Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs Cisco Umbrella comparison

iboss Zero Trust Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Overview: iboss is a leading cloud security provider offering a comprehensive Zero Trust Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform designed to protect organizations from breaches and data loss. Delivered through a single policy and reporting console, iboss provides unparalleled network visibility and an enhanced end-user experience. Our patented containerized cloud architecture ensures that users, devices, and applications are securely connected to the internet and private applications from any location, on any device, without compromising performance or security.

Key Differentiators:

• True Zero Trust Architecture: Unlike traditional security models that rely on perimeter defenses, iboss reduces the attack surface to zero by making applications, data, and services completely invisible to attackers. Access is granted strictly to trusted users based on continuous, adaptive access decisions, ensuring protection even when user sessions are compromised.
• Unified SASE Platform: iboss combines Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Proxy, Browser Isolation, ZT SD-WAN, DLP and advanced threat defense into a single, unified cloud-native service. This consolidation simplifies security management, reduces costs, and improves operational efficiency.
• Performance at Scale: With a global network of data centers and a cloud-native architecture, iboss delivers ultra-fast, reliable connectivity with low latency, making it ideal for remote workforces and cloud-based applications.
• Seamless Integration: The iboss platform offers unmatched flexibility, including options for hybrid and on-premises deployments. It integrates seamlessly with existing workflows and identity providers like Microsoft Azure Active Directory, enabling a smooth and efficient adoption of Zero Trust principles across the enterprise. This flexibility ensures that organizations can strengthen their security posture without disrupting productivity or requiring significant changes to their current infrastructure.

Use Cases:

• Remote Workforce Security: Provides secure, direct access to cloud and on-premises applications for remote workers without the need for VPNs, enhancing security and user experience.
• Branch Office Connectivity: The iboss Zero Trust SD-WAN solution optimizes network performance, reduces latency, and simplifies management by combining networking and security functions into a single solution.
• Data Protection: Advanced data loss prevention (DLP) and CASB capabilities ensure that sensitive data remains secure across all applications and devices, whether users are on-site or remote.

Why Choose iboss? iboss stands out in the market with its mature, award-winning SASE platform that offers unmatched scalability, flexibility, and security. Whether you’re a mid-sized enterprise or a large organization in a highly regulated industry, iboss provides the tools you need to implement a Zero Trust strategy and protect your digital assets effectively.

For organizations looking to future-proof their security strategy, iboss offers a proven, cloud-first solution that not only addresses today’s challenges but also scales to meet the demands of tomorrow’s distributed and dynamic work environments.

Perimeter 81 is a cloud-based network security and software-defined perimeter (SDP) solution designed to provide secure access to resources in the cloud, data centers, and on-premises environments. It offers a unified platform for organizations to manage and secure their network infrastructure, regardless of the location or type of resources.  

Perimeter 81 Benefits:

• Easy to use
• Flexible access policies
• Strong encryption and authentication protocols
• Scalable
• Compatible with various devices and platforms

Perimeter 81 Features:

• Secure Network Access: Perimeter 81 provides secure access to internal resources and cloud-based applications through its client applications and gateways.
• Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP): SDP is a security framework that focuses on dynamically creating secure connections between users and resources on a need-to-know basis. 
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Perimeter 81 follows the Zero Trust security model, which assumes that no user or device can be inherently trusted. 
• Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Support: Perimeter 81 is designed to secure access to resources across multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments.
• User and Device Management: The solution offers centralized user and device management capabilities, allowing administrators to define access policies, manage user roles, and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for enhanced security. 
• Network Segmentation: Perimeter 81 enables organizations to segment their network resources, creating isolated environments based on logical groupings. 
• Centralized Management and Analytics: Perimeter 81 provides a centralized management console where administrators can configure and monitor their network security settings.

Reviews from Real Users

PeerSpot user, Frontend Developer at Limelight Networks, states that "We use some VPN solutions, and Perimeter 81 has the best user experience for desktop or mobile".

Daniel Goldfeld, Vice President of Customer Success at Mine - The All-in-One Privacy Suite, says that Perimeter 81 has "Great SAML and SCIM support with the ability to deploy site-2-site tunnels with specific IP restrictions".

Another PeerSpot user, Accounts Payable Specialist at Simera, writes that "The feature that I have found to be most valuable is the reputation that the company has regarding privacy. Nowadays, this is critical, especially when you do all of your work online."

Cisco Umbrella offers flexible, cloud-delivered security according to users’ requirements Cisco Umbrella includes secure web gateway, firewall, and cloud access security broker (CASB) functionality all delivered from a single cloud security service. Cisco Umbrella’s protection is extended to devices, remote users, and distributed locations anywhere. As company employees work from many locations and devices, Cisco Umbrella is the easiest way to effectively protect users everywhere in minutes.

Cisco Umbrella uses machine learning to search for, identify, and even predict malicious domains. By learning from internet activity patterns, this DNS-layer security solution can automatically identify attacker infrastructure being staged for the next threat. These domains are then proactively blocked, protecting networks from potential compromise. Cisco Umbrella analyzes terabytes of data in real time across all markets, geographies, and protocols.

Cisco Umbrella works with leading IT companies to integrate its security enforcement and intelligence. Built with a bidirectional API, Cisco Umbrella makes it easy to extend protection from on-premises security appliances to cloud controlled devices and sites.

Cisco Umbrella is suitable for small businesses without dedicated security professionals, as well as for multinational enterprises with complex environments.

Why use Cisco Umbrella?

• Simplify security management: Cisco Umbrella is the fastest and easiest way to protect all users within minutes and reduces the number of infections and alerts sent from other security products by stopping threats at the earliest point. With no hardware to install and no software to manually update, ongoing management is simple
  
  
• Reliable reporting: Cisco Umbrella reports show activity for each device or network in the system. Users gain a more complete picture of the security risks facing their organization and can take action to remedy them.
  
  
• Manage and control cloud apps: Umbrella provides visibility into sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud services in use across the enterprise. Users can uncover new services being used, see who is using them, identify potential risk, and block specific applications easily.

Reviews from Real Users

Cisco Umbrella stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Some of the major ones are its DNS-based protection, ability to protect users no matter where they are located, stability, and high performance.

Daniel B., a network specialist at Syswind Kft, writes, “We primarily use the solution as cloud security for our branches. It protects us from direct internet outbreaks. It makes for good flexibility. The solution is very easy to manage. We found the initial setup, for example, to be quite simple. Efficient protection on the DNS level and even higher. The sandboxing feature analyses and handles the complicated security risks.”

Victor M., SOC & Security Services Director at BEST, notes, “It provides security for the remote workers and it helps to improve enterprise security in a very easy way. We mainly enjoy web software protection capabilities. It prevents the end-users from getting into bad sites or sites that potentially could have malware or could be phishing. It helps end-users avoid the wrong sites. The solution works very smoothly. The user interface is good.”

OpenDNS is a part of Cisco providing a suite of consumer products aimed at making the internet faster, safer, and more reliable.