Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DNSFilter VS Cisco Umbrella

Compare DNSFilter VS Cisco Umbrella and see what are their differences

DNSFilter logo DNSFilter

DNSFilter offers DNS-Based Content Filtering & Threat Protection.

Cisco Umbrella logo Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud security platform that provides the first line of defense against threats on the internet.
  • DNSFilter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-26
  • Cisco Umbrella Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-07-23

DNSFilter features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    DNSFilter offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the setup and management of DNS-based filtering for organizations.
  • Real-time Threat Detection
    The platform provides real-time threat detection and blocking capabilities, which help in preventing access to malicious websites and protecting the network.
  • Content Filtering
    DNSFilter allows for customizable content filtering, enabling administrators to block or allow specific categories of websites to enhance security and productivity.
  • Cloud-based Solution
    As a cloud-based service, DNSFilter eliminates the need for on-premises hardware, reducing maintenance and operational costs.
  • Global Coverage
    DNSFilter has a globally distributed network of data centers, ensuring low latency and reliable DNS resolution for users worldwide.
  • Integration and API Support
    The platform supports integration with various systems and provides APIs for custom applications, making it versatile for different environments.

Possible disadvantages of DNSFilter

  • Cost
    DNSFilter may be more expensive compared to some other DNS filtering solutions, which could be a limitation for smaller organizations or those with tight budgets.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic setup is straightforward, utilizing advanced features may require a steeper learning curve and additional time for administrators to master.
  • Dependency on Internet Connectivity
    Being a cloud-based solution, DNSFilter requires continuous internet connectivity for optimal performance, making it less suitable for offline or restricted environments.
  • Limited Customization for Some Users
    Some users might find the level of customization options to be insufficient for highly specific or unique filtering requirements.
  • Potential Privacy Concerns
    As with any DNS-based filtering solution, there may be privacy concerns regarding data logging and user activity monitoring, which require transparent data policies.

Cisco Umbrella features and specs

  • Comprehensive Security
    Cisco Umbrella offers a wide range of security features including DNS-layer security, secure web gateway, firewall, and cloud-delivered threat intelligence which collectively provides multi-layered protection against cyber threats.
  • Ease of Deployment
    Cisco Umbrella can be deployed quickly and easily across different types of networks, including on-premises, remote offices, and mobile users, without requiring significant changes to existing infrastructure.
  • High Availability
    Built on a globally distributed network, Cisco Umbrella ensures high availability and redundancy, making it a reliable option for companies that cannot afford downtime.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The centralized and intuitive dashboard makes it easy for administrators to monitor network activities, manage policies, and generate reports, reducing the complexity of security management.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Cisco Umbrella integrates well with other security tools and Cisco products, allowing organizations to build a more cohesive and comprehensive security strategy.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco Umbrella

  • Cost
    Cisco Umbrella can be expensive, especially for smaller organizations with limited budgets, which might find the cost prohibitive relative to their needs.
  • Complexity of Advanced Features
    While the basic features are easy to use, some of the more advanced features require specialized knowledge and training to fully leverage, which can be a barrier for some organizations.
  • Dependence on Internet Connectivity
    Being a cloud-based solution, Cisco Umbrella requires continuous internet connectivity to function effectively. Any disruption in internet service can impact its performance and reduce its effectiveness.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Because it involves routing all DNS queries through its servers, there could be potential privacy concerns for organizations worried about data sovereignty and confidentiality.
  • Limited Offline Protection
    Cisco Umbrella primarily provides online protection. For devices that need security while offline, additional measures need to be implemented, which could complicate the security strategy.

DNSFilter videos

CONTENT FILTERING - DNSFilter.com

More videos:

  • Review - dnsfilter.com - DNS Filtering Service
  • Review - DNS Filtering Followup: DNSFilter Blog Post & Quad9

Cisco Umbrella videos

How IT Works: Security at the DNS Layer with Cisco Umbrella

More videos:

  • Review - Cisco Umbrella Product Packages
  • Review - Cisco Umbrella Customer Review: Cisco IT
  • Review - What is Cisco Umbrella?
  • Review - Unleash the Power of Cisco Umbrella: A Comprehensive Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DNSFilter and Cisco Umbrella)
Cyber Security
52 52%
48% 48
Security & Privacy
41 41%
59% 59
Monitoring Tools
39 39%
61% 61
Ethical Hacking
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DNSFilter should be more popular than Cisco Umbrella. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

DNSFilter mentions (9)

  • Getting the most out of Email quarantine and the M365 methods to reduce it.
    Look into dnsfilter.com for blocking chatgpt. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Evaluating DNSfilter
    What do you think about dnsfilter.com and how is the customer feedback? Source: about 2 years ago
  • MSP friendly DNS/web filtering product
    Dnsfilter.com like everyone else, it just works. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Good questions to ask at interviews when hiring a junior colleague?
    The domain name system translates human understandable names like dnsfilter.com into computer readable IP addresses like 44.207.21.146. More than that, DNS is the communication protocol used by all internet connected devices to send and receive resources across the internet. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm a dev and I'm curious about the block list.
    Eero Secure does produce its fair share of false-positives. Last I knew it was using dnsfilter.com behind the scenes, so it might be more efficient to contact that party if you want to try delisting. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Cisco Umbrella mentions (3)

  • Amazon Outage
    Cisco Umbrella | Leader in Cloud Cybersecurity and SASE Solutions. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How are Vpns blocked?
    A combination of subscription ip blocklists like that sold by MaxMind combined with DNS and application filtering services like Umbrella would catch most services. For good measure I'd toss in local .exe application whitelisting running on each of the schools machines to only allow the applications the school wants using something like applocker which is included in windows so it probably fits into their budget. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Blocking sites
    We've been very happy with Cisco's Umbrella product. A few years back I "test drove" the free version, but thats a very poor substitute for the paid product. It's not cheap, but it has worked very well for us. Over 70% of our users are remote since the start of COVID, so we opted for the "roaming client" installation on every endpoint. We have a "basic" network profile for our office locations that slightly... Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DNSFilter and Cisco Umbrella, you can also consider the following products

WebTitan - WebTitan is an advanced DNS based web content filter and web security layer that blocks malware, ransomware and phishing attempts as well as providing web content control. Cloud and gateway versions available.

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways - Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways offers secure internet access for the employees.

HackerOne - HackerOne provides a platform designed to streamline vulnerability coordination and bug bounty program by enlisting hackers.

McAfee SmartFilter - McAfee Web Protection is a web security solution that includes an on-premises secure web gateway and SaaS-based web security delivered from the cloud.

OpenDNS Umbrella - Cloud Security

Acunetix - Audit your website security and web applications for SQL injection, Cross site scripting and other...