Cisco Umbrella vs Zscaler – Which Option Is Best For You?

What Is A Secure Web Gateway?

A secure web gateway is a layer of network security, sitting between users and the internet. This solution inspects and controls web traffic to intercept web-based threats and enforce security policies. Having a secure gateway is essential to network security, protecting organisations from the torrent of online threats they face daily.

A secure web gateway (SWG) can be cloud-based, a physical server, or a software application. Cisco Umbrella and Zscaler are cloud-based security platforms incorporating a SWG feature.

Cisco Umbrella and Zscaler Compared

Cisco Umbrella and Zscaler are cloud-based security solutions. They are cybersecurity platforms that offer a high level of protection against internet-based threats. As competitors within their industry, they contain many similar features, so how do the two products compare?

Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-based security platform incorporating several key features:

• DNS security – well known for its effective web protection using DNS-layer security. Umbrella integrates seamlessly with existing systems, working in the background to protect against malicious attacks
• Secure Web Gateway – Cisco Umbrella provides a secure web gateway by inspecting traffic and enforcing security protocols to block advanced threats.
• Firewall – built in Firewall to log all online activity and block unwanted traffic based on security policies.
• Threat Intelligence – advanced intelligence capability using real-time information to block malware, phishing, botnets, trojans and other threats quickly.
• SD-WAN – complete SD-WAN integration, deploying its technology across your network to efficiently protect users, connected devices and app usage from all direct internet access points.
• CASB – Umbrella acts as a Cloud Access Security Broker, detecting and reporting on cloud applications in use.

Zscaler

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform is a cloud-based Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform. Its zero-trust approach means that no user, device or application is trusted. Instead, strict verification and authorisation principles are in place to check all internet traffic. Zscaler incorporates four main solution areas to cybersecurity:

• Zero Trust Networking – secure access to applications and data, without exposure to the public internet.
• Cyber Threat Protection – comprehensive protection against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), SSL telecommunications threat inspection, DNS filtering and malware analysis.
• Data Protection – secures sensitive data including granular control over user actions to prevent data loss.
• Business Analytics – offers insights into traffic, network performance, security issues and user activity.

Conclusion

Although Cisco Umbrella and Zscaler are both security solutions that protect against online threats, they have key differences:

• Cisco Umbrella is primarily a cloud-based platform that routes web traffic through its worldwide network of data centres for analysis. Zscaler offers both cloud and on-premises packages, which can provide a more flexible option for some organisations.
• Cisco Umbrella uses DNS and IP layered security to infiltrate malicious activity. It exercises real-time threat intelligence to prevent attacks and apply policies across all devices and locations. Zscaler adopts a different approach, implementing a proxy-based architecture that filters traffic at the application level.
• Cisco Umbrella has a huge network of global data centres to analyse massive amounts of web traffic while working quickly and reliably. In contrast, Zscaler has more Points of Presence (PoPs) globally, allowing it to operate on a more localised level, which benefits geographically distributed organisations.
• Cisco Umbrella integrates efficiently with other Cisco products, enhancing security and providing a seamless solution. Zscaler is a comprehensive security platform that incorporates all aspects of web security, eliminating the need for separate tools.
• Cisco Umbrella is capable of applying extensive policy control options. Policies can be defined based on users, groups, devices and locations. Zscaler offers a similar level of control.
• Cisco Umbrella provides real-time threat intelligence analysis from multiple sources including machine learning algorithms. Zscaler also offers a high level of threat intelligence analytics to mitigate threat across all ports and protocols.

Cisco Umbrella is a powerful cloud-based solution encompassing all security prevention features under one umbrella. It offers effective internet protection through robust web content filtering without purchasing additional hardware. Its core strength is its DNS layer security.

Zscaler operates a robust Zero Trust SASE platform through cloud-based or on-premises technology. Its impressive network of PoPs benefits geographically dispersed operations.