Cisco Umbrella vs Cisco Web Security Appliance vs McAfee Web Protection [EOL] comparison

Cisco Umbrella provides fast-deploying DNS-layer security with powerful threat protection capabilities. Trusted by over 30,000 entities, it ranks highly in DNS security and effectively supports secure remote work environments.

Cisco Umbrella offers comprehensive DNS security, web filtering, and ease of use, enhancing network security through robust threat protection and malware prevention. It processes over 600 billion requests daily, making it a leader in its field. The seamless integration with existing infrastructures and cloud-based nature makes it suitable for remote and distributed work environments, ensuring consistent security throughout. Management is streamlined with a single-pane interface that simplifies administration, while in-depth reporting capabilities provide valuable insights for continuous monitoring.

• DNS Security: Provides leading protection by managing DNS queries and blocking malicious sites.
• Web Filtering: Offers granular control over web content to safeguard internet usage.
• Ease of Integration: Fits well into existing infrastructures, simplifying deployment and use.
• Intuitive Management: Single-pane management streamlines administration and enhances usability.
• Cloud-Based Flexibility: Supports secure remote work environments.

• Superior Threat Protection: Reduces risk by effectively detecting and preventing cyber threats.
• Consistent Security: Provides uniform protection across network environments.
• Efficiency and Visibility: Leverages comprehensive reporting for better security insights.
• Easy Deployment: Quick and straightforward setup with minimal disruption.

Cisco Umbrella is widely adopted in industries requiring advanced DNS-level security to counteract malware, phishing, and cyber threats. Its ability to monitor and protect remote and roaming employees makes it an attractive option for sectors highly dependent on cloud services. By managing DNS queries and blocking harmful sites, Cisco Umbrella enhances cybersecurity across networks, providing an added layer of protection for businesses worldwide.

Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) is a web security solution provided by Cisco Systems. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce acceptable use policies, and provide secure access to the internet for users within the organization.

Cisco Web Security Appliance Benefits:

• Easy to use
• Comprehensive security features
• Blocks malicious websites and prevents data loss
• Efficient reporting and analytics capabilities
• Scalable and integrates with other Cisco security products

Cisco Web Security Appliance Features:

• Web Filtering: WSA offers web filtering capabilities to control and enforce policies for web access.
• Malware Protection: The solution incorporates advanced threat intelligence and security technologies to detect and block web-based malware, viruses, spyware, and other malicious content.
• URL Filtering and Reputation: WSA leverages URL filtering and reputation services to categorize and assess the reputation of web domains and URLs in real-time.
• SSL/TLS Inspection: The appliance supports SSL/TLS decryption and inspection, allowing organizations to examine encrypted web traffic for threats and enforce security policies.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): WSA includes DLP capabilities to prevent the exfiltration of sensitive data through web channels.
• Application Control: The solution enables organizations to control and manage web applications and protocols.
• User Authentication and Access Control: WSA integrates with existing identity providers and authentication mechanisms to enforce user-based policies and provide secure access to the internet.
• Reporting and Analytics: The appliance provides comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing organizations to gain insights into web traffic, user activities, security events, and compliance violations.

Cisco Web Security Appliance is typically deployed as a physical or virtual appliance within an organization's network infrastructure. It can be integrated with other Cisco security products and solutions to provide a layered approach to web security and network protection.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Cisco Web Security Appliance users.

Md Manirul Islam, Deputy General Manager Pre-Sales at Beximcocomputers, states that "The most valuable feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is the provided anti-malware functionality and URL categorization. I can block access to malicious websites. 99 percent of the cases are related to a malicious website. If I cannot browse those malicious websites, then we are 99 percent protected."

Surendar Ganesan, Technical Lead, writes that "The best feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is its policy framing. It also has a good UI and it can handle traffic well. Cisco Web Security Appliance is a good product."

Atdhe Zyhranaj, Network Security Consultant at NSCON Network Services & Consulting GmbH, says that Cisco Web Security Appliance is "Easy to set up with scalable virtual machines and good reliability."

McAfee Web Protection is a web content filtering tool that guards against sophisticated internet threats on every device, user, and location. McAfee Web Protection provides the protection, controls, and deployment flexibility you need, from web filtering and anti-malware scanning to deep content inspection and granular control over Web 2.0 sites.

Every day, McAfee Labs detects over 100,000 new pieces of malware. Businesses are demanding the finest web security available to combat such expansion as the level of risk continues to rise. McAfee, more than any other vendor, understands the security needs of today's linked Web 2.0 environment and provides the industry's most effective, proactive web security.

With McAfee Web Protection’s deployment flexibility, businesses can secure personnel at corporate headquarters with hardware or virtual appliances, and remote or traveling staff with cloud services. Branch offices can also send all of their site's traffic to the cloud service, saving money on MPLS networks, which normally backhaul all public-facing web traffic to a central location for processing.

McAfee Web Protection Features

McAfee Web Protection has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

• Deployment versatility: For more deployment flexibility and high availability, you can combine these three deployment options:

1. on-premises with appliances
2. virtual environments
3. cloud

• High-level security: The McAfee Gateway Anti-Malware Engine, which features a proprietary approach to behavioral analysis, is used by McAfee Web Protection to stop zero-day malware in real time. McAfee Endpoint Security, McAfee Advanced Threat Defense, McAfee Cloud Threat Detection, and McAfee Threat Intelligence Exchange integration are all provided.
  
• Advanced reporting: Regardless of the delivery platform, advanced reporting aggregates the data you need to secure your web presence. McAfee Web Protection provides data that indicates how businesses use the internet, assisting in the compliance of legislation, the identification of trends, the isolation of problems, the documentation of incorrect web activity, and the customization of filtering settings to best regulate web usage policies.
  
• Maximum flexibility: McAfee Web Gateway on-premises equipment, McAfee SaaS Web Protection and McAfee Web Filter for Endpoint, are all included in a single subscription. These tools, together, address current demands while allowing for future changes.
  
• High-level security: McAfee Web Protection, the top-rated malware protection solution, employs the McAfee Gateway anti-malware engine, which employs a patent-pending behavioral analysis technique.
  
• Complete protection, both incoming and outgoing: With a comprehensive web filtering database, McAfee Web Protection follows a business's internet use policy. Malware and other hidden dangers are quickly and effectively protected using layered security.

Reviews from Real Users

McAfee Web Protection stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its help with regulatory compliance and its malware and spyware detection. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:

Vivek G., DGM at a financial services firm, writes of the product, “It is functional. It has reduced risk and downtime while also ensuring regulatory compliance, which is critical.” He adds, “I would rate McAfee Web Protection a nine out of ten.”

Another PeerSpot reviewer, an AVP Information Security at a financial services firm, notes, “If you are browsing web applications, it would help detect any malware. It's very useful for security purposes. The product also protects against spyware. It helps protect and control communications. The product is quite an effective firewall.”