Nessus is a powerful vulnerability scanner that allows users to automate security assessments through scheduling. Below are key steps to configure and manage Nessus scans effectively:

1. Setting Up a Scan Schedule

  • Access the Nessus UI: Log in to your Nessus web interface at https://<nessus_server>:<port>
  • Create a New Scan: Navigate to Scans > New Scan and select the target policy or template
  • Configure Schedule:
    • Set Scan Name and Description
    • Choose Scan Policy (e.g., Nessus_Security_Audit)
    • Define Schedule Type (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Custom)
    • Specify Start Time and Time Zone
    • Enable Repeat Scans if needed

📌 Tip: Use the /zh/tutorials/nessus_tutorial link to explore basic Nessus operations before diving into scheduling.

2. Advanced Scheduling Options

  • Custom Intervals: For complex schedules, use the /en/tutorials/nessus_custom_schedule guide to learn about cron expressions and advanced timing rules
  • Notification Setup: Integrate with email or Slack for scan completion alerts
  • Resource Management: Monitor CPU/memory usage during scans to avoid overloading the system

3. Best Practices

  • 🔒 Always ensure scans are authorized before execution
  • 📊 Regularly review scan logs and results for security insights
  • 🔄 Schedule scans during off-peak hours to minimize network impact

4. Troubleshooting

  • ❌ If scans fail to execute, check /en/tutorials/nessus_error_solving for common issues and solutions
  • 🛠️ Use the /en/tutorials/nessus_configuration guide to verify server settings

Visualize Your Scan Workflow

Nessus_Scheduler
**Figure 1**: Nessus Scheduler interface for setting up recurring scans

Need Help?
For detailed documentation, visit /en/documentation/nessus_scheduling.