Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Qualys SSL Server Test VS CipherScan

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

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.

CipherScan logo CipherScan

Cipherscan tests the ordering of the SSL/TLS ciphers on a given target, for all major versions of SSL and TLS.
  • Qualys SSL Server Test Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-07-21
  • CipherScan Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-25

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.

CipherScan features and specs

  • Comprehensive SSL/TLS Analysis
    CipherScan provides a detailed analysis of SSL/TLS configurations, helping users identify supported ciphers and configurations to strengthen security.
  • Open Source
    As an open source tool, CipherScan allows users to freely use, modify, and contribute to its improvement, enhancing transparency and community engagement.
  • Ease of Use
    CipherScan is relatively easy to use with straightforward commands, making it accessible for users with varying levels of experience in cybersecurity.
  • Detailed Output
    The tool provides detailed output, including information on certificate validity and weaknesses in the configuration, aiding in thorough security assessment.

Possible disadvantages of CipherScan

  • Limited to SSL/TLS Analysis
    CipherScan is specialized in analyzing SSL/TLS configurations and does not offer a broader range of cybersecurity assessment features beyond this scope.
  • Potential for Obsolescence
    As an open source tool, CipherScan's development and maintenance depend on community support, which could lead to outdatedness if not actively maintained.
  • Complexity of Output
    While detailed, the output of CipherScan may be overwhelming or complex for users without sufficient technical knowledge in SSL/TLS configurations.
  • Dependency on External Libraries
    CipherScan relies on other libraries and tools for its functionality, which might require additional installation steps and dependencies management.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Qualys SSL Server Test and CipherScan)
Security
66 66%
34% 34
Web Application Security
65 65%
35% 35
Web And Mobile Application Security
Cyber Security
60 60%
40% 40

User comments

Share your experience with using Qualys SSL Server Test and CipherScan. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Qualys SSL Server Test seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 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.

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: almost 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: about 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: almost 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

CipherScan mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CipherScan yet. Tracking of CipherScan recommendations started around Feb 2022.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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