Software Alternatives & Startups

Qualys Cloud Platform VS CloudLinux

Compare Qualys Cloud Platform VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Qualys Cloud Platform

The revolutionary architecture that gives you a continuous, always-on assessment of your global security and compliance posture, with 2-second visibility across all your IT assets, wherever they reside.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Qualys Cloud Platform
CloudLinux
Website qualys.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Qualys Cloud Platform 7 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Comprehensive Security
    Offers extensive and in-depth security assessments including vulnerability management, compliance monitoring, and threat protection.
  • Scalability
    Highly scalable, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.
  • Real-Time Reporting
    Provides real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities, helping organizations stay up-to-date with their security posture.
  • Ease of Deployment
    Being a cloud-based platform, it is relatively easy to deploy and integrate within existing infrastructure, reducing the complexity of setup and configuration.
  • Automation
    Automates routine tasks like scanning and compliance checks, freeing up security teams to focus on more critical activities.
  • Unified Platform
    Offers a unified platform for various security needs, reducing the need for multiple disjointed security tools.
  • Global Coverage
    Provides global availability and support, making it a good fit for multinational organizations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Enterprise-grade features come at a high cost, which might be a barrier for smaller organizations with limited budgets.
  • Complexity for New Users
    The extensive capabilities can be overwhelming for new users, requiring significant time and effort for training and onboarding.
  • Customizability
    While feature-rich, it may lack the level of customizability that some organizations require for unique security needs.
  • Dependency on Internet
    Being cloud-based means that its effectiveness is tied to Internet reliability and speed, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Like most cloud platforms, transitioning to or from Qualys Cloud Platform can involve significant migration efforts and costs, leading to potential vendor lock-in.
  • Performance Latency
    Users may occasionally experience performance latency issues, particularly during peak times or large-scale operations.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Qualys Cloud Platform
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Qualys Cloud Platform is regarded as a reliable and efficient solution for organizations looking to enhance their security posture and compliance efforts. Its robust features, scalability, and strong industry reputation make it a top choice in the field of cybersecurity.

Why this product is good

  • Qualys Cloud Platform is considered good due to its comprehensive suite of security and compliance solutions. It offers continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, web application security, and other robust cybersecurity services. The platform is cloud-based, providing scalability and ease of deployment across multiple environments. Additionally, Qualys has a strong reputation for accuracy and timely updates, which are crucial for effective security management.

Recommended for

    Qualys Cloud Platform is recommended for medium to large enterprises, security teams, IT professionals, and compliance officers who require a comprehensive, scalable, and effective solution to manage vulnerabilities, ensure compliance, and secure web applications across diverse IT environments.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Qualys Cloud Platform 2 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Qualys Cloud Platform

More videos

  • - QSC17: Our Journey into the Cloud: The Qualys Cloud Platform and Architecture

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Qualys Cloud Platform
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Qualys Cloud Platform no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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