Migrating from Cisco Umbrella to DNSFilter: It Pays to Make the Switch

by Anvesha Tiwary on Feb 26, 2024 9:37:53 AM

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Navigating the complexities of cybersecurity challenges today means more than just being alert; it requires a readiness to adapt and embrace superior technologies for better protection of your digital assets. The recent announcement of Cisco Umbrella Roaming Clients end-of-life (EOL) on April 2, 2024, and its end-of-support (EOS) on April 2, 2025, has encouraged several organizations to consider the next steps in maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses and look at better alternatives.

Cisco is advising Umbrella RC customers to migrate to the Cisco Secure Client. This transition comes with its set of challenges, including the complexity of migration steps such as uninstalling all Umbrella Clients and several steps before redeploying the Secure Client to all customers; not to mention the reluctance of possible interruptions and the advanced alert of increased prices. Amidst this entire situation, DNSFilter emerges as a compelling alternative, providing not only ease of migration but also superior performance, threat detection, and network coverage.

Why DNSFilter?

DNSFilter is a strong competitor in the cybersecurity space as one of the world’s fastest DNS resolvers, proven by the handling of over 90 billion daily queries from 30 million monthly users. This performance is established by a global network of more than 170 anycast servers located in 69 cities worldwide, and growing. Notably, DNSFilter's resolver speed outpaces Cisco Umbrella by 6.63 milliseconds in North America¹, a significant advantage in the world of fraud detection where every millisecond counts.

Unmatched threat detection

DNSFilter is capable of uniquely identifying 61% of threats, leveraging AI to categorize 19.5 million new domains each month. This proactive approach enables DNSFilter to detect and accurately categorize threats up to 10 days faster than traditional threat competitors. Such efficiency not only enhances security but also reduces the window of vulnerability, offering strengthened security to the users’ digital assets and protection from zero-day attacks.

Robust roaming client and user-friendly migration

Migrating to DNSFilter is encouraged because it’s simple and user-friendly, contrasting sharply with the potentially complex transition to Cisco's Secure Client. DNSFilter's roaming client is frequently updated, with new app releases every two weeks and RC releases monthly. This commitment to continuous improvement is accelerated by the absence of a need for additional virtual appliances for username recognition and the granularity in reporting and policy assignment. These features facilitate a smooth migration process, ensuring users can maintain their security position effortlessly.

Economic impact and malicious domain protection

The financial implications of cybersecurity breaches cannot be overstated. According to IBM's 2023 cost of a Data Breach Report, the average impact on organizations with fewer than 500 employees is a staggering $3.31 million. The average user encounters approximately 1,825 malicious queries annually, making DNSFilter's Malicious Domain Protection a critical defense mechanism. These advanced detection capabilities identify threat domains up to 50 days ahead of traditional feeds, significantly helping organizations minimize the risk of breaches. Furthermore, its true-false-positive rate of less than 0.25% emphasizes the reliability and accuracy of the threat identification.

Superior support and cost efficiency

DNSFilter customers can reach the support team through various channels, ensuring optimal service performance and user satisfaction. The transition to DNSFilter offers not just a viable alternative but a strategic upgrade, promising enhanced performance, superior threat detection, and a user-friendly migration experience. It quickly spots threats, has a wide network of servers worldwide, and is committed to get better, helping businesses stay safe online without breaking the bank.

Learn more about migrating to DNSFilter from Cisco Umbrella in our recent webinar, Migrating from Cisco Umbrella to DNSFilter: It Pays to Make the Switch.

When you’re ready to migrate, schedule your personalized demo, and we will walk you through the rest.

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