How to download and install Qualys Cloud Agent in Ubuntu (Linux)

Qualys Cloud Agent allows you to gain instant, global visibility of your IT assets. It Can monitor assets that are impossible or difficult to monitor with network scanners. The Qualys Cloud Agent is lightweight and can be installed on any host such as a desktop, laptop, server, or virtual
machine. It collects data continuously about the assets they are installed on. Whether the assets are offline or online.

In your Ubuntu machine, log in to your Qualys account. You will be presented with the welcome screen as shown in the screenshot below. Click on the Download Cloud Agent button.

Choose your Operating System. I am using the Linux (.deb) Operating System in this example.

You don’t have the welcome page? You can download the Qualys Cloud agent by clicking the drop-down arrow on the top left and clicking Cloud Agent as shown in the screenshot below.

Alternatively,

Click on the drop-down arrow next to the Default VMDR Action Key. Click Install Agent

Click on the Install Instructions for Debian Ubuntu.

Click the Download button. Copy the code in the installation steps presented.

Qualys Cloud Agent is now downloaded successfully. If this isn’t the machine you want it to be installed on, copy the agent to the intended machine. To install the Agent, open the terminal and Change the Directory using the cd command to where your agent is located on your system. as shown in the example below, type cd ~/Downloads and press enter.

Now paste the code you copied and press enter. Enter your sudo password.

The agent is successfully installed. And you can view it in your Qualys account under the Agents tab as shown in the screenshot below.

About The Author

Rachel Jasurda

Rachel is a cybersecurity consultant, educator, and the founder of Cybersecurity Demystify. She holds a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity along with multiple industry certifications, including CompTIA and Microsoft credentials. With a passion for simplifying complex security concepts, she creates tutorials, best practices, and real-world insights to help individuals and businesses strengthen their defenses online. Through her writing, Rachel bridges the gap between technical expertise and everyday application, ensuring security is accessible to all. When she’s not advising clients or building security tools, she enjoys teaching and sharing knowledge that helps others secure their digital world—one step at a time.

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