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Cisco Umbrella VS Twingate

Compare Cisco Umbrella VS Twingate and see what are their differences

Cisco Umbrella logo Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud security platform that provides the first line of defense against threats on the internet.

Twingate logo Twingate

Simply Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
  • Cisco Umbrella Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-07-23
  • Twingate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-10

Twingate is a secure remote access solution for an organization’s private applications, data, and environments, whether they are on-premise or in the cloud. Built to make the lives of DevOps teams, IT/infrastructure teams, and end users easier, it replaces outdated business VPNs which were not built to handle a world in which "work from anywhere" and cloud-based assets are increasingly the norm.

Cisco Umbrella features and specs

  • Comprehensive Security
    Cisco Umbrella offers a wide range of security features including DNS-layer security, secure web gateway, firewall, and cloud-delivered threat intelligence which collectively provides multi-layered protection against cyber threats.
  • Ease of Deployment
    Cisco Umbrella can be deployed quickly and easily across different types of networks, including on-premises, remote offices, and mobile users, without requiring significant changes to existing infrastructure.
  • High Availability
    Built on a globally distributed network, Cisco Umbrella ensures high availability and redundancy, making it a reliable option for companies that cannot afford downtime.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The centralized and intuitive dashboard makes it easy for administrators to monitor network activities, manage policies, and generate reports, reducing the complexity of security management.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Cisco Umbrella integrates well with other security tools and Cisco products, allowing organizations to build a more cohesive and comprehensive security strategy.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco Umbrella

  • Cost
    Cisco Umbrella can be expensive, especially for smaller organizations with limited budgets, which might find the cost prohibitive relative to their needs.
  • Complexity of Advanced Features
    While the basic features are easy to use, some of the more advanced features require specialized knowledge and training to fully leverage, which can be a barrier for some organizations.
  • Dependence on Internet Connectivity
    Being a cloud-based solution, Cisco Umbrella requires continuous internet connectivity to function effectively. Any disruption in internet service can impact its performance and reduce its effectiveness.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Because it involves routing all DNS queries through its servers, there could be potential privacy concerns for organizations worried about data sovereignty and confidentiality.
  • Limited Offline Protection
    Cisco Umbrella primarily provides online protection. For devices that need security while offline, additional measures need to be implemented, which could complicate the security strategy.

Twingate features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Twingate leverages a zero-trust security model, minimizing risk by not assuming any user or system is inherently trusted, and reducing attack surfaces.
  • Easy Deployment
    The solution is designed to integrate easily with existing infrastructures and does not require changes to network configurations, making deployment seamless.
  • Scalability
    Twingate can handle growing organizational needs easily, allowing users and resources to be added without comprehensive changes to the system.
  • Improved Performance
    By routing connection requests through optimized paths and limiting access only to necessary resources, Twingate can result in faster and more efficient network performance.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform provides a clean and intuitive user interface that simplifies the process of managing and monitoring access controls, beneficial for IT teams.

Possible disadvantages of Twingate

  • Cost
    For smaller organizations or startups, the cost of implementing Twingate might be high compared to traditional VPN solutions.
  • Learning Curve
    Users and IT staff might need time to adapt to the new system, especially those accustomed to more traditional VPN models.
  • Dependence on Internet
    As a cloud-based service, Twingate's performance is heavily reliant on internet connectivity, which could pose issues in regions with poor internet infrastructure.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Twingate's reliance on cloud connectivity may restrict offline access to some resources, which could be a limitation for certain use cases.
  • Third-Party Dependencies
    Organizations using Twingate are dependent on third-party services for security, which might raise concerns about data privacy and compliance.

Analysis of Cisco Umbrella

Overall verdict

  • Cisco Umbrella is generally regarded as a strong and effective security solution for protecting users and networks from online threats. Its robust features and reliable performance make it a preferred option for businesses seeking to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Why this product is good

  • Cisco Umbrella is often considered a good choice for internet security due to its comprehensive protection against threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It offers DNS-layer security, providing a first line of defense against potential threats by blocking dangerous domains before a connection is established. Additionally, Cisco Umbrella is cloud-delivered, meaning it can be rapidly deployed and easily scaled to meet the needs of different organizations.

Recommended for

    Cisco Umbrella is recommended for businesses of all sizes looking to improve their network security. This includes organizations in sectors that handle sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and education. It's also suitable for remote and distributed workforces owing to its cloud-based architecture, which provides protection regardless of a user's location.

Cisco Umbrella videos

How IT Works: Security at the DNS Layer with Cisco Umbrella

More videos:

  • Review - Cisco Umbrella Product Packages
  • Review - Cisco Umbrella Customer Review: Cisco IT
  • Review - What is Cisco Umbrella?
  • Review - Unleash the Power of Cisco Umbrella: A Comprehensive Review

Twingate videos

Getting started with Twingate in minutes

More videos:

  • Review - Twingate, new VPN alternative of 2020, by Former Dropbox and Microsoft employees (Twingate Download)
  • Review - Review: Grivel Mega Twingate

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cisco Umbrella and Twingate)
Cyber Security
100 100%
0% 0
Localhost Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Security & Privacy
87 87%
13% 13
Testing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cisco Umbrella and Twingate

Cisco Umbrella Reviews

We have no reviews of Cisco Umbrella yet.
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Twingate Reviews

The top 10 alternatives to OpenVPN
Twingate is dedicated to reducing the complexity and hassle of cybersecurity. Our ZTNA offering brings forth secure remote access with fine-tuned access controls, quick deployment times, and an uninterrupted experience for both administrators and end users. Twingate assists various organizations in transitioning away from old-fashioned VPNs, introducing a more secure,...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cisco Umbrella seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cisco Umbrella mentions (3)

  • Amazon Outage
    Cisco Umbrella | Leader in Cloud Cybersecurity and SASE Solutions. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How are Vpns blocked?
    A combination of subscription ip blocklists like that sold by MaxMind combined with DNS and application filtering services like Umbrella would catch most services. For good measure I'd toss in local .exe application whitelisting running on each of the schools machines to only allow the applications the school wants using something like applocker which is included in windows so it probably fits into their budget. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Blocking sites
    We've been very happy with Cisco's Umbrella product. A few years back I "test drove" the free version, but thats a very poor substitute for the paid product. It's not cheap, but it has worked very well for us. Over 70% of our users are remote since the start of COVID, so we opted for the "roaming client" installation on every endpoint. We have a "basic" network profile for our office locations that slightly... Source: over 2 years ago

Twingate mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Twingate yet. Tracking of Twingate recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cisco Umbrella and Twingate, you can also consider the following products

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways - Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateways offers secure internet access for the employees.

ngrok - ngrok enables secure introspectable tunnels to localhost webhook development tool and debugging tool.

McAfee SmartFilter - McAfee Web Protection is a web security solution that includes an on-premises secure web gateway and SaaS-based web security delivered from the cloud.

cotunnel - Remote access and tunnels to your local device.

OpenDNS Umbrella - Cloud Security

TailScale - Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.