Install Nessus Scanner on Windows Server 2022

In this guide, we intend to teach you How To Install Nessus Scanner on Windows Server 2022.

Nessus is one of the many vulnerability scanners used during vulnerability assessments and penetration testing engagements, including malicious attacks. 

Nessus is sold by Tenable Security. The tool is free for non-enterprise use; however, for enterprise consumption, there are options that are priced differently.

The following are the available options at your disposal:

  • Tenable.io
  • Nessus Agents
  • Nessus Professional
  • Nessus Manager

These products listed above offer multiple services that range from Web application scanning to mobile device scanning, cloud environment scanning, malware detection, control systems auditing (including SCADA and embedded devices), and configuration auditing and compliance checks.

Install Nessus Scanner on Windows Server 2022

To install the Nessus scanner on your Windows server, you can follow the steps below.

Download Nessus Scanner for Windows Server

The first step is to download the Nessus scanner for Windows Server 2022. To do this, visit the Nessus Downloads page and download Nessus for Windows Server 2022.

Download Nessus for Windows server 2022
Nessus Downloads Page

When your download is completed, proceed to the next step to start your installation.

Installing Nessus on Windows Server 2022

At this point, you need to click on your downloaded file to start your Nessus installation on your server.

You will see the InstallShield wizard for Nessus. Click Next to continue. Then, accept the terms in the license agreements and click Next.

At this point, you will see the Destination folder screen. You need to choose your path to install the Nessus scanner on your windows server and click Next.

Install Nessus Scanner on Windows Server 2022 nessus destination folder

Now your wizard is ready to begin your Nessus installation on Windows server 2022, Click Install.

Finally, click on Finish to complete the Nessus installation process.

After clicking on the finish, you will see the following image in your browser.

Nessus Welcome screen

Note: If you have not already installed WinPcap on your system, you should follow the steps below to install WinPcap on Windows server 2022 to use Nessus.

Installing WinPcap

WinPcap is an Industry-standard tool that allows access to connections between layers of a network (connectivity and selection between two host systems) in Windows environments. It enables capturing and transmitting network packets that bypass the protocol stack, including kernel-level packet filtering, a network statistics engine, and support for remote packet capture.

To install Winpcap on Windows server 2022, first, you need to visit the WinPcap page and download it on your system.

WinPcap for Windows server

Then, you need to click Installer for Windows.

WinPcap installer

Next, click on your downloaded file. You will see the setup wizard for WinPcap. Click Next to continue.

Accept the license agreement by clicking on I Agree.

At this point, you start your WinPcap installation on Windows server 2022 by clicking on Install.

WinPcap installation

Finally, click on Finish.

Let’s see how to configure the Nessus scanner on your Windows server.

Configure Nessus on Windows Server 2022

At this point, you have successfully installed Nessus on your system. Now we want to show you how to configure it.

First, from your Nessus screen on your web browser click on connect via SSL.

Then, you will see the Nessus welcome screen. You need to choose how you want to deploy Nessus. Select a product to get started.

Note that if you selected Nessus Professional or Nessus Manager, the Register Nessus page will appear.

Also, if you select Nessus Essentials, the activation code download screen will appear.

Here we select the Nessus essentials on Windows server 2022.

Select Nessus Essentials

Next, if you need an activation code, type your name and email address on the activation code download page. Then click on the Email. You can now check your email for your free activation code.

Note that if you already have the activation code, click Skip.

Get Nessus scanner activation code

After completing the above steps, you must now type your activation code on the Register Nessus page and click continue.

Register for Nessus scanner

At this point, you need to create a Nessus Admin account that you use to log in to Nessus. Here you have to click on Submit after entering a username and password.

Create Nessus account on Windows server 2022

Now Nessus completes the configuration process on windows server 2022. Then, you will see your Nessus login screen. Enter your username and password and click Sign in.

Nessus Login screen

At this point, you can see your Nessus dashboard.

Nessus dashboard on Windows server 2022

From here you can scan your system and raise an alert if it discovers any vulnerabilities that malicious hackers could use to gain access to any computer you have connected to a network.

Conclusion

At this point, you learn to Install and Configure Nessus Scanner on Windows Server 2022.

Hope you enjoy using it.

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Install Python on Windows server 2019

How To Install MySQL on Windows Server 2019

Install and Configure OpenSSL on Windows Server 2019

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