Cisco Umbrella vs Untangle NG Firewall
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Cisco Umbrella provides a cloud‑based first line of defense that secures internet access for users wherever they go. By leveraging DNS, secure web gateway, and cloud‑delivered firewall capabilities, it blocks malicious domains, IPs, and files before they can compromise devices. The service integrates with existing network infrastructure and offers real‑time visibility, policy enforcement, and detailed reporting, helping organizations reduce risk and simplify security operations across distributed workforces.
Untangle NG Firewall is a modular next-generation firewall platform that consolidates network security functions like content filtering, intrusion prevention, ransomware protection, and VPN into a single console instead of requiring multiple separate vendor products. Following its acquisition, the product now operates under Arista Networks as part of the Edge Threat Management (ETM) platform, with NG Firewall remaining the core product and a cloud-based ETM Dashboard, including a mobile app, for centralized management. The platform is aimed at organizations that need enterprise-style network security without a large in-house security team, and it is used across education (K-12 and higher ed), government, healthcare, financial services, nonprofits, and hospitality. Special pricing is available for qualifying public institutions, nonprofits, and government organizations, and a free trial and online purchase configurator are offered directly on the site.
- Broad DNS and web‑gateway coverage
- Fast, cloud‑native deployment
- Rich threat intelligence feed
- Scalable for large enterprises
- Modular design lets organizations pay only for needed security functions
- Discounted pricing available for education, nonprofit, and government buyers
- Cloud dashboard with mobile app simplifies remote management
- Backed by Arista's networking infrastructure following acquisition
- Limited on‑premise customization
- Higher cost for advanced tiers
- Complex policy UI for beginners
- Public list pricing is not shown; requires going through a configurator or sales
- Brand transition (Untangle to Arista Edge Threat Management) can cause naming confusion
- Best suited to organizations comfortable managing their own modular security stack
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Cisco Umbrella
View all →
Alternatives to Untangle NG Firewall
View all →
Open-source, FreeBSD-based firewall and routing platform with a free core and paid Business Edition.
Next-generation firewall with synchronized security and AI-powered threat detection for SMBs and enterprises.
Next-generation firewall appliances with real-time deep packet inspection for businesses of all sizes.
Unified security gateway with threat prevention and zero‑trust controls
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataCisco Umbrella offers a fully cloud‑native, enterprise‑grade DNS and secure web gateway with rich threat intel, while Untangle NG Firewall is a self‑hosted, modular UTM suited for SMBs and organizations that prefer on‑prem control and pay‑per‑function pricing.
Key differences
- •Deployment model: Umbrella is cloud/SaaS only; Untangle is self‑hosted on‑prem.
- •Pricing transparency: Umbrella has subscription pricing; Untangle requires contact/configurator and offers modular pricing.
- •Feature scope: Umbrella focuses on DNS filtering, cloud firewall, and secure web gateway; Untangle bundles firewall, IPS, VPN, content filtering, etc.
- •Integrations: Umbrella integrates with Cisco SecureX, Azure AD, Okta, Splunk, ServiceNow; Untangle lists no API or integrations.
- •Target audience: Umbrella targets large enterprises; Untangle targets SMBs, schools, public sector.
Pricing & value
Untangle offers modular pricing and discounts for education/nonprofit, whereas Umbrella’s subscription cost is higher and not disclosed.
Ease of use / learning curve
Untangle’s cloud dashboard and mobile app simplify remote management; Umbrella’s policy UI is described as complex for beginners.
Features & depth
Umbrella provides DNS layer blocking, cloud firewall, secure web gateway, and Cisco Talos threat intel; Untangle’s features are broader but modular.
Integrations & ecosystem
Umbrella lists multiple integrations (SecureX, Azure AD, Okta, Splunk, ServiceNow) and an API; Untangle has no API and no integrations listed.
Scalability
Umbrella is described as scalable for large enterprises and cloud‑native; Untangle is positioned for SMBs.
Support
Umbrella offers 24/7 support via email, chat, phone; Untangle’s support options are not specified.
Security & privacy
Umbrella leverages Cisco Talos threat intelligence and cloud firewall; Untangle’s security depth is modular but less detailed in the facts.
Choose Cisco Umbrella if…
Enterprises needing cloud‑native DNS/web‑gateway protection with extensive integrations.
Choose Untangle NG Firewall if…
SMBs or schools preferring on‑prem control, modular pricing, and simpler remote management.
Common questions
Which solution has clearer pricing?
Untangle requires contacting sales or using a configurator and offers modular discounts; Umbrella’s subscription pricing is higher and not publicly listed.
Can I integrate the product with existing identity providers?
Umbrella integrates with Microsoft Azure AD and Okta; Untangle lists no integrations or API support.
Is the product suitable for a large, distributed enterprise?
Umbrella is marketed for enterprises and distributed teams with cloud scalability; Untangle is aimed at SMBs and public‑sector organizations.