Cisco Umbrella
Cisco Umbrella is cloud DNS-layer security (OpenDNS roots) + SWG + CASB + cloud firewall — the Secure Internet Gateway (SIG). It blocks threats at DNS resolution, across all ports, before the connection — the easiest cloud-security layer to deploy.
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How it’s rated
Full scoreboard ↓Quick answer
The Cisco security family
This page covers Cisco Umbrella — the DNS-layer / SIG. The rest of the Cisco Security Cloud:
Quick facts
30-second orientation- Product
- Cisco Umbrella — cloud DNS-layer security
- Vendor
- Cisco (founded 1984 · San Jose · CSCO)
- The category
- DNS-layer security + SWG + CASB (SIG)
- What it does
- Block threats at DNS resolution, all ports
- The roots
- OpenDNS resolvers — among the largest on earth
- The package
- Secure Internet Gateway (SIG)
- The engine
- Talos + OpenDNS resolver telemetry
- Deploy
- Easiest cloud-security layer — point DNS
- Vs
- Zscaler, Netskope, Cloudflare, Prisma Access, DNSFilter
- In India via
- TechBag — scoping, honest compare, INR/GST
Understand DNS-layer & cloud security before you buy it
Most product pages skip this. We start here — so you buy a capability, not a buzzword.
What is Cisco Umbrella?
Cloud DNS-layer security (OpenDNS roots) + SWG + CASB + cloud firewall = the Secure Internet Gateway (SIG). Blocks threats at DNS resolution, across all ports, before the connection.
Traditional web security vs Cisco Umbrella DNS-layer — the honest table
What consolidation actually replaces, dimension by dimension.
| Dimension | Unprotected / signature email | Cisco Umbrella (Cisco) |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement point | After connection (proxy/FW) | At DNS resolution (earliest) |
| Ports / protocols | Port-specific | All ports & protocols |
| Deployment | Routing/agent project | Point your DNS — minutes |
| Roaming users | Backhaul or unprotected | Security follows the user |
| Intelligence | Limited feeds | OpenDNS + Talos telemetry |
| Malware / C2 | Caught late (or missed) | C2 severed at resolution |
| Growth path | Rip & replace to add SSE | SIG → grow into Secure Access |
| Best fit | (varies) | DNS-security layer + fast SIG |
Cisco Umbrella is cloud DNS-layer security (OpenDNS roots) + SWG + CASB + cloud firewall — the Secure Internet Gateway — blocking threats at DNS resolution across all ports, the easiest cloud-security layer to deploy, backed by OpenDNS + Talos telemetry. Honest: as a full SSE it trails Zscaler/Netskope — grow into Secure Access, or compare the leaders (TechBag sells them). TechBag scopes it & adds GST.
The five pieces of the platform
Vendors love diagrams; buyers need to know what they’re actually operating. Here’s the whole platform, demystified.
Resolve Through Umbrella (DNS)
Point your DNS at Umbrella, built on the OpenDNS resolver roots, so every internet lookup on any port or protocol is resolved through it first.
Filter the Destination
Umbrella checks each destination’s reputation and category against Talos intelligence and OpenDNS resolver telemetry, then applies your policy.
Block Before the Connection
Malicious or policy-blocked destinations are never resolved, so the connection is never made on any port or protocol, before a payload can arrive.
Add SWG, CASB & Cloud Firewall (SIG)
Beyond DNS, Umbrella adds a secure web gateway, CASB and a cloud-delivered firewall, packaged as the Secure Internet Gateway (SIG).
The Foundation for Secure Access
Umbrella is the DNS-security foundation Cisco built Secure Access on, so you can start with DNS security and grow into a full SSE or SASE.
One DNS resolver as the first checkpoint — malicious destinations blocked before a connection opens, SWG and CASB layered on.
Twelve capabilities. Resolve, filter, block.
Cisco Umbrella blocks threats at DNS resolution — the earliest, broadest, easiest cloud-security layer — backed by OpenDNS + Talos, from the Cisco portfolio.
DNS-Layer Security (all ports)
Enforces at DNS resolution, the first step of every connection, across all ports and protocols, before a malicious connection is made.
OpenDNS Resolver Telemetry
Built on the OpenDNS resolvers, among the largest on earth, giving broad visibility into internet activity and malicious domains.
Easiest Cloud-Security Layer to Deploy
Often just a matter of pointing your DNS at Umbrella: no agents for baseline protection and no traffic re-routing project.
Talos Threat Intelligence
Cisco Talos, one of the world’s largest commercial threat-intelligence teams, continuously identifies malicious domains, IPs and URLs.
Content & Category Filtering
Filters internet access by category and policy, blocking risky or non-compliant destinations for users on or off the network.
Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
A full web proxy with URL and content inspection, granular policy, SSL decryption and file inspection, for control beyond DNS.
Cloud-App Discovery & Control (CASB)
Discovers the cloud apps in use, including shadow IT, and applies control so you can govern the SaaS your users reach.
Cloud-Delivered Firewall (CDFW)
A cloud firewall (Layer 3/4, some L7) that logs and controls outbound traffic by IP, port and protocol, with no appliance backhaul.
Malware & Command-and-Control Blocking
Blocks malware-hosting and command-and-control (C2) domains at resolution, cutting an infection’s path home before it can exfiltrate.
Protect Roaming & Remote Users
A lightweight roaming client or SD-WAN/router integration keeps the same DNS security on users off the corporate network.
Secure Internet Gateway (SIG)
DNS security, SWG, CASB, cloud firewall and Investigate threat intel, packaged as the Secure Internet Gateway for secure internet access.
The Foundation for Secure Access (SSE)
The DNS-security base Cisco built Secure Access on: start with DNS security today and grow into full ZTNA/SWG/CASB/FWaaS SSE.
Watch Cisco Umbrella in action
The overview, getting started, and the core workflows.
Cisco Umbrella — Overview
DNS-layer security, walked through.
Cisco Secure Access — Overview
The SSE Cisco built on Umbrella.
Cisco Hypershield — AI-Native Security
Cisco’s broader security direction.
Want a live, India-context walkthrough for your environment?
Book a guided demo →Detection is table stakes. Response is the difference.
Here’s what genuinely sets Cisco Umbrella apart (and where it’s a layer, not a full SSE).
Block threats at DNS resolution — the earliest, broadest enforcement point
Umbrella blocks threats at DNS resolution, the first step of every internet connection, across all ports and protocols. Most tools inspect traffic once a connection is under way; Umbrella checks the destination against Talos and OpenDNS telemetry and refuses to resolve bad domains, cutting off malware and C2 callbacks before they connect.
The easiest cloud-security layer to deploy — fast time-to-value
Umbrella is the easiest cloud-security layer to stand up: baseline protection can be live in minutes by pointing your DNS at it, with no agents and no re-routing project. Roaming users get a lightweight client or SD-WAN integration, and you can add SWG, CASB and firewall later.
OpenDNS + Talos telemetry — among the largest views of the internet
Umbrella sees through the OpenDNS resolvers, among the largest on earth, and Cisco Talos, one of the world’s largest commercial threat-intelligence teams. That telemetry exposes new domains and attacker infrastructure, often while it is still being staged, which is what makes DNS-layer blocking effective.
A SIG that grows into SSE — start at DNS, extend to Secure Access
Umbrella starts as DNS-layer security, adds SWG, CASB and a cloud firewall as the Secure Internet Gateway, and is the base Cisco built Secure Access on. You get protection now and grow into full ZTNA, FWaaS and DLP at your own pace, without a rip-and-replace.
A Cisco-scale vendor — and TechBag adds local India support
Cisco (founded 1984) runs ~$2B a quarter of security revenue and a Bengaluru campus of ~13,000+ staff. DNS-layer security suits Indian firms with branches and roaming users, as it is easy to deploy and works off-network. Umbrella is quote-led per user with 18% GST; TechBag compares it with Zscaler, Netskope and Cloudflare.
The honest scope
Cisco Umbrella is DNS-layer security on the OpenDNS roots plus SWG, CASB and a cloud firewall as the Secure Internet Gateway, backed by Talos. As a full SSE it trails Zscaler and Netskope, which is why Cisco built Secure Access on top of it; for complete SSE, look at Secure Access, Zscaler or Netskope.
The numbers behind the platform
What your Cisco Umbrella journey looks like
Scoping (& DNS-layer vs full SSE)
Map sites, branch and roaming users, and whether you need DNS security now or full SSE. TechBag compares Zscaler and Netskope.
Point your DNS — protected in minutes
Point your DNS at Umbrella, add the roaming client or SD-WAN integration for off-network users, and get DNS-layer protection fast.
Add the SIG (SWG, CASB, cloud firewall)
Add the secure web gateway, CASB and cloud-delivered firewall — the full Secure Internet Gateway — for control beyond DNS.
Grow into Secure Access (SSE / SASE)
Grow into Cisco Secure Access for full SSE, and with Meraki SD-WAN, single-vendor SASE. TechBag supports you locally (18% GST).
The review scoreboard
Modelled on Gartner Peer Insights structure. *Counts and breakdowns are illustrative pending verified review collection.
Quick poll — what’s driving your evaluation?
Talk to an advisor“We had DNS-layer protection live in an afternoon just by pointing our DNS at Umbrella. Nothing else in security deploys that fast.”
“Blocking at DNS resolution cuts malware and C2 callbacks before any connection, catching what our port-specific tools missed.”
“The OpenDNS and Talos telemetry is real: the sheer volume of resolver traffic lets Umbrella spot malicious domains early.”
“Branch and roaming users get the same DNS security everywhere — a light client off-network, SD-WAN integration on. Ideal for us.”
“For full SSE, with mature ZTNA and inline DLP, we looked at Secure Access and Zscaler. Umbrella is the DNS layer, not the SSE.”
“We started with Umbrella DNS security and can grow into Secure Access in the same family, with no rip-and-replace.”
“Across our distributed India sites, Umbrella was the fastest way to protect every user. TechBag compared Zscaler/Netskope honestly.”
“Umbrella is partner-quoted. TechBag scoped our users and SIG tier, compared Cloudflare and Zscaler honestly, and added INR/GST.”
Where everyone sits — the grids
Analyst firms bury this view behind paywalls, and review-site grids score satisfaction, not fit for your estate. So here’s TechBag’s synthesis of the cloud-security / SSE market — tap any vendor to see why it sits where it does.
TechBag Security Market Grid
Execution strength vs product vision — the classic market map, minus the paywall.
DNS-layer security + SIG — easiest to deploy.
SSE Depth × DNS-Layer Ease
The grid nobody publishes — SSE depth vs DNS-layer depth & ease of deployment.
DNS-layer depth + easy deploy.
Positions are TechBag’s illustrative synthesis of public review-platform data and vendor documentation — not a reproduction of any analyst graphic. Verify before relying on it.
Cisco Umbrella vs the cloud-security field
Zscaler, Netskope, Cloudflare, Prisma Access and DNSFilter — honest lanes; the edge is best-in-class DNS-layer security + easiest to deploy. Need a full best-of-breed SSE? Grow into Secure Access, or Zscaler/Netskope. TechBag sells them, and says so.
| Dimension | Cisco Umbrella | Zscaler (ZIA) | Netskope | Cloudflare Gateway | Prisma Access | DNSFilter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | DNS-layer security + SIG | SSE leader (web/ZIA) | SSE leader (data-centric) | SSE on Cloudflare network | Palo Alto SSE (Prisma) | DNS filtering specialist |
| DNS-layer security | Best-in-class (OpenDNS) | Has DNS security | Has DNS security | Strong (1.1.1.1 roots) | Has DNS security | DNS-focused |
| Ease of deployment | Easiest (point DNS) | Fuller (agents/tunnels) | Fuller (agents/tunnels) | Fast (Cloudflare net) | Fuller | Very easy (DNS) |
| Full SSE depth (ZTNA/SWG/CASB/DLP) | DNS-first (SIG; grow to Secure Access) | Recognised SSE leader | Recognised SSE leader | Growing SSE | Broad SSE | DNS-only (not SSE) |
| Threat intelligence / telemetry | OpenDNS + Talos (huge) | Large cloud telemetry | Cloud telemetry | Cloudflare-scale | Unit 42 intel | DNS telemetry |
| Growth path to SASE | → Secure Access + Meraki SD-WAN | Zscaler SASE | Netskope SASE | Cloudflare One | Prisma SASE | DNS-only |
| Best fit | DNS-security layer + fast SIG (Cisco shops) | Best-of-breed SSE, web-first (TechBag sells it) | Best-of-breed SSE, data-centric (TechBag sells it) | SSE on Cloudflare’s network (TechBag sells it) | Palo Alto SSE (Prisma Access) | Simple DNS filtering |
Which approach fits you?
Honest fit signals — because the fastest way to lose your trust is to pretend one product wins every scenario.
Choose Cisco Umbrella if…
- You want best-in-class DNS-layer security — blocking threats at resolution, all ports, before the connection
- You want the easiest cloud-security layer to deploy (often just point your DNS)
- You want OpenDNS + Talos telemetry — among the largest views of internet threats
- You want a SIG that grows into a full SSE (Cisco Secure Access) — with TechBag adding scoping & GST
Zscaler if…
- You want a recognised, best-of-breed, web-first SSE (ZIA/ZPA) — TechBag sells it
Netskope if…
- You want a recognised, best-of-breed, data-centric SSE — TechBag sells it (Wave-C sibling)
Cloudflare Gateway if…
- You want SSE delivered on Cloudflare’s network (Cloudflare One) — TechBag sells it
Prisma Access / DNSFilter if…
- You want Palo Alto’s SSE (Prisma), or a simple DNS-filtering specialist (DNSFilter)
Cisco Umbrella is one of 44 secure web & dns products TechBag carries. The Secure Web & DNS guide narrows them to a shortlist and shows the reasoning. →
What could this save you?
Drag the sliders (users; security-hour cost as loaded rate). Estimates contrast traditional web security (inspection after the connection, port-specific, deploy friction) vs Cisco Umbrella (block at DNS resolution across all ports, easiest to deploy, C2 severed at the source) — the wins are threats blocked early, breach cost avoided, and deployment/admin time saved. Illustrative — TechBag scopes your users.
Loaded cost = salary + overheads per productive hour. Illustrative only — your TechBag quote models your actual environment and modules.
Three ways to consume it
Cisco Umbrella is quote/partner-driven — per user, packaged by tier (DNS Essentials/Advantage up to the full SIG). No simple public list; tier and user count drive price. Cisco bills USD-benchmarked; TechBag scopes the tier and handles INR/GST (18%) — quote current figures.
Cisco Umbrella (per user, by quote)
Best for DNS-layer cloud security
- DNS-layer security (OpenDNS roots) — block at resolution, all ports
- Add SWG + CASB + cloud firewall — the Secure Internet Gateway (SIG)
- Easiest cloud-security layer to deploy — often just point your DNS
+ Platform add-ons
Best for a broader rollout
- Scoped to your estate
- Add-on modules as needed
- Phased, right-sized deployment
+ scoping & local support
Best value with TechBag
- Tier scoping (DNS → full SIG) + grow-to-Secure-Access advice + honest Zscaler/Netskope comparison
- OpenDNS + Talos telemetry; Bengaluru India depth
- TechBag adds INR/GST (18%) invoicing, DPDPA-residency help & local support
Buy it for less — TechBag pricing beats list
Whatever the list prices above, TechBag negotiates a significantly better deal — with GST-compliant INR invoicing and local support. Ask us for your discounted quote.
Get an India-ready quote
Tell us your requirements and current tools — we’ll model it against what you spend today.
The 8 questions to ask every vendor
Take this into your next vendor call — including ours.
Want broad protection fast? Umbrella is the easiest cloud-security layer — often just point your DNS. Live in minutes.
Want to stop threats at the earliest point? Umbrella blocks at DNS resolution, all ports, before the connection is made.
Protecting branch and roaming users? Umbrella follows users on or off the network (roaming client / SD-WAN).
Want world-class DNS intel? OpenDNS resolver telemetry + Talos give Umbrella among the largest views of internet threats.
Need mature ZTNA or inline DLP? Umbrella is DNS-first: grow into Secure Access, or compare Zscaler and Netskope.
Need SWG/CASB/cloud firewall too? The Secure Internet Gateway packages them — TechBag scopes the right tier.
Cisco’s Bengaluru campus is its largest ex-US — deep local depth. TechBag scopes and supports Umbrella locally.
Per user, packaged by tier up to the SIG, quote/partner-driven — TechBag scopes it, adds INR/GST (18%) and support.
Questions buyers ask
Ready to deploy Cisco Umbrella?
Scope Cisco Umbrella (cloud DNS-layer security that blocks threats at resolution across all ports — the easiest cloud-security layer, plus the full SIG) — and let a TechBag advisor scope the tier, advise on growing into Secure Access, compare honestly vs Zscaler and Netskope, and add INR/GST and local support.
Stats, ratings, review counts and pricing are illustrative and sourced from public materials; verify before purchase.