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This guide walks you through creating a new Qualys Vulnerability Management, Detection & Response (VMDR) user for the purpose of creating an vulnerabilities integration.

OptionAccess TypePurpose
User RoleReaderRetrieve host inventory, vulnerability detections, knowledge base data, and scan information
GUIEnabledComplete first login, change the default password, and accept the EULA
APIEnabledAllow the account to call Qualys APIs
Asset GroupsAll, or the groups to includeControl which hosts and findings the account can retrieve

Configure a new user for the integration

1. Log in to Qualys as an administrator

An administrator in Qualys is a user assigned the Manager, Unit Manager, or User Administrator role. That admin can create additional users, including a dedicated service user tied to an email account that remains active even after an employee leaves the company. User Administrators cannot create other User Administrator accounts.

User management for Qualys VMDR is in the Vulnerability Management module.

  • After logging in, open the Vulnerability Management (VMDR) module. In the left sidebar, click Users.
  • In the Users interface, click New > User.
  • Under General Information on the left, provide the required details, including First Name, Last Name, Title, Phone, Email Address, Address 1, and Country.
  • In User Role, assign the role and access listed in Required New User Options above, including the GUI and API boxes.
  • Under Asset Groups on the left, click Add asset groups and select either All or the specific asset group(s) this integration should access.
  • Click Save at the far right of the modal to create the user account.
  • Note the new user entry. Qualys assigns a random username; copy it for the integration.

2. Complete service account registration

  • The registered email receives a message with a secure one-time link to begin registration.
  • Open the link, verify the account details, then complete first GUI login: change the default password and accept the EULA.
  • After you log in, go to Help > About and copy the platform-specific API server URL. Use this value as the Base URL for API endpoints (not the UI login URL).

Configuring the Integration

To configure a new Qualys integration, provide each of the values as defined below:

Integration ParameterDescription
Base URLThe platform-specific API server URL copied from Help > About in Step 2. Use this URL for API endpoints, not the UI login URL.
UsernameThe Qualys-assigned username from Step 1.
SecretThe password set on first GUI login in Step 2.