Cybersecurity specialist Tenable Network Security, whose customers include the U.S. Department of Defense, is offering its Nessus ProfessionalFeed vulnerability scanner to VMware (VMW) virtualized infrastructure customers.

Tenable has made Nessus ProfessionalFeed for vSphere infrastructure, which automates risk management and improves network visibility, available through VMware channel partners. Tenable aims to leverage VMware’s installed data center base to capitalize on what it perceives as an open market opportunity for a vulnerability scanner solution to address perimeter security and monitor a virtualized infrastructure.

Nessus ProfessionalFeed also is sold on a licensed subscription basis at the vendor’s website and comes in one-, two- and three-year packages, priced at $1,500, $2,700 and $3,900, respectively.

“Nessus ProfessionalFeed ensures that companies operating on virtualized data center infrastructures do not have to compromise on security,” said Vatsal Sonecha, Tenable business development vice president. “The addition of Nessus ProfessionalFeed to already well-established VMware solutions fills a critical industry need, providing trusted vulnerability management to companies worldwide.”

According to Tenable, Nessus ProfessionalFeed provides these benefits for VMware environments:

Tenable partner SHI Security Solutions Group director Michael McCracken said the Nessus solution is well-suited to VMware virtualized infrastructures.

“As our customers continue to deploy VMware solutions, SHI strives to provide them with versatile total security solution,” he said. “Nessus offers enhanced security to our customer base by automating the risk management lifecycle and bridges the gap between multiple teams–network, compliance, security and audit to provide better visibility of risks in virtualized environments for prioritized response.”

In addition to the military, Tenable said its 17,000-customer list includes enterprise organizations and government agencies whose security needs span vulnerability management for critical systems and information. Tenable is funded by the venture firm Accel Partners.