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Government · head to head

AWS GovCloud vs Tenable

AWS GovCloud logo

AWS GovCloud

Government

Secure Cloud for Government

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit AWS GovCloudFull review
Tenable logo

Tenable

Cybersecurity

AI-powered exposure management platform for unified security visibility

From
$3500/year
Free plan
No
Visit TenableFull review

The short version

  • AWS GovCloud is an isolated cloud region.
  • AWS GovCloud is free; Tenable starts at $3500/yr.
  • Only AWS GovCloud lists FedRAMP High Authorized; only Tenable lists unified attack surface mapping.
  • Where AWS GovCloud falls short: access is restricted to vetted US entities, with account holders screened for US citizenship or permanent residency.
  • Where Tenable falls short: pricing starts at $3500/year for Tenable One VM, expensive for small organizations.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS GovCloud and Tenable actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS GovCloud and Tenable differ
AttributeAWS GovCloudTenable
Starting priceOn request$3500/year
Pricing modelUsage-basedSubscription
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity

Identical on both: free tier (No).

Not yet recorded: founded for Tenable.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AWS GovCloud

  • FedRAMP High Authorized
  • ITAR Compliant
  • DOD SRG Levels
  • Isolated Infrastructure
  • Full AWS Services
  • Third-party Tools
  • Government Systems
  • Security Tools

Only in Tenable

  • Unified attack surface mapping
  • Exposure intelligence enrichment
  • Tenable Hexa AI orchestration
  • Cloud Exposure (CNAPP)
  • OT Exposure
  • Identity Exposure
  • Vulnerability Management
  • Attack Surface Management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS GovCloud

  • Hosting controlled unclassified information for US federal agenciesnot Tenable
  • Workloads requiring FedRAMP High, ITAR or DFARS compliancenot Tenable
  • Defence and public sector systems needing US-person operationnot Tenable
  • Regulated contractors handling government datanot Tenable

Tenable

  • Comprehensive vulnerability scanning for enterprise networksnot AWS GovCloud
  • Cloud security monitoring and compliance for AWS, Azure, GCPnot AWS GovCloud
  • Identity and access management risk assessmentnot AWS GovCloud
  • Operational technology security for industrial systemsnot AWS GovCloud
  • Attack surface management for third-party risknot AWS GovCloud

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS GovCloud

  • Access is restricted to vetted US entities, with account holders screened for US citizenship or permanent residency
  • Separate IAM, console, CLI and APIs from commercial AWS, so accounts and tooling do not carry across
  • Not every AWS service is available in the two GovCloud regions
  • Pricing is not published on the product page

Tenable

  • Pricing starts at $3500/year for Tenable One VM, expensive for small organizations
  • Many enterprise features require custom quote and sales engagement
  • Cloud Exposure, OT Exposure, and other modules have no published pricing
  • Multi-year contracts common, limiting flexibility
  • Setup and configuration complexity for enterprise deployments

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS GovCloud

On request
  • Pay-as-you-goFree
    • Compute
    • Storage
    • Database

Tenable

$3500/year
  • Tenable One Vulnerability Management$3,500/yr
    • Per 100 assets
    • Multi-year discounts available
  • Tenable One Web App Scanning$3,578/yr
    • Per 5 FQDNs
    • Annual subscription
  • Nessus Professional$4,790/yr
    • Vulnerability scanning
    • Multi-year discounts available
    • Optional advanced support: $400/year
  • Nessus Expert$6,790/yr
    • Advanced vulnerability scanning
    • Multi-year discounts available
    • Optional advanced support: $400/year

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS GovCloud if

  • You need fedramp high authorized.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want itar compliant.
AWS GovCloud review

Choose Tenable if

  • You need unified attack surface mapping.
  • You also want exposure intelligence enrichment.
Tenable review

Questions people ask

Is AWS GovCloud or Tenable better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS GovCloud starts at On request and Tenable at $3500/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS GovCloud or Tenable?
AWS GovCloud starts at On request and Tenable at $3500/year.
Does AWS GovCloud or Tenable run on more platforms?
AWS GovCloud runs on Web, API. Tenable runs on Web.
What is AWS GovCloud best used for?
AWS GovCloud is most often used for hosting controlled unclassified information for us federal agencies, workloads requiring fedramp high, itar or dfars compliance, defence and public sector systems needing us-person operation, regulated contractors handling government data. Of those, hosting controlled unclassified information for us federal agencies and workloads requiring fedramp high, itar or dfars compliance are not what Tenable is typically brought in for.
What can AWS GovCloud do that Tenable cannot?
AWS GovCloud covers FedRAMP High Authorized, ITAR Compliant, DOD SRG Levels, Isolated Infrastructure. Tenable covers Unified attack surface mapping, Exposure intelligence enrichment, Tenable Hexa AI orchestration, Cloud Exposure (CNAPP).

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AWS GovCloud: Is AWS GovCloud pricing different from standard AWS?

The page does not disclose specific pricing for AWS GovCloud (US). It mentions 'AWS Savings Plans' as a flexible pricing model but provides no actual costs. Users must contact AWS directly via the 'Contact us' link or visit AWS pricing calculators for estimates.

Source
Tenable: How is Tenable One pricing structured?

Tenable One Vulnerability Management costs $3500/year per 100 assets. Web App Scanning is $3578/year per 5 FQDNs. Multi-year discounts are available.

Source
AWS GovCloud: Who is eligible to use AWS GovCloud?

AWS GovCloud (US) is restricted to verified U.S. government agencies and entities meeting specific screening requirements. Commercial organizations and individual users cannot use this service.

Source
Tenable: What is the difference between Nessus Professional and Nessus Expert?

Nessus Professional costs $4790/year and provides core vulnerability scanning. Nessus Expert costs $6790/year and offers advanced scanning capabilities.

Source
AWS GovCloud: Can I try AWS GovCloud before committing to a contract?

The page does not disclose whether a free trial or evaluation period is available for AWS GovCloud. Pricing and trial information would need to be obtained by contacting AWS directly.

Source
Tenable: Are custom support and training available for Tenable?

Yes. Optional advanced support is available for $400/year. Training courses range from $275-$385/year.

Source
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