Documented by Cortex Xpanse only: CONTAINED and ROUTED.
Documented by Tenable ASM only: none.
Documented by both: FOUND.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Cortex Xpanse vs Tenable ASM: which ASM tool takes an exposure further?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Cortex Xpanse scores higher overall on our weights, 6.40 to 5.40. Cortex Xpanse scores higher on Finds the unlisted estate, Routes to an owner, Contains before the patch and Closes the loop; Tenable ASM scores higher on no criterion; they tie on Proves exploitability, Fits the enterprise stack and Buying transparency. The table below gives the reason for every score.
Cortex Xpanse
Rank 5 of 10
Best for: Palo Alto Networks Cortex estates that want automated response through XSOAR
Tenable ASM
Rank 7 of 10
Best for: Tenable One customers who want external assets in the same exposure view
Which tool scores higher on each criterion?
| Criterion | Cortex Xpanse | Tenable ASM | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Finds the unlisted estate 15%WhyCortex Xpanse: Palo Alto Networks states it scans all 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses several times a day and 500 billion+ ports daily. Tenable ASM: Draws on an attack surface map of more than 5 billion assets to find domains related to your inventory. | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Routes to an owner 10%WhyCortex Xpanse: Identifies third-party stakeholders for exposures; subsidiary attribution detail is not on the pages reviewed. Tenable ASM: Adds context from 200+ metadata fields; subsidiary or owner attribution is not described. | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Proves exploitability 20%WhyCortex Xpanse: Exploitability validation is not described on the product pages reviewed; the emphasis is discovery and response. Tenable ASM: Tenable One adds attack path analysis across 150+ techniques; the ASM product does not document exploit testing. | 5 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Tie |
Contains before the patch 20%WhyCortex Xpanse: Active Response runs built-in automated playbooks against exposures; edge WAF rules are not named. Tenable ASM: Hexa AI orchestrates automated remediation in Tenable One; no edge control is described for ASM itself. | 7 / 10 | 4 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Closes the loop 15%WhyCortex Xpanse: Routes and remediates through Cortex XSOAR playbooks; a retest after the fix is not described. Tenable ASM: Workflow runs through Tenable One and its connectors rather than ASM alone; no retest described. | 6 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Fits the enterprise stack 10%WhyCortex Xpanse: Native ties to Cortex XSOAR and Prisma Cloud inside the Palo Alto Networks Cortex portfolio. Tenable ASM: External findings land in Tenable One beside Tenable's vulnerability data, with Tenable One Connectors for third-party sources. | 9 / 10 | 9 / 10 | Tie |
Buying transparency 10%WhyCortex Xpanse: No price from Palo Alto Networks; a UK G-Cloud reseller listing shows £70,850.84 per instance per year. Tenable ASM: ASM is quote-only, although Tenable lists prices for adjacent products such as Tenable One Vulnerability Management. | 3 / 10 | 3 / 10 | Tie |
Which steps does each tool document?
Cortex Xpanse
- FOUNDDocumented
Internet-wide IPv4 scanning several times a day.
- OWNEDPartial
Third-party stakeholders identified; subsidiary attribution not detailed.
- PROVENNot documented
Exploitability validation not described on the pages reviewed.
- CONTAINEDDocumented
Active Response automated playbooks.
- ROUTEDDocumented
Routing and remediation through Cortex XSOAR playbooks.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
Tenable ASM
- FOUNDDocumented
Domains related to your inventory from a 5 billion+ asset map.
- OWNEDNot documented
Subsidiary or owner attribution not described.
- PROVENNot documented
Attack path analysis in Tenable One; no exploit testing documented for ASM.
- CONTAINEDPartial
Hexa AI automated remediation, through Tenable One.
- ROUTEDPartial
Through Tenable One connectors, not ASM alone.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
Partial counts as not documented for these three lines.
What do they cost?
Cortex Xpanse
No price from Palo Alto Networks. Reseller price: a UK G-Cloud 14 listing by Khipu Networks shows £70,850.84 per instance per year, no free trial, public-facing attack surface only.
To start: Not published on the pages reviewed.
Tenable ASM
ASM: quote only. Tenable One is sold in two packages, Foundation and Advanced, both "Request a quote". Tenable lists some adjacent products online, for example Tenable One Vulnerability Management at $3,700 for one year for up to 250 assets.
To start: Demo request; no ASM trial listed.
Which should you choose?
Choose Cortex Xpanse if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (9/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (8/10)
Choose Cortex Xpanse if Cortex XSOAR already runs your response and you want exposures acted on by playbook. Look elsewhere if proof of exploitability is your main gap.
Choose Tenable ASM if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (9/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (7/10)
Choose Tenable ASM if Tenable One is already your exposure platform. Look elsewhere if you want an ASM tool that proves and contains exposures on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Which proves exploitability better, Cortex Xpanse or Tenable ASM?
Neither: they tie on our proof criterion (Cortex Xpanse 5/10, Tenable ASM 5/10). Cortex Xpanse: Exploitability validation is not described on the product pages reviewed; the emphasis is discovery and response. Tenable ASM: Tenable One adds attack path analysis across 150+ techniques; the ASM product does not document exploit testing.
Can Cortex Xpanse or Tenable ASM contain an exposure before the patch?
Cortex Xpanse documents one: Active Response automated playbooks. Tenable ASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Contain scores: Cortex Xpanse 7/10, Tenable ASM 4/10.
Which is easier to buy, Cortex Xpanse or Tenable ASM?
Cortex Xpanse: No price from Palo Alto Networks. Reseller price: a UK G-Cloud 14 listing by Khipu Networks shows £70,850.84 per instance per year, no free trial, public-facing attack surface only. Tenable ASM: quote only. Tenable One is sold in two packages, Foundation and Advanced, both "Request a quote". Tenable lists some adjacent products online, for example Tenable One Vulnerability Management at $3,700 for one year for up to 250 assets. Buying transparency scores: Cortex Xpanse 3/10, Tenable ASM 3/10.
Read next
- Cortex Xpanse profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Tenable ASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Beyond Cortex Xpanse: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Beyond Tenable ASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Line them up
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