How to Replace Cisco Umbrella: A Migration Guide From DNS Filtering to On-Device SWG

The short answer

You can replace Cisco Umbrella with dope.security, an agent-based Cisco Umbrella alternative, in days. Because dope.security inspects traffic on the device, there's no DNS to redirect, no roaming client to license, and no SIG tier to upgrade. The migration has five steps:

1. Start a free production trial with your Google or Microsoft SSO
2. Map your Umbrella DNS policies and destination lists to dope.console
3. Deploy the dope.endpoint agent through your existing MDM (Intune, Jamf)
4. Pilot with a small group, then expand in waves
5. Remove the Umbrella roaming client and restore your DNS settings

Real teams have done it fast. One Cisco Umbrella customer migrated 2,000 machines in two days, and Greylock Partners went from first proposal to signed contract in 27 days.

Moving off Umbrella isn't just a vendor swap. It's an upgrade from domain filtering to full web inspection. (Still comparing options? Start with Cisco Umbrella alternatives in 2026.)

Why a Cisco Umbrella migration is simpler than you think

Most teams expect a security migration to mean months of network changes. Leaving Umbrella is different, because you're removing plumbing, not adding it.

Cisco Umbrella intercepts requests at the DNS layer. To cover remote users you deploy the roaming client and point DNS at Umbrella. To get SSL inspection you add the SIG tier, which routes traffic through a Cisco data center. That's a multi-step setup for what should be a direct connection.

dope.security does the inspection on the device. There's nothing to point, route, or upgrade. Install the agent and policy is live (here's how an on-device SWG works).

Source: dope.security vs. Cisco Umbrella.

Fewer moving parts to migrate, and fewer to maintain once you're done.

How to replace Cisco Umbrella with dope.security, step by step

Step 1: Start a free production trial

Sign in with your Google or Microsoft corporate account. No payment method, no package quote, no sales call. Your trial is a real production tenant, so nothing gets rebuilt when you buy.

Step 2: Map your Umbrella policies

Export your Umbrella DNS policies, category settings, and destination lists. Then recreate them in dope.console:

• Category filtering: choose allow, warn, or block for each of 80+ URL categories (URL filtering explained)
• Destination lists: rebuild them as custom categories, now enforced at the URL level instead of the domain level
• Per-group overrides: apply different policies to departments or teams
• Cloud App Control: restrict ChatGPT, Claude, Google, and Microsoft 365 to your corporate tenants, something DNS couldn't do
• SSL bypasses: add domains for apps that use certificate pinning

Tip: if you never bought SIG, this is your first time doing SSL inspection. dope.security is preconfigured with sensible defaults, so you're tuning, not starting from zero.

Step 3: Deploy the agent through your MDM

Push dope.endpoint to Mac and Windows devices with the MDM you already use, such as Microsoft Intune or Jamf (see the Intune and Jamf MDM playbook). Instructions live in the dope.security user manual. Greylock Partners deployed via Intune with a phased rollout.

Step 4: Pilot, then expand in waves

Start with IT and a few power users. Check dope.console analytics, confirm policies behave as expected, and use SSL error notifications to spot apps that need a bypass. Then roll out by department, office, or region.

Step 5: Decommission Umbrella

Once devices are covered, uninstall the Umbrella roaming client, point network and device DNS back to your standard resolvers, and retire Umbrella policies. Stream dope.security logs to your SIEM so your SOC keeps full visibility. For a longer runbook, see the Cisco Umbrella migration guide.

Typical Cisco Umbrella migration timeline

Timelines vary by fleet size and change control. For reference, one Umbrella customer migrated 2,000 machines in two days, and Outreach Health secured 99% of devices in one week. Want a day-by-day plan? Use the 14-day Cisco Umbrella replacement playbook.

What you gain after leaving Cisco Umbrella

FAQ

How long does it take to migrate from Cisco Umbrella to dope.security?

Most teams are inspecting traffic on day one and finish rollout in one to two weeks. There's no DNS redirection or roaming client to configure. One Cisco Umbrella customer rolled out 2,000 machines in two days.

Do I need to keep Cisco Umbrella for DNS security?

No. dope.swg inspects the full web session on the device, including URL filtering across 80+ categories and anti-malware, so you don't need a separate DNS filtering layer for web security.

Will I lose coverage for remote users without the roaming client?

No. The dope.endpoint agent enforces policy on the device everywhere, on-network or off, with fallback mode using cached policies if the device goes offline.

Is dope.security a full replacement for Umbrella SIG?

For secure web gateway functions, yes. dope.security includes SSL inspection, URL filtering, Cloud App Control, anti-malware, Shadow IT discovery, and DLP in the base product, running on the device rather than through a Cisco data center. Use the Cisco Umbrella replacement buyer's checklist to confirm coverage for your environment.

Does dope.security work with my VPN and EDR?

Yes. dope.security works out of the box with VPNs and EDRs, and the support team (staffed by product engineers) will help confirm compatibility with your environment.

Can I test dope.security before my Umbrella renewal?

Yes. Start an instant trial with Google or Microsoft SSO, no payment method required. If your account stays active, the trial extends automatically.

Ready to go beyond DNS?

The best Cisco Umbrella alternative is the one you can roll out before your renewal date. Start a free production trial today, or let our team map your Umbrella policies with you.

Start your free trial or book a 20-minute demo.

Sources

• dope.security vs. Cisco Umbrella
• Greylock Partners customer story
• dope.security pricing and FAQ
• dope.security user manual (Inflight)