Check Point Harmony Browse vs Cisco Umbrella comparison

Check Point Software Technologies and Cisco are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Check Point Software Technologies is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.9, while Cisco is ranked #1 with an average rating of 9.2. Check Point Software Technologies holds a 0.7% mindshare in WSG, compared to Cisco’s 15.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Check Point Software Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 28, 2025

Cisco Umbrella and Check Point Harmony Browse compete in the web security category. Cisco Umbrella has the upper hand in DNS-layer protection and integration, while Check Point Harmony Browse stands out with advanced threat protection and browser isolation capabilities.

Features: Cisco Umbrella provides comprehensive DNS layer security, efficient web content filtering, and botnet protection. Users appreciate its ease of integration and user-friendly management interface. Check Point Harmony Browse offers advanced threat protection, including zero-day protection and threat emulation, alongside robust browser isolation that enhances security in various web environments.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Umbrella could enhance its malware protection features and improve integration with other security tools. Users also seek more advanced analytics and reporting as well as better data center availability. Check Point Harmony Browse could refine its user interface, reduce false positives, and expand browser support while offering more threat reporting customization options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Umbrella is easily deployed, especially in cloud and hybrid settings, and is praised for responsive and knowledgeable customer service. Check Point Harmony Browse similarly provides efficient deployment and benefits from strong centralized management with proactive support catering to integration needs.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Umbrella's pricing is considered moderate but justified by its security enhancements, returning a positive ROI through threat prevention. However, its pricing may present challenges for budget-constrained organizations. Check Point Harmony Browse is viewed as cost-effective given its sophisticated security features. It offers favorable ROI through competitive pricing and comprehensive protection, though potentially pricey for smaller projects.

To learn more, read our detailed Check Point Harmony Browse vs. Cisco Umbrella Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Check Point Harmony Browse vs. Cisco Umbrella

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category, the mindshare of iboss is 2.4%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Check Point Harmony Browse is 0.7%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Umbrella is 15.1%, down from 19.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Umbrella	15.1%
iboss	2.4%
Check Point Harmony Browse	0.7%
Other	81.8%

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

Featured Reviews

reviewer2701851

Managing Director

Enhances web security with a single pane of glass and flexible deployment

I don't see any need for improvement; one of the really good things about iboss as a company is that they listen to customer feedback. I have suggested enhancements, and they are responsive, making changes for the better, and they do a lot of testing. To improve iboss, although we haven't used it, we considered the VPN solution that comes with the highest tier licensing, which includes DLP and various other add-ons. We prefer using another product which automatically logs you back onto your network when turning on your PC. With iboss, the connection is manual, which doesn't meet our needs. Additionally, sizing can be tricky because, although the initial recommendations may seem adequate, actual usage may require more gateways than anticipated.

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AndreiBo

Security Solution Architect at TD SYNNEX

Real-time threat intelligence enhances security and user confidence

At this point, I do not have any suggestions for improvements to Check Point Harmony Browse because I haven't encountered anything that would need changing. If a solution is installed correctly, it usually won't fail. It's hard to suggest new features for Check Point Harmony Browse because it's a sub-component of a larger Harmony Endpoint Security solution, which is handled separately under specific situations, and while it has many options, it already scans and delivers files efficiently. Regarding the scanning of large files in Check Point Harmony Browse, the process typically involves sending the file to Check Point cloud for scanning and returning the clean file to the user, which is inherently complex and I do not see how it could be optimized to be faster.

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Emilio Montoya

CTO at PROA

Ensures internet navigation safety and boosts productivity

The features of Cisco Umbrella I prefer most are DNS protection and traffic redirect. With Cisco Talos's threat intelligence, we reduce the impact of malware traffic in our network, and we currently see the behavior of equipment and choose the correct sites. Cisco Talos has helped us reduce the impact of malware traffic. We can see the behavior and choose the correct sites. We're currently testing secure access with Umbrella in order to secure access to core applications. It's a product that the user doesn't even know is there, even though it is protecting them. It's not hard on the equipment. And, for us, it centralizes everything, which improves productivity. With the Experience Insights feature of Cisco Secure Access, we've seen impacts on the management of user connectivity by allowing us to deliver safe connectivity. We are testing the Secure Access product with Cisco Umbrella to improve our connectivity with our users in order to secure access to the corporate applications. Cisco Umbrella is in the cloud, which is nice.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"iboss is among the few products providing inline filtering where no application is needed on the device."

"I would rate the technical support of iboss a solid 10 without a shadow of a doubt."

"We chose iboss for both zero trust and proxy (SWG) because their SWG was superior."

"Iboss is a solution that prevents advanced persistent threats, and has a zero tolerance for attacks."

"Technical support is pretty sharp and very responsive."

"Our primary use case for this product is DLP,"

"It was a very easy product to install. It can be deployed very fast."

"From a use-case scenario, what I like the most is the plug-in. I like the fact that we can do the filtering of these devices offsite independent of the network they are connected to, and we do not have to have traffic coming back inside our network."

More iboss pros

"It analyzes and verifies in detail how secure or insecure a file, document, or object is that is being downloaded."

"It provides end-to-end encryption for the communication between the user's device and the remote browser, which helps to protect against eavesdropping and other forms of man-in-the-middle attacks."

"The downloaded protection as it scans and emulates the files on a browser level is great."

"Check Point Harmony Browse helps with securing managed and unmanaged devices by functioning as a lightweight browser that validates the user on the basis of device posture when first authenticated, allowing access to secure internet applications or internal applications regardless of whether the device is corporate or a personal BYOD device."

"It completely restricts and blocks phishing attacks and any threat entry into the system and keeps the work pace fast and secure without showing any signs of lag or latency."

"This solution has improved my organization by providing enhanced web security."

"This tool installs a very small agent in browsers. It does not cause performance problems on the host computer, which makes it less annoying for users."

"It gives our customers a sense of security they might not have found anywhere else."

More Check Point Harmony Browse pros

"Using this solution has meant that we've needed to make fewer firewall changes."

"The feature that we find most valuable is to be able to filter out those web requests that you don't want."

"With the Experience Insights feature of Cisco Secure Access, we've seen impacts on the management of user connectivity by allowing us to deliver safe connectivity."

"My overall rating for Cisco Umbrella is ten out of ten."

"It analyzes the domain security helps us implement the securest policy."

"I was able to implement it myself. It was really easy to install. You could install it on a server locally if you want to. If you have the biggest site, you would do that, but for my site, it was just directing all the traffic out through the Cisco Umbrella DNS. It was really handy. When the owners of the company went overseas, I knew that they would be secure because even if they were not on the company network, they would still go through the Cisco Umbrella servers. It was a complete solution for protecting the company with outgoing data."

"The most valuable feature is that it secures our network against blacklisted or malicious websites."

"The DNS data exfiltration and the blocking of DNS tunneling are the most effective features for threat prevention in our company."

More Cisco Umbrella pros

Cons

"Fold that in with the risk intelligence they're getting from all of the different subscriptions they are a part of. Now, these security companies subscribe to things like emerging threats, databases, etc. You can fold all this intelligence to decide what's happening on an endpoint. I would love to see them start moving into that space. That would compete directly with Microsoft. Maybe that's why they haven't. Having that ability native within the solution would be great. The other area in which I would love to see improvement is more detailed descriptions of why they block websites."

"Its pricing could be better."

"One thing I would like to see differently with their Zero Trust platform is that some of the AI aspects related to high-risk activities have more false positives."

"Our iboss subscription access should be more secure with an OTP or VPN etc. It is easy to gain access if, for example, hackers obtain my username and password."

"Sometimes when you call in support, you get someone who is just following a sheet. It feels like a runaround. You feel that you are running into that support wall."

"For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company ExxonMobil."

"Sometimes the agent stops working in iboss, and we have to reinstall the agent."

"The dashboards for local use could be better."

More iboss cons

"There is always scope for improvement for Check Point Harmony Browse, particularly in the user interface and adding the IOC checklist or feature modifications."

"The initial policy setup can feel a bit complex, particularly when trying to customize controls for different user groups."

"The pricing for Check Point Harmony Browse can be a bit pricey sometimes, depending on the project."

"Check Point Harmony Browse can be improved by reducing false positive reports."

"One suggestion for improvement is if the Check Point Browse team can add more plugins to support more third-party browsers such as Opera and Safari."

"security solution for users Devices and Access" What is our primary use case? The application is good as its lightweight and its functions are really similar to a browser extension. It offers real-time protection for internet users by addressing active concerns. Moreover, it incorporates a reputation feature to ensure swift access to websites within a second. The effectiveness of Harmony Browse’s capabilities is really an advantage. What is most valuable? The installation process is simple. Once initiated, the process is quite straightforward and seamless, making it easy to complete. What needs improvement? Regarding the Harmony Browse, I call it "Kuna" which is accurate. The quantum product serves as my primary focus due to its project cost, and I aim to introduce support in this area. This is because firewall implementation holds significant importance for organizations. I want to improve more on the quantum losses. There's a concept I'd like to include in Harmony Browse, known as automatic catching. This mechanism comes into play when an individual closes their browser while possessing sensitive information, like monetary data. To counteract potential risks, we employ a browser cache-clearing process to minimize the cache's accumulation. This action ensures that malicious entities can't exploit the cached data for attacks. To enhance this further, there's potential for the implementation of a self-cleaning technology. For instance, when a user exits the browser, an automatic action could be initiated to clear the browser cache, serving as an additional layer of security. This can be helpful if added."

"The URL filtering database should be improved."

"More focus and emphasis is required on customization and real-time notification and alert system."

More Check Point Harmony Browse cons

"There are some situations where we would like to block things for specific user groups. I know that Umbrella does that, but it's not that easy.... when you want a specific task for specific rules and policies for user groups, you have to go three levels down in the menu, and it's hard to find where you do that task."

"I would like for them to continue building on IPS and IDS functionalities."

"In my experience with Umbrella support, sometimes the response times take a bit more time than we would like... sometimes, if you go through email, it can take quite a while to get a response."

"It would be useful if they had a malware protection engine running inside their own VM."

"Cisco Umbrella should introduce an on-premises device."

"Support for multiple domains is important to us."

"The pricing could be improved."

"The integration with Cisco could be better."

More Cisco Umbrella cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"The product has a reasonable pricing."

"The price is not very expensive for our organisation, but for others, it might be a little expensive."

"The pricing is pretty fair. It's good."

"Cisco has a set price for a single license up to 100, but whenever we get over 100, we have to ask for a quote."

"Licensing with Cisco can be a little complex, but I think it's comparable with that of other similar products. It's always hard to put a price on security, but the price is fair for the value it provides."

"The licensing fee is paid on a yearly basis."

"Cisco is expensive. For example, we are looking at Nexus Dashboard, and it's costing about 250,000 euros. I ask, "What do I get from it?" I'm still not convinced that we have to spend on it, so pricing is a problem."

"In the region I'm from, that of EMAR, Europe, the Middle East, Eastern Asia and Africa, our organizations do not have many liquid cash assets, so the price could be better."

"Pricing depends on the automation requirements of the organization."

"There is a one-time cost of approximately $800 USD per user, and then a yearly support fee of about $50 per user."

More Cisco Umbrella pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Computer Software Company

19%

Security Firm

15%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	5

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	18
Midsize Enterprise	17
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	49
Midsize Enterprise	30
Large Enterprise	51

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company Exxon...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for iboss?

Previously when I used iboss, we did the POC for iboss for ExxonMobil. Four or five people wanted to move from our ol...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern. There are cheaper alte...

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What needs improvement with Check Point Harmony Browse?

The browsing speed of Check Point Harmony Browse can be improved. The user interface and compatibility are good, but ...

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What is your primary use case for Check Point Harmony Browse?

Check Point Harmony Browse serves as our primary browser. Since browsers are the first point of contact for any issue...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Check Point Harmony Browse?

The pricing and setup cost of Check Point Harmony Browse are affordable for my organization.

See all answers

Which is the better security solution - Cisco Umbrella or Zscaler?

Cisco Umbrella and Zscaler Internet Access are two broad-spectrum Internet security solutions that I have tried. Zs...

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Which is the better security solution - Cisco Umbrella or Microsoft Cloud App Security?

Cisco Umbrella is an integral component of the Cisco SASE architecture. It integrates security in a single, cloud-nat...

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What do you like most about Cisco Umbrella?

Cisco Umbrella is easy to monitor, manage, and deploy.

See all answers

Comparisons

Netskope vs iboss

Compared 13% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs iboss

Compared 10% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs iboss

Compared 9% of the time

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

More iboss Competitors

Zscaler Internet Access vs Check Point Harmony Browse

Compared 35% of the time

Prisma Access Browser vs Check Point Harmony Browse

Compared 24% of the time

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs Check Point Harmony Browse

Compared 14% of the time

More Check Point Harmony Browse Competitors

Zscaler Internet Access vs Cisco Umbrella

Compared 18% of the time

Cisco Secure Access vs Cisco Umbrella

Compared 9% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Cisco Umbrella

Compared 5% of the time

Palo Alto Networks DNS Security vs Cisco Umbrella

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco Umbrella Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

January 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Check Point Harmony Browse

January 2026

Download Check Point Harmony Browse product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Umbrella

January 2026

Download Cisco Umbrella product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

No data available

OpenDNS

Overview

Iboss offers a comprehensive cloud-based security platform valued for its scalability and autonomous features, ensuring robust security with easy deployment and management capabilities.

Renowned for its robust security architecture, Iboss integrates seamlessly within diverse networks, delivering efficient granular filtering and advanced content categorization. Its single pane of glass console provides ease of management, allowing rapid scalability suitable for rapidly deploying environments. Operates in BYOD setups due to inline filtering without device installation. Integration with cloud-based applications enhances user control, and features like SASE, SSL inspection, and ChatGPT risk protection stand as highlights. Despite its strengths, users have pointed out areas for enhancement like direct navigation in reports, SSL decryption, and better cloud integration while having room to improve data loss prevention.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

Scalability: Supports rapid deployment across diverse networks.
SASE: A consolidated approach to secure access.
SSL Inspection: Ensures safe data transmission.
Granular Filtering: Detailed control over accessible content.
Single Pane Management: Unifies control through a centralized console.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing with robust features.
Autonomous Operation: Reduces management overhead.
Responsive Support: Provides assistance when needed.
Flexible Deployment: Available for both cloud and on-premises environments.

The usage of Iboss spans educational institutions, specifically K-12, to enforce internet policies, protect data, and support remote work environments. It provides web filtering and security frameworks to ensure safe browsing. Its platform-as-a-service model offers flexibility for both cloud-based and on-premises requirements, integrating seamlessly to deliver enhanced security features suitable for various deployment needs including zero trust, CASB, and network security for work-from-home setups.

iboss

Check Point Harmony Browse is a secure web browsing solution that provides users with a safe and seamless browsing experience. It is designed to protect users from web-based threats such as malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks. Harmony Browse uses advanced threat prevention technologies to detect and block malicious websites and downloads in real-time. It also provides users with a secure connection to the internet, ensuring that their online activities are not intercepted or monitored by cybercriminals.

Harmony Browse is easy to deploy and manage, with a simple and intuitive user interface that allows administrators to set policies and monitor user activity. With Harmony Browse, organizations can ensure that their employees are protected from web-based threats, while also maintaining productivity and compliance.

Check Point Harmony Browse Benefits:

Provides secure web browsing
Protects against malware and phishing attacks
Offers granular control over user access and policies
Easy to use
Integrates with other Check Point security products

Check Point Harmony Browse Features:

Web Threat Prevention: Harmony Browse includes real-time web threat prevention capabilities to protect against various web-based attacks, such as malware, ransomware, phishing, and drive-by downloads.
URL Filtering: The solution provides URL filtering capabilities to enforce policies for web access control.
Anti-Bot Protection: Harmony Browse helps prevent bot-driven attacks and botnet infections by identifying and blocking communication between infected endpoints and command-and-control (C&C) servers.
Advanced Threat Intelligence: The solution integrates with Check Point's threat intelligence services, which provide real-time updates about emerging threats and malicious URLs.
Secure Web Gateway: Harmony Browse can function as a secure web gateway, offering secure access to web resources for organizations.
User and Policy Management: The solution enables organizations to define and enforce web usage policies based on user roles, groups, or specific criteria.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Check Point Harmony Browse users.

Shrinkhala Jain, Project Consultant at a consultancy, states that "The software is easy to install and deploy across any business environment and it is becoming a game changer for us."

Anuj Kumar, Senior Manager at IRMA Anand, writes that "It completely restricts and blocks phishing attacks and any threat entry into the system and keeps the work pace fast and secure without showing any signs of lag or latency."

Javier Aguado Benito, Coordinador at OESIA, says that"This solution has multiple protections that are generally very simple to configure and work quickly with little intrusiveness for the user."

Check Point Software Technologies

Cisco Umbrella provides fast-deploying DNS-layer security with powerful threat protection capabilities. Trusted by over 30,000 entities, it ranks highly in DNS security and effectively supports secure remote work environments.

Cisco Umbrella offers comprehensive DNS security, web filtering, and ease of use, enhancing network security through robust threat protection and malware prevention. It processes over 600 billion requests daily, making it a leader in its field. The seamless integration with existing infrastructures and cloud-based nature makes it suitable for remote and distributed work environments, ensuring consistent security throughout. Management is streamlined with a single-pane interface that simplifies administration, while in-depth reporting capabilities provide valuable insights for continuous monitoring.

What are the key features of Cisco Umbrella?

DNS Security: Provides leading protection by managing DNS queries and blocking malicious sites.
Web Filtering: Offers granular control over web content to safeguard internet usage.
Ease of Integration: Fits well into existing infrastructures, simplifying deployment and use.
Intuitive Management: Single-pane management streamlines administration and enhances usability.
Cloud-Based Flexibility: Supports secure remote work environments.

What benefits can users expect from using Cisco Umbrella?

Superior Threat Protection: Reduces risk by effectively detecting and preventing cyber threats.
Consistent Security: Provides uniform protection across network environments.
Efficiency and Visibility: Leverages comprehensive reporting for better security insights.
Easy Deployment: Quick and straightforward setup with minimal disruption.

Cisco Umbrella is widely adopted in industries requiring advanced DNS-level security to counteract malware, phishing, and cyber threats. Its ability to monitor and protect remote and roaming employees makes it an attractive option for sectors highly dependent on cloud services. By managing DNS queries and blocking harmful sites, Cisco Umbrella enhances cybersecurity across networks, providing an added layer of protection for businesses worldwide.

Cisco

Sample Customers

More than 4,000 global enterprises trust the iboss Cloud Platform to support their modern workforces, including a large number of Fortune 50 companies.

Information Not Available

Chart Industries, City of Aspen, Eastern Mountain Sports, FLEXcon, George Washington University, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Ohio Public Library Information Network, PTC, Richland Community College, Smart Motors, Tulane University, VeriClaim

Buyer's Guide

Check Point Harmony Browse vs. Cisco Umbrella

December 2025

Free Report: Check Point Harmony Browse vs. Cisco Umbrella

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