DNSFILTER VS CISCO UMBRELLA

A Cisco Umbrella Alternative

Learn about the efficacy of threat protection, accuracy of content categorization in some of the most-blocked categories, the differences in resolution speed, and overall feature maturity.
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DNSFilter VS Umbrella: What’s the difference? 

DNSFilter is the only DNS threat protection providing real-time domain analysis that results in protection from more threats. At DNSFilter, we detect zero-day threats an average of over 5 days before traditional threat feeds. 

Though basic Cisco Umbrella features appear simple to configure, customers report encountering errors that sometimes take days to resolve as soon as you want to apply IP filtering or SSL decryption, they encounter errors that sometimes take days to resolve. In contrast, DNSFilter customers have expressed time and time again that configuring DNSFilter is simple, while its interface is easy to understand, and include phenomenal customer support, in the rare occasion it’s needed. (Read Reviews)

While Cisco includes a URL filtering option, it comes with limitations. You can block URLs, but you cannot allow them. Limited and inflexible URL filtering isn’t the best option for web security. Along with block and allow lists for specific domains, DNSFilter offers comprehensive DNS filtering. Combining the two capabilities provides a simpler and more effective solution that requires less administrative management.

Lastly, even though Cisco Umbrella’s protection is extended to remote users, Cisco Umbrella does not support every operating system. At DNSFilter, we support Windows, iOS, MacOS, and Android. Cisco Umbrella does not support Android devices.

CISCO URL FILTERING VS DNSFILTER DNS FILTERING

While there is a Cisco URL filtering option, it has its limitations. You can block URLs, but you cannot allow them. So if you have use cases where you’d like to allow certain pages of a website but block the rest, that leaves you with the unwieldy task of blocking every single page (sometimes hundreds or thousands) except the ones you want to access. In addition to URL filtering, Cisco Umbrella advertises IP filtering which is really just IP allowing. There is no way to block IPs through Cisco Umbrella. Since IPs can bypass the entire domain name system, it doesn’t make sense to allow IPs. The main benefit of IP filtering would be to block IPs, which Cisco Umbrella does not do. But URL filtering isn’t necessarily the best option for web security. DNSFilter does DNS filtering, which is a much simpler solution for the end user that requires less management overall.

Cisco Umbrella roaming client vs. DNSFilter roaming clients

Roaming Clients give you the ability to deploy DNS security to your endpoints, and it’s a useful tool if you’re interested in more granular reporting. Cisco Umbrella does not support every operating system when it comes to Roaming Clients, or “agents.” At DNSFilter, we support Windows, iOS, MacOS, and Android. Cisco Umbrella does not support Android devices.

DNSFilter vs Cisco Umbrella

Features
DNSFilter
Cisco Umbrella
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
LAN Proxy/Virtual Appliance
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
Policy Change Update
INSTANT
UP TO 15 MIN
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
dns threat protection powered by machine learning dns threat protection powered by machine learning
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
Whitelabeled for Resale
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
Bulk Block Lists
dns threat protection powered by machine learning
G2 Customer Satisfaction Rating

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dnsfilter

Keys to success: DNSFilter’s Roaming Clients and easy implementation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Cisco Umbrella?

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What is the biggest difference between DNSFilter and Cisco Umbrella?

WE HAVE OVER 2 MILLION END USERS

See what they have to say about DNSFilter

Great Filtering, Easy to Use, and Fast Support
Great Filtering, Easy to Use, and Fast Support
Great Filtering, Easy to Use, and Fast Support
Extremely simple setup. Just add your network's public IP and set a filtering policy. They also have roaming agents which can now do per user filtering. The solution is very reasonably priced and is a great way to add another layer of threat protection to our network.
Tyler D
Network Manager
DNSFilter works. Period.
DNSFilter works. Period.
DNSFilter works. Period.
Solving employees going to inappropriate or malicious sites. It blocks them before they even touch the page.
Brian M
Owner
dnsfitler g2 award
dnsfitler g2 award
dnsfitler g2 award
dnsfitler g2 award
dnsfitler g2 award
dnsfitler g2 award

DNS Filtering Shouldn’t Be Hard.
It should be stupid easy.

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