The biggest problem with compiling a comparison of WebTitan Cloud v Cisco Umbrella is that the Cisco Umbrella range consists of four packages with an increasing number of capabilities per package. Additionally, there is a lack of transparency about Cisco Umbrella pricing and how many add-ons a business may need to filter the Internet effectively.
When Cisco Systems Inc. acquired OpenDNS in 2015, there was only one Cisco DNS filtering and Internet security package available – the former OpenDNS Umbrella. Since the acquisition, Cisco has broken down the Umbrella into four sets of capabilities – ostensibly to better meet the needs of all businesses; but, in practice, to disguise the cost of the packages.
By comparison, WebTitan Cloud is similar in many ways to v1 launched in 2009. Naturally there have been some improvements made to its capabilities along the way; however, the DNS filtering and Internet security solution is still as flexible and scalable as ever it was to meet the needs of businesses and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) of all sizes.
WebTitan Cloud v Cisco Umbrella Comparison
The best way to compare WebTitan Cloud v Cisco Umbrella is to list a selection of capabilities in each Cisco Umbrella package and then see where WebTitan Cloud fits into the range. The following is a snapshot of the capabilities of each Cisco Umbrella package which demonstrates how the sophistication of each package increases as you work through the range:
The key points to note are:
- The DNS Essentials package does not inspect and decrypt SSL traffic. This means that any encrypted website that has not yet been identified as a threat will bypass the DNS filter.
- Both the DNS Essentials and DNS Advantage packages lack granular filtering inasmuch as it is only possible to block or allow website access by domain name, rather than by URL.
- Although classified as a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution, the SIG Essentials package lacks some key service edge security capabilities and is limited in others.
- The SIG Advantage package includes many capabilities that businesses may already have access to via other security solutions (i.e., Microsoft Sentinel, Amazon Security Lake, etc.).
- There is a mandatory cost for onboarding and technical support by phone. Customers who pay extra for premium support are prioritized when technical support is required.
- There is a lack of transparency about pricing, and anecdotal evidence suggests licensing costs and the cost of optional add-ons can be negotiated – especially with resellers.
- Cisco operates two MSP programs – neither of which allows MSPs and MSSPs a white label product to rebrand as their own. Only co-branding is tolerated.
Where WebTitan Cloud Fits Into the Cisco Umbrella Range
>WebTitan Cloud is a fully featured DNS filtering and Internet security solution that includes or betters all the capabilities of Cisco´s DNS Advantage package and includes several capabilities of the SIG Essentials package – including granular filtering so that businesses can block or allow Internet access by URL, group, individual, time, location, and more.
Naturally, WebTitan Cloud does not include SecureX and Cisco Investigate integration. Instead, WebTitan Cloud´s threat database is updated in “real-time” to mitigate the risk of emerging threats evading detection and reduce the need for threat response services. WebTitan Cloud also includes “Zero-Minute” protection against emerging phishing threats.
Importantly, with WebTitan Cloud, what you see is what you get. Customer support is included in the subscription cost, there are no optional add-ons, or the need to subscribe to other WebTitan services to take advantage of the full range of DNS filtering and Internet security capabilities. Also, for MSPs and resellers, WebTitan Cloud is available as a white label service.
In terms of subscription costs, the maximum price business will pay for WebTitan Cloud in 2023 is $1.58 per user per month – the price decreasing according to the number of users and length of subscription. Unlike Cisco, it is not necessary to pay the subscription cost all upfront in order to take advantage of WebTitan Cloud pricing, and there is no premium for monthly payments.
WebTitan Cloud v Cisco Umbrella Conclusion
Our comparison of WebTitan Cloud v Cisco Umbrella demonstrates that, if a business has subscribed to a DNS Essentials or DNS Advantage package and is paying more than $1.58 per user per month once the mandatory and optional add-ons are taken into account, it makes economic sense to switch to WebTitan Cloud. Not only will the business save money, but it will also have more protection against web-borne threats and more control over Internet activity.