Atera Network Discovery vs Critical Path Security VAS: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Atera Network Discovery

SMB and mid-market IT teams already running Atera's RMM will find genuine value in Network Discovery because it eliminates the separate tool tax for basic asset inventory and CVE scanning. The NMAP-powered scanning integrates directly into your existing RMM workflows, cutting the overhead of maintaining a standalone vulnerability scanner. Where it falls short is in forensic depth; this is asset discovery and port-based CVE detection, not a replacement for active vulnerability assessment tools like Nessus or Qualys that fingerprint software versions and test exploitability. Worth deploying if you need continuous visibility into what's connecting to your network. Not worth it if you're already committed to a dedicated CVSS-scoring vulnerability platform.

Critical Path Security VAS

Mid-market and enterprise security teams that need independent vulnerability scanning across network, web app, and wireless vectors without vendor bias will get the most from Critical Path Security VAS. The service delivers asset discovery and compliance roadmap work that covers NIST ID.AM and ID.RA functions, meaning you're not just getting scan results but actionable remediation priorities tied to your risk posture. Skip this if you need continuous cloud workload monitoring or want scanning tightly integrated into a larger SIEM stack; Critical Path is built for periodic, thorough assessments, not real-time threat detection.