AWS Inspector alternative for external & SOC 2 coverage
Amazon Inspector excels at AWS-account and agent-based assessment. Panoptic Scans complements it with external perimeter scanning, ZAP DAST, multi-cloud/SaaS targets, attack narratives, and Vanta evidence upload - from $25/month.
Inspector vs Panoptic - complementary, not identical
Use this table to decide when each tool fits your SOC 2 and cloud security program.
| Focus | AWS Inspector | Panoptic Scans |
|---|---|---|
| Primary scope | AWS account / agent workloads | External perimeter + running web apps |
| Network VM | AWS-centric findings | Hosted OpenVAS, Nmap, Nuclei |
| Application DAST | Not the primary product focus | Hosted ZAP (auth & unauth) |
| Multi-cloud / SaaS | AWS-native | Any internet-facing IP/domain |
| Compliance loop | AWS Security Hub / AWS evidence | SOC 2 CC7 reports + optional Vanta upload |
Related: SOC 2 network vulnerability scanning · Continuous vulnerability management · Pricing
External attack surface
Public EC2, RDS, and domains
Scan internet-facing AWS assets the way an outsider would - OpenVAS for known CVEs and misconfigurations, Nmap for ports and services - alongside non-AWS SaaS and multi-cloud targets Inspector does not cover.
Application layer
ZAP DAST for running apps
Hosted ZAP finds OWASP Top 10 issues in authenticated and unauthenticated web apps. We do not provide SAST or dependency/SCA scanning - pair those with CI tools if your program requires them.
SOC 2 evidence
CC7 reports and Vanta upload
Schedule recurring scans, retain history, and optionally auto-upload to Vanta. Other scanners may also integrate with Vanta; pick what matches your scope and budget.
Add external scanning next to Inspector.
SOC 2-ready evidence from $25/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panoptic Scans a replacement for Amazon Inspector?
Usually not a one-for-one replacement. Amazon Inspector focuses on AWS-account and agent-centric workloads. Panoptic Scans covers external attack surface, hosted OpenVAS, ZAP DAST, and multi-cloud or SaaS internet-facing assets. Many teams use both.
How does Panoptic Scans help with SOC 2 when we already use AWS Inspector?
Inspector evidence is strong inside AWS. Auditors often also want external vulnerability and application scanning evidence for internet-facing systems. Panoptic provides timestamped OpenVAS and ZAP reports aligned to AICPA CC7, with optional Vanta upload.
Does Panoptic Scans scan inside my AWS account with agents?
Panoptic is not an AWS-native agent scanner like Inspector. It scans internet-facing IPs, domains, and apps from the outside. Internal OpenVAS scanning on the Pro plan uses a script you run on your infrastructure.
Can I upload Panoptic Scans evidence to Vanta?
Yes. Panoptic Scans can automatically upload vulnerability scan evidence to Vanta. Other vendors may also offer Vanta integrations - choose based on scope and budget, not exclusivity.
Does Panoptic Scans replace penetration testing?
No. Automated scanning complements but does not replace periodic penetration tests required by many policies or customers.