If you're considering a change from Cisco Umbrella, you're not alone. Many security teams are seeking alternatives that offer faster performance, better privacy, and more integrated security solutions. In this guide, we'll dive into the top 5 Cisco Umbrella alternatives in 2025 and explain why dope.security, with its unique endpoint-based architecture, might be the best choice for your organization.

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What Is Cisco Umbrella?

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Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered Secure Web Gateway (SWG) and DNS-layer security platform. It provides organizations with the ability to filter internet traffic, enforce web policies, and prevent threats like malware and phishing. Umbrella offers DNS-based security, blocking malicious domains, IP addresses, and URLs, while also providing visibility into cloud applications through its Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) capabilities.

However, despite its popularity, Cisco Umbrella has some notable drawbacks that have driven customers to explore alternatives. These issues revolve around its multi-hop traffic routing (resulting in latency), lack of advanced inline data protection (DLP), and a pricing model that can become expensive as organizations scale. As a result, companies are increasingly turning to alternatives that offer more flexibility, faster performance, and more robust security features.

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Zscaler

Key Features & Ideal Fit

Zscaler is often regarded as a leader in the Security Service Edge (SSE) space, providing a comprehensive, cloud-native platform for securing users, devices, and applications. Zscaler’s cloud firewall, CASB, ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access), and SWG are all tightly integrated, making it a one-stop solution for secure access.

Zscaler’s global cloud architecture spans over 150 data centers, for high availability. Traffic is routed to the nearest data center, which reduces round-trip delays and enhances user experience compared to Cisco Umbrella's more centralized model.

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PROS

• Global coverage: With 150+ global PoPs, Zscaler can route traffic regardless of user location.
  
• Zero Trust Architecture: Zscaler natively integrates Zero Trust with granular user and application controls.
  
• Scalable: Ideal for large enterprises that need to secure distributed workforces
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CONS

• Pricing: Zscaler can be more expensive for smaller organizations or mid-market businesses due to its enterprise-oriented pricing structure.
  
• Complexity: The platform can be more complex to configure and manage, especially for teams that lack prior experience with Zscaler’s vast feature set.

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IDEAL USE CASE

• ‍Large enterprises, especially those with a global presence and complex security needs, would benefit from Zscaler’s broad service coverage and deep integration of security features.

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Why Switch from Cisco Umbrella?

Organizations that migrate from Cisco Umbrella to Zscaler often cite the need for advanced threat prevention, zero-trust network access, and better scalability as primary drivers. Zscaler's tighter integration and improved performance in global environments have made it a top choice for those outgrowing Cisco Umbrella’s DNS-layer security.

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Netskope

Pros, Cons & Typical Buyers

Netskope is a strong player in the SSE and Cloud Security space, focusing on visibility and control over cloud applications, web traffic, and data security. It offers comprehensive protection for SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS applications, along with strong DLP capabilities.

Netskope's Cloud Security Platform is powered by real-time data and threat protection capabilities, ensuring organizations can prevent data leaks while maintaining robust access control policies across cloud environments.

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PROS

• Cloud Visibility: Netskope provides visibility into cloud services and apps, making it a strong choice for organizations with extensive cloud adoption.
  
• Granular Data Control: Its DLP features allow organizations to define policies around sensitive data in real-time, ensuring compliance and reducing the risk of breaches.
  
  
• Unified Security: Netskope's platform combines SWG, CASB, and ZTNA in a unified interface.
  
  

CONS

• UI Complexity: While comprehensive, Netskope’s user interface can be overwhelming, especially for teams that are new to the platform.
  
  
• Pricing for Small-Medium Business (SMB): The cost may be a barrier for smaller organizations, especially those that don’t require advanced features.
  
  

IDEAL FIT

• ‍‍Organizations that prioritize cloud security and need robust SaaS protection or data governance should consider Netskope.

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Why Switch from Cisco Umbrella?

Many customers switch from Cisco Umbrella to Netskope due to its superior cloud app visibility and data loss prevention capabilities. While Umbrella does a good job with web traffic, Netskope excels in securing cloud apps and controlling sensitive data within the enterprise.

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Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access

Key Features & Benefits

Prisma Access is Palo Alto Networks’ cloud-delivered security solution, combining SWG, cloud firewall, ZTNA, and CASB to deliver comprehensive protection for users, regardless of location. Prisma Access is a full-stack SASE solution that is ideal for enterprises using Palo Alto’s existing products, like Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) or Cortex XDR.

The key selling point of Prisma Access is its tight integration with Palo Alto’s security ecosystem, offering a single-pane-of-glass experience for threat detection and prevention across on-premise and cloud environments.

Pros:

• Deep Integration with Palo Alto Products: Seamless integration with Palo Alto’s firewalls and Cortex XDR for better unified security management.
  
  
• AI/ML-Driven Threat Prevention: Prisma Access uses artificial intelligence to analyze traffic for threats in real-time, reducing the time to detection.
  
  
• Comprehensive SASE Solution: With its all-in-one offering, Prisma Access covers SWG, CASB, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
  
  

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: New users, especially those not familiar with Palo Alto products, may face challenges in setting up and managing the platform.
  
  
• Premium Pricing: Prisma Access is generally more expensive, which can be a barrier for mid-market or SMBs.
  
  

Ideal Use Case: Large enterprises with existing Palo Alto networks and infrastructure will benefit the most from Prisma Access due to the integration with Palo Alto's broader security ecosystem.

Why Switch from Cisco Umbrella?
Many businesses migrate from Cisco Umbrella to Prisma Access for more comprehensive data protection and advanced threat detection features, especially when they need a deeper integration with their existing Palo Alto security products.

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Cloudflare Gateway

Key Features & Benefits

Cloudflare Gateway is part of Cloudflare’s SASE offering, providing secure web gateway functionality that works across all users, devices, and locations. Leveraging Cloudflare’s global network of over 300 data centers, it routes user traffic via anycast technology, minimizing latency and ensuring fast, secure access to resources, regardless of user location.

Cloudflare Gateway focuses on DNS filtering, SSL inspection, and real-time threat intelligence to secure internet traffic while providing visibility into user activity. With its easy-to-understand pricing and deployment simplicity, Cloudflare Gateway is particularly attractive to organizations seeking a cost-effective, straightforward solution.

Pros:

• Global Coverage: Cloudflare’s extensive anycast network provides low-latency access worldwide.
  
  
• Affordable Pricing: With simple per-user pricing, Cloudflare Gateway is ideal for SMBs and cost-conscious organizations.
  
  
• Scalability: Easily scales to support global organizations without the need for complex configurations.
  
  

Cons:

• Limited Advanced Features: Compared to competitors like Zscaler and Netskope, Cloudflare Gateway lacks some advanced DLP and behavioral analytics features.
  
  
• Reporting and Insights: While sufficient for many, Cloudflare’s reporting and analytics features are less granular than some other options like dope.security.
  
  

Best Fit: Smaller organizations or those focused on remote-first teams who need a low-latency, easy-to-implement solution without the complexity of larger enterprise-grade platforms.

Why Switch from Cisco Umbrella?
Organizations switch from Cisco Umbrella to Cloudflare Gateway for its speed, transparent pricing, and ease of use. Companies with remote-first teams often appreciate Cloudflare’s ability to provide fast global access without added complexity.

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Forcepoint ONE

Key Features & Benefits

Forcepoint ONE is an integrated SASE solution with emphasis on data protection and insider threat mitigation. The platform combines SWG, CASB, and data loss prevention (DLP) in a single-agent, cloud-based platform that allows organizations to secure all web traffic and cloud apps while monitoring and protecting sensitive data.

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Pros:

• Behavioral DLP: Forcepoint’s behavioral DLP focuses on detecting insider threats and user behavior anomalies that traditional solutions miss.
  
  
• Integrated SWG and CASB: A unified platform simplifies deployment and policy management across cloud and web traffic.
  
  
• Granular Data Security: It provides deep controls over SaaS apps and cloud storage.
  
  

Cons:

• Onboarding Complexity: Implementation and configuration can be time-consuming and complex.
  
  
• Interface: The platform’s UI is more traditional and may not feel as modern as competitors like dope.security.
  
  

Ideal Use Case: Organizations that prioritize insider threat protection and data loss prevention in highly regulated industries (such as finance or healthcare) will benefit from Forcepoint ONE.

Why Switch from Cisco Umbrella?
Organizations switch from Cisco Umbrella to Forcepoint ONE because of its advanced data protection capabilities and insider threat detection, which provide more granular control over sensitive data compared to Umbrella's basic protection.

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Why dope.security Is the Strongest Cisco Umbrella Alternative

While the alternatives above offer solid solutions, dope.security takes a unique approach that makes it one of the strongest Cisco Umbrella alternatives. Here’s why:

Endpoint-Based Inspection: No Stopovers

Unlike traditional proxy-based systems, dope.security offers a fully endpoint-based Secure Web Gateway that inspects traffic locally on the device. No detours, no latency—just a smooth, no-stopover experience for faster, more reliable web security. This design allows us to eliminate the typical hair-pinning of cloud proxies and dramatically cut down on latency.

AI-Powered CASB + DLP

At dope.security, we integrate CASB and DLP natively into the console. One-click activation of our LLM powered CASB Neural delivers an AI scan of your O365 or Google Drive, and data classification of your sensitive public and external facing files, without any complex rule writing. 

Privacy, Performance, and Compliance

We understand that privacy and performance go hand in hand. dope.security keeps decrypted data local to the endpoint—no sensitive data is transmitted to third-party data centers. Plus, our solution offers offline protection, so you don’t lose security when you lose your internet connection.

Selecting the right Cisco Umbrella alternative depends on your organization’s needs. If you're looking for better performance, privacy, and a no-stopover experience, dope.security may be your best choice. Check out our SWG product page or contact us to schedule a demo.

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