Cisco Umbrella has not been renamed. It is still sold and supported as Cisco Umbrella, but Cisco has announced that it is being retired and replaced by a separate product, Cisco Secure Access. That is why many people search for Umbrella’s “new name”: in practice, Secure Access is where Umbrella customers are being moved.
A short history of the name
| Period | Name | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 to 2015 | OpenDNS | Launched as a free recursive DNS service, later adding business security plans. |
| 2015 | OpenDNS, a Cisco company | Cisco acquired OpenDNS and folded its technology into the Cisco security portfolio. |
| 2016 onwards | Cisco Umbrella | The business service was rebranded Umbrella. Free home services kept the OpenDNS name. |
| 2023 onwards | Cisco Secure Access | Cisco launched its security service edge (SSE) platform, built on Umbrella’s cloud infrastructure. |
| September 2026 | Umbrella end of sale announced | Cisco confirmed Secure Access as the migration path for Umbrella DNS and SIG customers. |
How Umbrella products map to Secure Access
| Umbrella product | Successor |
|---|---|
| DNS Security Essentials and DNS Security Advantage | Cisco Secure Access DNS Defense |
| SIG Essentials and SIG Advantage | Cisco Secure Access internet access tiers (for example, SA-SIA-ADV-K9 replaces SIG Advantage) |
| Umbrella Roaming Client | Umbrella Roaming Security module in Cisco Secure Client |
| OpenDNS Home and FamilyShield | Still branded OpenDNS and still free |
Is Secure Access just Umbrella with a new badge?
Not quite. Secure Access includes DNS-layer security, a secure web gateway and a cloud firewall, so it covers what Umbrella SIG did. It also adds zero trust network access (ZTNA) for private applications, remote access VPN as a service, and newer controls aimed at generative AI tools. The admin console, licensing and some features differ, so treat it as a migration rather than a simple rename.
Key dates for existing customers
- 31 January 2027: end of sale for Umbrella DNS and SIG packages.
- 31 January 2028: last date to renew or add Umbrella subscriptions.
- 31 January 2029: last date of support.
Cisco provides an automated migration tool, but you should still plan the move carefully, especially if you rely on features such as the selective (intelligent) proxy or custom integrations.