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Most buyers should pick OpenStack.
Choose OpenStack if you need open-source control of compute, storage and networking, and can operate cloud infrastructure. Choose Cisco Umbrella if your priority is DNS-layer security or secure internet access, but treat the fit cautiously: Cisco’s the vendor's homepage does not name Umbrella, and plan prices are not published. OpenStack’s core software is free to download; Cisco lists a 14-day trial. Neither source gives comparable deployment or seat costs, so budget certainty is limited.
01Side by side
| Cisco Umbrella | OpenStack | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Not published | Free core; hosting cost not published |
| Free plan | No free plan; 14-day trial | Free core software to download and self-host |
| Best for | DNS-layer security and secure internet access | Managing cloud compute, storage, and networking |
| Core strength | Distributed security; Umbrella-specific evidence is limited | Open-source control across compute, storage, networking |
| Learning curve | Review ease score: 5/10 | Review ease score: 3.5/10 |
| Integrations/data | Product-specific integrations and data handling not published | Infrastructure APIs and dashboard |
| Team/seat costs | Education licensed by faculty/staff; students included; other prices unpublished | Per-seat pricing and self-hosting costs not published |
| Support | Not specified on the vendor's site | Not specified on the vendor's site |
Cisco Umbrella Choose Cisco Umbrella if
- Choose Cisco Umbrella if DNS-layer security is your priority.
- Choose Cisco Umbrella if secure internet access is the requirement.
- Choose Cisco Umbrella if a 14-day trial helps assess fit.
OpenStack Choose OpenStack if
- Choose OpenStack if you need control of cloud infrastructure.
- Choose OpenStack if free-to-download core software matters.
- Choose OpenStack if you can manage compute, storage, and networking.
02Pricing compared
Cisco Umbrella’s published pricing information lists DNS Security Essentials, DNS Security Advantage, SIG Essentials, SIG Advantage, DNS Security for Education, and Cisco Umbrella for Government. It does not publish prices for any of them. The listed DNS and SIG plans include a 14-day free trial; SIG Essentials includes 500 file-inspection sandbox samples per day, while SIG Advantage lists unlimited samples. The source does not give prices for education or government plans.
OpenStack’s core software is free to download and self-host. That is not a published price for operating a deployment: the published information gives no monthly or annual costs for hosting or running it. Neither source provides comparable seat or deployment costs, so this is not a like-for-like price comparison. Cisco’s trial is not a free plan.
03Features and depth
These products solve different problems. Cisco’s the vendor's homepage does not name Umbrella; it describes broader networking and security offerings, including zero-trust segmentation, application protection, distributed enforcement, unified management, and security embedded across the network. The published Umbrella plan information is more specific: it lists DNS-layer security and secure internet access plans. SIG Essentials includes 500 file-inspection sandbox samples per day; SIG Advantage lists unlimited samples. Those details do not establish that every homepage capability is part of Umbrella.
OpenStack is infrastructure software for managing compute, storage, and networking resources through APIs or a dashboard. Additional components can provide orchestration beyond standard infrastructure-as-a-service functionality. The published description says it can run on-premises, in public clouds, or at the edge.
The practical dividing line is security versus infrastructure control: Umbrella’s listed plans target DNS security and internet access, while OpenStack manages cloud resources. They are not direct substitutes.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published information does not include setup guides or enough product-specific documentation to compare onboarding directly. Cisco’s review rates ease of use 5/10 and notes that thin Umbrella-specific documentation makes evaluation harder. The listed 14-day trial gives teams a limited window to assess the plans, but the sources do not explain setup requirements.
OpenStack offers APIs and a dashboard, but it is software for managing cloud infrastructure that you download and self-host. The published review warns against treating it as a low-maintenance shortcut and says it suits teams able to operate cloud infrastructure. If you want DNS security or secure internet access, OpenStack is not a like-for-like alternative; if you need infrastructure control, expect an operational responsibility the sources do not quantify.
Questions people ask
What does Cisco Umbrella cost?
The published pricing information lists DNS Security and SIG plans, but does not publish monthly or annual prices. It lists a 14-day free trial for the DNS and SIG plans. The source does not establish seat costs or total deployment costs, so request a quote before budgeting.
Is Cisco Umbrella being discontinued?
The published sources do not say whether Cisco Umbrella is being discontinued. The pricing information lists Umbrella plan names, but that alone does not confirm current availability or future support. Check Cisco’s current product and support notices for an authoritative status.
Is Cisco Umbrella a DNS?
The published plan information describes DNS Security Essentials and DNS Security Advantage as plans for DNS-layer security. That supports describing Umbrella as offering DNS-layer security; it does not establish that Umbrella is a DNS service or provide technical details about how its DNS features work.
What is the difference between Cisco Umbrella and Cisco Secure Access?
The published sources do not describe Cisco Secure Access, so they are not enough to establish a feature-by-feature difference. They list Umbrella plans for DNS-layer security and secure internet access. Compare Cisco’s current product documentation and plan details before treating the products as interchangeable.