

Cisco Umbrella and Palo Alto Networks DNS Security compete in the space of advanced DNS security solutions. Based on customer feedback, Cisco Umbrella seems to have the upper hand due to its broader feature set, user-friendliness, and comprehensive deployment options, although price competitiveness remains a challenge.
Features: Cisco Umbrella is lauded for its advanced web content filtering, cloud-based deployment, and integration with other systems, providing single-pane-of-glass management and DNS-level protection. Palo Alto Networks DNS Security stands out with its strong DNS sinkhole, DNS tunneling protection, and robust integration capabilities, supported by real-time threat intelligence and advanced analytics.
Room for Improvement: Cisco Umbrella could enhance threat feed integration, IPv6 support, and provide more granular reporting with DLP features. Pricing model flexibility and user interface improvements are also needed. Palo Alto Networks DNS Security faces criticism for its high costs, requiring more affordable licensing, reduction in false positives, and exploring agentless deployment options to improve ease of use and scalability, including email protection features.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Umbrella offers flexible deployment options including both cloud and on-premises, with commendable customer service and support. While Palo Alto Networks DNS Security is effective once deployed, its initial setup is often seen as less user-friendly, aiming for improvements in pricing structure and scalability to better align with customer needs.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Umbrella provides multiple pricing tiers catering to organizational needs, though pricing can be high in non-US regions. Its comprehensive security features often justify the cost, providing positive ROI through reduced security incidents. Palo Alto Networks DNS Security is usually more expensive, seen as a premium option that might challenge smaller enterprises despite its strong security capabilities, leading to considerations of cost against enhanced security when evaluating ROI.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Umbrella | 21.6% |
| Palo Alto Networks DNS Security | 7.5% |
| Other | 70.9% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 49 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 30 |
| Large Enterprise | 51 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 5 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
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.
What are the key features of Cisco Umbrella?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.
Palo Alto Networks DNS Security is a solution that can stop attackers from abusing DNS for malicious activities like data theft, command and control, phishing, and ransomware. The solution offers organizations automated protections, prevents attackers from bypassing security measures, and eliminates the need for independent tools.
Palo Alto Networks DNS Security Features
Palo Alto Networks DNS Security has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:
Palo Alto Networks DNS Security Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing Palo Alto Networks DNS Security. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Palo Alto Networks DNS Security is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it has remarkable anti-hacking features, excellent stability, provides valuable insights, and has good DNS filtering.
A Senior Technical Project Manager at a university explains why he likes the solution: “They have anti-hacking features which are quite useful. They have virus protection within the firewall. The stability is excellent and the product is very mature.”
Others express how the solution has been valuable in providing insights. A Network Engineer at an educational organization says, “We can actively see how many thousands of malicious requests have gotten knocked down in the last day or week that we didn't know about before.”
“The solution has good DNS filtering, is scalable, and highly-integrated,” mentions a Group Network Specialist at a financial services firm.
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