLS security status.
  • Limited Scope
    While comprehensive in analyzing SSL/TLS configurations, the tool does not cover other aspects of web server security, such as application vulnerabilities or network configurations.
  • Load Implications
    Running the test can occasionally place a load on the server being analyzed, which might affect server performance during the test period.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mozilla Observatory and Qualys SSL Server Test)
Web Application Security
67 67%
33% 33
Security
59 59%
41% 41
Web And Mobile Application Security
Cyber Security
47 47%
53% 53

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Mozilla Observatory should be more popular than Qualys SSL Server Test. It has been mentiond 36 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Mozilla Observatory mentions (36)

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Qualys SSL Server Test mentions (5)

  • Unable to have valid chain of authority
    Check it at https://ssllabs.com/ssltest and it will tell you what’s wrong with the chain. Source: about 2 years ago
  • PAN-OS thinks the cert for https[:]//supportfiles[.]firemon[.]com is untrusted. Why?
    Didn’t know that one. I generally use ssl server test at https://ssllabs.com/ssltest. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Looking for help with VIRTUAL_HOST set up and 502 Bad Gateway (possible bad SSL?)
    As far as the SSL error, your browser does not consider the certificate to be valid. It looks like you’re trying to use Let’s Encrypt (based on your .well-known/acme-challenge location. You’ll also need to provide the intermediary certificate, but there also may be something else wrong (e.g., are you using the staging CA and not the production CA when brokering the certificate?). I can’t tell what’s wrong without... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is there a safe way to enable gzip compression over HTTPS?
    If you want to prove it, check your site with https://ssllabs.com/ssltest. It checks web servers for safe TLS configurations, including whether or not you have TLS compression enabled. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Safari problem with Nginx Proxy
    Try running SSL test on server. https://ssllabs.com/ssltest/ It reports incomplete certificate. Did you add whole chain on "ssl_certificate" file? Root cert is not needed but intermediate should be in there with server certificate. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mozilla Observatory and Qualys SSL Server Test, you can also consider the following products

Security Headers - Quickly and easily assess the security of your HTTP response headers.

Scanigma - Scanigma offers a comprehensive solution that includes in-depth analysis, evaluation, and reporting of security settings, specific recommendations, sample configurations, and ongoing monitoring.

Hardenize - Hardenize provides a comprehensive and free assessment of web site network and security configuration.

CryptoLyzer - Fast and flexible server cryptographic (TLS/SSL) settings analyzer library for Python 2.7/3.4+ with CLI

CipherScan - Cipherscan tests the ordering of the SSL/TLS ciphers on a given target, for all major versions of SSL and TLS.

CryptCheck - CryptCheck is a Ruby toolbox that help anybody to check for cryptography security level and best practices compliance.