How do you choose a DNS filtering (also known as a web filtering) solution? Overall, it's important to evaluate the security effectiveness, ease of use, cost, customer support, and integration capabilities of the filter to ensure that it meets the needs of your organization.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at Cisco Umbrella DNS, part of the larger Cisco Umbrella suite of security tools. We’ll also compare this solution with TitanHQ’s WebTitan, another web filtering solution that’s growing in popularity among managed service providers and enterprise IT departments.
What this article will cover:
Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-based security platform that provides users with a first line of defense against threats on the internet, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It is a DNS (Domain Name System) security service that acts as a protective layer between devices and the internet by preventing users from accessing malicious websites and online resources.
Cisco Umbrella provides a range of security features, including web filtering, threat intelligence, and malware protection, all delivered from the cloud. The platform can be deployed across devices, networks, and platforms, making it a flexible solution for organizations of all sizes. Additionally, Umbrella can be integrated with other Cisco security solutions, such as the Cisco Security Suite, and Cisco AMP for Endpoints.
At the time of this writing, Cisco Umbrella is available through several plans that help tailor utilization to an organization’s needs. These plans include:
Cisco Umbrella DNS: This plan offers only the DNS security service component of the Cisco Umbrella platform. It provides protection against threats on the internet, including malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. This plan is suitable for small businesses that require a simple and effective DNS security solution.
Cisco Umbrella Professional: This plan offers more advanced security features, including web filtering, cloud-delivered firewall, and threat intelligence. It provides protection for users both on and off the corporate network, and is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Cisco Umbrella Insights: This plan offers more extensive threat intelligence and visibility, allowing organizations to gain insight into threats and potential risks to their network. It also includes features such as customizable reports, API access, and integrations with other security solutions.
Cisco Umbrella Secure Internet Gateway: This plan offers a comprehensive cloud-delivered secure internet gateway that combines the features of Cisco Umbrella Professional and Cisco Umbrella Insights. It provides advanced threat protection, secure access to cloud applications, and a secure web gateway to protect users on the internet.
WebTitan pricing is based on the number of users and the length of the subscription, with discounts available for longer-term commitments. Pricing starts at $1.25 per user per month for a one-year subscription and can go as low as $0.90 per user per month for a five-year subscription. Additionally, WebTitan offers a range of add-on features and services that can be purchased separately.
Cisco Umbrella pricing is also based on the number of users and the length of the subscription, but it offers more flexible pricing plans with different tiers of service. The basic plan starts at $2.50 per user per month for 1000-9999 users, and the most advanced plan can go up to $28 per user per month for 1-99 users. There are also discounts available for longer-term commitments.
Overall, the pricing of WebTitan and Cisco Umbrella can vary depending on the number of users and the length of the subscription, and both offer a range of features and services that can affect the overall cost. However, in general, WebTitan tends to be more affordable than Cisco Umbrella for smaller organizations or those with a smaller number of users.
Switch to WebTitan - the number one Cisco Umbrella alternative. Schedule a demo with one of our security experts to see WebTitan in action.
Book Free DemoCisco Umbrella offers special pricing for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who want to offer Umbrella to their customers. The MSP program is designed to help MSPs expand their business and provide their customers with a scalable and flexible cloud security solution.
To participate in the MSP program, MSPs must meet certain eligibility criteria and sign a partner agreement with Cisco. Once approved, MSPs can begin purchasing Umbrella licenses at the discounted MSP pricing and start offering the solution to their customers.
WebTitan also offers special pricing for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who wish to resell their services to their clients. The MSP program offers flexible pricing models and volume discounts, allowing MSPs to customize their pricing based on their specific needs and the needs of their clients.
MSPs can also take advantage of WebTitan's cloud-based management console, which allows them to manage multiple client accounts from a single dashboard. This makes it easy for MSPs to deploy and manage the WebTitan solution across their entire client base, while also providing centralized reporting and analytics to help them better understand their clients' security needs.
Additionally, WebTitan offers a range of resources and support for MSPs, including training and onboarding, technical support, and marketing materials to help MSPs promote and sell their services.
Tired of Cisco Umbrella's high prices? Speak with a TitanHQ security expert today for a personalized WebTitan quote.
Book Free DemoWebTitan and Cisco Umbrella DNS are both DNS-based security solutions that provide protection against internet threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Here are some of the key differences between the two solutions:
Features: Both solutions offer DNS-based security, but WebTitan primarily focuses on web filtering, threat intelligence, and URL categorization. Higher-tier Cisco Umbrella DNS plans can also include secure access to cloud applications and a cloud-delivered firewall.
Deployment: Cisco Umbrella and WebTitan are both cloud-based solutions, meaning they can be deployed quickly and easily across devices, networks, and platforms without any additional hardware or software. WebTitan can also be deployed on-premises, giving it extra flexibility for specific use cases.
Pricing: Pricing for the two solutions varies depending on the number of users and features required. However, in general, WebTitan tends to be more cost-effective than Cisco Umbrella DNS.
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WebTitan's malicious detection solution employs a crowd-sourced approach to obtaining a constant stream of URLs for analysis. The continuous stream of ActiveWeb URLs comes from our global network of over 650 million end users across a number of high traffic markets. We leverage an integrative, multi-vector approach to detect, monitor, and accurately categorize new threats as they occur.
WebTitan uses AI-based services and human-supervised machine learning techniques and verification methods to achieve unmatched coverage (99.9%) and accuracy (over 99%) for ActiveWeb domains, sub-domains, full-path URLs, and IP addresses. That includes 100% coverage of the Top One Million most visited sites and support for 200 languages.
Breakdown of WebTitan’s advanced threat intelligence:
It was extremely difficult for the IT department at Saint Joseph’s to get the information needed from the Cisco Umbrella dashboard. It reached a point that getting basic visibility on web activity became so onerous they avoided the task.
“In my opinion, after Cisco bought OpenDNS, they made some major changes to the UI which made it virtually useless for quickly looking through blocked traffic for signs of particular types of usage”.
Learn more about this WebTitan Use Case…
The biggest challenge facing managed service provider Network Needs was finding the right solution that would allow them to provide malware protection for 1200 different customers in multiple locations.
Each customer has unique needs and requires a flexible malware protection solution.
Learn more about this WebTitan Use Case…
The G2 Grid for Secure Web Gateways and Cloud Security is a report by G2, a software and services review platform that ranks and rates technology solutions based on user reviews and feedback. The report ranks the top secure web gateway and cloud security solutions based on user satisfaction, market presence, and other key factors.
The G2 Grid ranks solutions in each category based on user satisfaction ratings and market presence. Solutions are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on user reviews, with higher ratings indicating higher user satisfaction. The report also provides additional information on each solution, including features, pricing, and customer support.
WebTitan and Cisco Umbrella compare as followed in the Winter 2023 G2 Grids:
WebTitan is the #1 Cisco Umbrella Alternative. Talk to a TitanHQ security expert today and see how WebTitan DNS Filter protects businesses from malware attacks.
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DNS filtering is important for several reasons:
Protection against malware: DNS filtering can prevent users from accessing websites that are known to distribute malware, viruses, or other malicious content. By blocking connections to these sites, DNS filtering can help protect devices and networks from infection and damage.
Phishing protection: DNS filtering can help prevent phishing attacks by blocking connections to websites that are designed to steal user credentials or sensitive information. By identifying and blocking these malicious sites, DNS filtering can help prevent users from falling victim to phishing scams.
Content filtering: DNS filtering can be used to block access to inappropriate or unwanted content, such as adult websites, gambling sites, or social media sites. This can help enforce internet usage policies and prevent users from accessing content that could be harmful or distracting.
Compliance: DNS filtering can help organizations comply with industry-specific regulations and standards by blocking access to websites that are known to violate these requirements. For example, healthcare organizations can use DNS filtering to block access to websites that violate HIPAA regulations, while financial institutions can use DNS filtering to block access to websites that violate PCI DSS requirements.
Improved network performance: DNS filtering can improve network performance by blocking connections to websites that consume excessive bandwidth or are known to be slow or unreliable. By optimizing internet usage, DNS filtering can help improve network speed and reliability.
Overall, DNS filtering is an important tool for organizations looking to protect their devices and networks from security threats, enforce internet usage policies, and comply with industry regulations and standards.
If you’re thinking about giving WebTitan a try, we’d love to help you get started! You can begin with a free demo, allowing you to experience our feature set firsthand, including:
Switch to WebTitan - the number one Cisco Umbrella alternative today. Book a demo with one of our experienced security experts who will show you why it is the best choice for protecting against malware, phishing, ransomware, data breaches and more.
WebTitan is the #1 Cisco Umbrella Alternative and offers an effective way to protect your organization against cyber threats. Let our experts compare prices and help you make the right choice for your business.
Book Free DemoOpenDNS umbrella is a enterprise security product which was acquired by CISCO in 2015. In 2016 it was then rebranded to CISCO Umbrella.
WebTitan is a web filtering solution that provides protection against internet threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It offers features such as DNS filtering, content filtering, and malware protection.
It's important to evaluate the security effectiveness, ease of use, cost, customer support, and integration capabilities of the filter to ensure that it meets the needs of your organization.
WebTitan Cloud is an excellent Cisco Umbrella alternative. WebTitan Cloud is a 100% cloud based web filtering solution for SMBs and MSPs that serve the SMB market and is one of the most popular Cisco Umbrella competitors according to review sites and is rated highly for protection, ease of use, and support.
WebTitan Cloud is one of the main Cisco Umbrella competitors that should be considered when looking for Cisco Umbrella alternatives. WebTitan Cloud provides a similar level of protection against web-based threats with similar content control capabilities, but is available for less than the price of Cisco Umbrella.
WebTitan pricing is based on the number of users and the length of the subscription. It tends to be more cost-effective than Cisco Umbrella for smaller organizations or those with a smaller number of users.
As of January 2021 research shows Cisco umbrella pricing in the region of $2.25 per user per month. For the equivalent solution with WebTitan DNS filtering you would be paying in the region of $0.90c per user per month. Researchers looked at the per user per month price for 100 users. Pricing may have changed since this research was completed. It is recommended to reach out to the vendors in question for the most accurate pricing.
The Cisco Umbrella DNS pricing we are seeing in the dns filtering market in January 2022 is in the region of $2.25 per user per month. Cisco Umbrella MSP pricing and licensing is usually slightly cheaper than this but there are minimums user numbers to get involved. For the equivalent solution with WebTitan DNS filtering you would be paying $0.90c per user per month.
Both Cisco Umbrella and WebTitan offer special pricing for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who wish to resell their services. They provide flexible pricing models and volume discounts, along with resources and support for MSPs.
DNS filtering is important for protection against malware, phishing, content filtering, compliance with regulations, and improving network performance. It helps organizations enforce internet usage policies and safeguard devices and networks.
You can start with a free demo and free trial of WebTitan to experience its features, including DNS filtering, content filtering, malware protection, and more. Additionally, you can explore pricing options, ease of use, customer support, and integration capabilities.
