Cisco Umbrella vs Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway comparison

Cisco and Kaspersky are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Cisco is ranked #1 with an average rating of 9.2, while Kaspersky is ranked #23 with an average rating of 8.3. Cisco holds a 15.1% mindshare in WSG, compared to Kaspersky’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Kaspersky users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 28, 2025

Cisco Umbrella and Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway are key players in network security solutions. Cisco Umbrella appears to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive DNS layer security and flexible deployment for various network sizes.

Features: Cisco Umbrella offers DNS-based security, web filtering, and malware protection, making it suitable for small to medium-sized networks. It is beneficial for organizations lacking high-end security appliances. Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway provides robust antivirus protection and advanced spyware defense, making it ideal for scenarios prioritizing malware defense. While Kaspersky excels in malware protection, Cisco's broader network protection features give it an edge.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Umbrella could enhance reporting capabilities, DLP integration, and real-time malware checks. There's a noted need for better integration with external threat feeds. Kaspersky requires improvements in customer support and pricing structure, along with enhanced mobile security notifications. Cisco would benefit from improved on-premise solution integration, while Kaspersky should offer more cost-effective pricing and better deployment guidance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Umbrella supports flexible deployment across public, private, and hybrid clouds and is praised for responsive customer service. Kaspersky, while strong in on-premises security, lacks Cisco's cloud integration and requires more user-friendly support and purchasing processes. Cisco's customer support is considered more efficient, often providing quicker resolutions.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Umbrella uses a flexible subscription model that, although perceived as expensive, is justified by its robust security and reduced operational issues. Kaspersky, viewed as expensive, risks deterring potential customers. Despite Cisco's high cost, it offers a solid return on investment through enhanced threat protection and reduced infrastructure expenses.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Umbrella vs. Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Umbrella vs. Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway

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 Cisco Umbrella is 15.1%, down from 19.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway is 0.4%, up from 0.4% 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%
Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway	0.4%
Other	82.1%

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.

Read full review

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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reviewer2736225

Program Manager at a hospitality company with 51-200 employees

Effective threat protection with room for cost and usability improvements

There are some drawbacks that I would mention. To be frank, enterprises always look for cost benefits, so Kaspersky could implement some price benefits. Additionally, regarding know-how, if I am an experienced person it's fine, but when someone novice is working with it, they need information about why certain actions are required. Security is a field that is very vast, and implications are not known to everyone. In future updates, a quick walk-through and know-how features would be beneficial, such as information text at relevant places. This will increase usability. Feature-wise, an impact analysis would be a really good addition.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The security aspect of the solution, particularly the malware behind it, is excellent. That's something that really helped us out. It's not just a simple proxy that just blocks the insights of potential threats that come on behind it. They do malware detection and that helps us a lot."

"I would definitely recommend iboss for web filtering purposes to other organizations or individuals."

"Technical support is pretty sharp and very responsive."

"Because of iboss, I did not have to assign web filtering tasks to my techs on a daily basis."

"Its initial setup was straightforward."

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

"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."

More iboss pros

"The feature I appreciate most about Cisco Umbrella is the dashboard and how easy it is to see the reporting, what is blocked and allowed, and it makes it very user-friendly."

"One of the most important features is the security posture check which Umbrella offers when a user accesses any website. That is one of the most unique features that it offers."

"The biggest return on investment when using Cisco Umbrella for me is the ease of use of the fact that we've deployed this with our Cisco VPN Secure Client, so every computer has the Umbrella module in it."

"I have found the malware protection feature valuable. It is helpful and deliverable and is able to protect my entire organization from getting compromised. It also prevents us from visiting any malicious sites which are not visible to the users."

"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...Cisco's support is better nowadays."

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

"It has certainly saved us time. If we go and look at what's rejected on the requests from the hospital itself, it has saved about 5% or 6% time."

"For us and for customers, it's the ease of integration with Meraki. It's just a couple of clicks. That allows us to deploy very fast, and it doesn't change the way a customer uses his service. It's just more secure."

More Cisco Umbrella pros

"Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway has positively impacted our organization by helping us control unwanted attacks and limiting our exposure to risks."

"The password thing is very good, and the overall URL protection."

"I would recommend it to others as it's easy to use."

"The most valuable feature of Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway is the antivirus."

"The most valuable features of the solution are the antivirus and child protection features."

"When it comes to threat detection, it is very strict with file downloads and uploads. It sends reports and quarantines suspicious files."

"The most valuable aspect for me is the user-friendly interface."

Cons

"Its pricing could be better."

"I'd like to see them accelerate development on the security side, particularly around data loss prevention."

"Sometimes, obviously, there are bugs."

"I am currently doing a PoC of the zero trust aspect of it. Compared to other similar solutions, it is hard to get around each feature. It takes a while to get used to it."

"Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern."

"If they could implement an extra security layer preventing access to iboss from the open internet, it would be great."

"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."

"SSL decryption: We had issues with learners using apps instead of using web browsers. This type of encryption is tough for any appliance in a BYOD environment."

More iboss cons

"It's somewhat pricey for us, however, it's an awesome solution."

"One of the issues with Umbrella is as you get into endpoint detection and response, such as EDR point solutions, some of them will not integrate well with Umbrella. Sometimes when you want to use technology, such as Always On VPN, it will not work. There are some looming issues as one type of technology starts to crossover with Umbrella. That is the challenge and Umbrella should find a way to be more compatible with some of the endpoint response solutions that are coming out on the market."

"A feature I would appreciate seeing enhanced in Cisco Umbrella would be the ability to add or remove agents that we have, instead of just relying on how long the devices have been connected to the platform."

"It would be better if there was a little bit of flexibility for organizations that don't have SD One in their environment. Because of the complexity of the environment, it's not easy to actually turn on the feature of the secure internet gateway for our users. We have not been able to explore that option yet."

"Network connectivity was a bit of a challenge at the beginning, but we were able to get the right help from Cisco."

"I would like to see Cisco enable us to get objects from the internet. I would also like to be able to choose groups."

"If we're trying to deploy it to a Mac through Meraki, it's impossible. The method of deployment for a Mac, and the features available in Meraki, are not compatible at all."

"Sometimes there are some lags, and I have to refresh multiple times to access parts of the dashboards. Sometimes the dashboard pages crash and I'm not sure why, so that's one area for improvement."

More Cisco Umbrella cons

"It might be helpful to have notifications on mobile devices, especially if the same browser profile is used on both mobile and laptop."

"The customer support of the product is an area with shortcomings where improvements are required."

"I believe the absence of a procedure is the main issue."

"There is room for improvement in terms of the pricing."

"When I do a configuration, I do not know what implication it will have downstream."

"In different locations, they're priced differently, but that's mainly marketing rather than the product features."

"The initial setup of Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway is complex. The full deployment took approximately two weeks."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

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

"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 expensive compared to one of its competitors."

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

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

"The pricing was marvelous."

"Cisco has a model called ELA. With ELA, if you buy the solution you will have the complete security portfolio and you can pay it yearly or after three years, it depends on the contract."

"The pricing model is easier compared to some of the other solutions, and it is also competitive."

"Cisco solutions are generally perceived to be rather expensive. We have constant internal discussions as to whether we should offer lower-priced security solutions from some of the competitors."

"The solution’s pricing is reasonable."

"You get what you pay for."

"In terms of licensing, we're not able to be extremely clear with the customer because it's based on their reporting. It's not based on the actual traffic. If they say they have 50 users but they have 80, we'll just buy for 50 users. That's something where we'd like to have more flexibility."

"Pricing and licensing of Cisco Umbrella is a bit confusing because you have to separate the DNS solution and the full-feature solution. Cisco in Portugal helped us understand which one was the right one for us."

More Cisco Umbrella pricing and cost advice

"I am okay with the pricing."

"The cost is relatively high, and as a licensed product, there are restrictions on the number of users permitted per license."

"I rate the product's price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is very cheap, and ten is very expensive."

"It is expensive."

"Personal computer licenses can be expensive if you were to scale the solution extensively. However, large companies will most likely use Endpoint solutions and not this one."

"I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten, with ten being very expensive and one being cheap. It's neither too cheap nor too expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Healthcare Company

No data available

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	49
Midsize Enterprise	30
Large Enterprise	51

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

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

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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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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.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway?

Regarding pricing, I'll be exactly on the brink, neither for it nor against it because being a small company, it's a ...

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What is your primary use case for Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway?

We work with a cloud solution. The product that we use is developed as a SaaS model. In this case, we work with AWS a...

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What advice do you have for others considering Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway?

That's a very generic feedback. I would not have much information about threat intelligence metrics through Kaspersky...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 9% of the time

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

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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

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AhnLab V3 Internet Security vs Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway

Compared 46% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway

Compared 20% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway

Compared 15% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

January 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Cisco Umbrella

January 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway

January 2026

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway report

Download Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

OpenDNS

No data available

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

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

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect businesses from a wide range of cyber threats. It provides advanced protection against malware, phishing, spam, and other types of cyber attacks, ensuring that businesses can operate safely and securely online. The solution is easy to deploy and manage, with a user-friendly interface that allows administrators to configure and monitor security policies from a central location. It also includes advanced reporting and analytics tools, enabling businesses to gain insights into their security posture and identify potential vulnerabilities. Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway uses a range of advanced technologies to provide comprehensive protection against cyber threats. These include signature-based detection, behavioral analysis, and machine learning algorithms, which work together to identify and block malicious activity in real-time. The solution also includes advanced anti-spam and anti-phishing capabilities, which help to prevent employees from falling victim to email-based attacks. It can also be configured to block access to malicious websites and prevent the download of potentially harmful files.

Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway is a powerful and effective security solution that provides businesses with the protection they need to operate safely and securely online. With its advanced features and easy-to-use interface, it is an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes looking to enhance their cyber security posture.

Kaspersky

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.

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

Tael, Insolar, Goods.ru, Republic of Serbia

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Umbrella vs. Kaspersky Security for Internet Gateway

December 2025

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