Head-to-head · User Threat Prevention Software
Cisco Umbrella vs Abnormal Security
Cisco Umbrella leads on 0 checks, Abnormal Security on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCisco Umbrella · 9.2/10
- Free trialonly Cisco Umbrella
- Most featuresAbnormal Security · 3 of 5
Cisco Umbrella scores higher on our rubric for user threat prevention software: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.
Cisco Umbrella is the better fit for organizations wanting established DNS-layer protection. Abnormal Security is the better fit for mid-market and enterprise email threat teams.
- Cisco Umbrella fits best
Organizations wanting established DNS-layer protection
- Abnormal Security fits best
Mid-market and enterprise email threat teams
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Side by side
| Feature | Cisco Umbrella 9.2/10 Visit ↗ | Abnormal Security 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #1 in User Threat Prevention Software | #4 in User Threat Prevention Software |
| Best for | Organizations wanting established DNS-layer protection | Mid-market and enterprise email threat teams |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Pricing on request · 14-day trial | Pricing on request |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web |
| Support | Tickets, Phone, Docs | Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs |
| Integrations | 6 integrations | 14 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Cisco Umbrella 0/5 · Abnormal Security 3/5 | ||
| Phishing simulations | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Browser isolation | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Attachment sandboxing | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| User report button | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Automated remediation | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Protected channels | Not checked yet | Multi_surface |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Cisco Umbrella filters DNS requests and web traffic to block threats and unwanted content before users connect. It is aimed at businesses, schools, government organizations, and distributed workforces that need protection across networks… Read the review → |
Email threats rarely stay confined to an inbox. Abnormal Security is a cloud-based behavioral security platform for organizations seeking protection against phishing, business email compromise, vendor fraud, and account takeover across… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Cisco Umbrella — where it wins
- Blocks malicious and unwanted domains at the DNS layer
- Applies scheduled policies by network, device, user, or identity
- Protects roaming endpoints and offers activity reports and APIs
Where it doesn't
- Pricing requires contacting Cisco sales
- Cisco is transitioning Umbrella to Cisco Secure Access
- No free plan; the free trial lasts 14 days
Abnormal Security — where it wins
- Detects phishing, BEC, and account takeover using email and identity signals
- Automates malicious-email remediation and reported-message triage
- Extends messaging security to Slack, Teams, and Zoom
Where it doesn't
- No free plan; pricing is quote-based
- Cloud deployment only
- Focused on organizational email, identity, and collaboration security
- Cisco Umbrella9.2/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial
DNS-layer protection with policy controls for networks, users, devices, and roaming endpoints.
Visit CiscoFull verdict → - Abnormal Security8.6/10 · Pricing on request
Behavioral threat detection and automated response for email and identity teams.
Visit siteFull verdict →
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- Abnormal Security vs Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection
- Abnormal Security vs Microsoft Defender for Business
All user threat prevention software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update







