OpenDNS
OpenDNS is a Cisco subsidiary that provides cloud-delivered DNS-layer security and content filtering, serving enterprises through Cisco Umbrella and consumers through freemium home-internet-security products powered by a global anycast resolver network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What OpenDNS does
OpenDNS, founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Francisco, is a cloud-delivered DNS security and content-filtering platform that has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cisco since its 2015/2016 acquisition. The company serves two distinct customer bases through its core technology: enterprise organizations access protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware via Cisco Umbrella (umbrella.cisco.com), while consumer and home users use the OpenDNS family of products — including the free FamilyShield tier and the OpenDNS Dashboard — for parental controls, content filtering, and faster internet routing. Underlying the platform is a global anycast resolver network with public IPs 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220, peering partnerships that shorten routing paths, and a proprietary domain-categorization and threat-intelligence database built from years of DNS-query telemetry.
The product portfolio centers on Cisco Umbrella (enterprise), OpenDNS Consumer/Home (faster, safer home internet), FamilyShield (pre-configured parental controls), the OpenDNS Dashboard (policy and monitoring), and the OpenDNS Update Client (dynamic-IP keep-alive). All offerings are DNS-layer services — meaning enforcement happens at name resolution rather than at the application or endpoint — which gives them network-wide coverage with minimal endpoint footprint. Cisco has consolidated enterprise login, SSO (via Okta), and community support into the Cisco Umbrella platform, while retaining the OpenDNS brand for consumer and prosumer users.
The business model is a hybrid of two revenue mechanics. On the enterprise side, OpenDNS is monetized indirectly through Cisco's enterprise subscription and licensing for Umbrella, sold by Cisco's direct sales force and partner channel including a dedicated MSP & Partners program. On the consumer side, the model is freemium: FamilyShield is free, while premium tiers and add-ons are available via subscription. Pricing for both segments is not publicly disclosed; enterprise contracts are negotiated through Cisco sales, and consumer pricing is handled through the opendns.com self-service flow.
OpenDNS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OpenDNS
- Legal name
- OpenDNS
- Website
- https://www.opendns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- OpenDNS is a Cisco subsidiary that provides cloud-delivered DNS-layer security and content filtering, serving enterprises through Cisco Umbrella and consumers through freemium home-internet-security products powered by a global anycast resolver network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OpenDNS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- DNS Security / Network Security
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- DNS Security & Protective DNS (HDADABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Resilient DNS, Traffic Management & Global Load Balancing (HDABAIAI), Network Security Services (Firewall/VPN/ZTNA/SASE Integration) (BPAEAEAG), DNS Security Appliances (HDAFAFAK)
Keywords
Where OpenDNS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
OpenDNS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Enterprise Security (Cisco Umbrella): Enterprise customers subscribe to Cisco Umbrella for cloud-delivered security against malware, phishing, and ransomware, billed through Cisco's enterprise licensing and subscription model.
- Consumer DNS Services: Consumer products provide faster, safer, and more reliable home internet through DNS configuration, with free tier (FamilyShield) and premium tiers for additional features.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free tier with basic content filtering |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
OpenDNS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OpenDNS provides cloud-delivered DNS-based security and content filtering services. Enterprise customers subscribe to Cisco Umbrella for protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware, while consumer/home users use OpenDNS FamilyShield and related products for faster, safer home internet with built-in parental and content controls. The platform resolves DNS queries through OpenDNS's global infrastructure, applying threat intelligence and customizable content policies at the DNS layer.
Product overview
OpenDNS is a cloud-delivered DNS security platform now part of Cisco, offering both enterprise and consumer products. The portfolio centers on Cisco Umbrella (enterprise security against malware, phishing, ransomware) and OpenDNS Consumer/Home products (faster, safer home internet). FamilyShield provides pre-configured parental controls, while the OpenDNS Dashboard and Update Client enable configuration and dynamic IP management. All offerings leverage global data center infrastructure and content categorization to deliver DNS-based security and filtering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cisco Umbrella
Quantifiable outcome
- Faster internet access through shortened routing paths between networks and data centers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use OpenDNS
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
OpenDNS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
OpenDNS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CiscoflagshipOpenDNS was acquired by Cisco in 2016 and operates as part of Cisco's security portfolio under the Cisco Umbrella brand. The acquisition integrated OpenDNS's DNS-based security technology into Cisco's broader enterprise security offerings. OpenDNS consumer products continue to operate under the OpenDNS brand while enterprise solutions are marketed through Cisco Umbrella.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
OpenDNS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cloudflare: Operates a free public DNS resolver (1.1.1.1) and Cloudflare Gateway, a DNS-layer security and web filtering product for enterprises. Closest direct competitor to OpenDNS across both consumer and enterprise DNS security segments.
- Quad9: Non-profit public DNS service focused on privacy and security, blocking malicious domains via threat intel feeds. Competes directly with OpenDNS FamilyShield and OpenDNS Home in the free protective-DNS consumer and SMB segment.
- Google Public DNS: Operates Google's free public DNS resolver (8.8.8.8) with global anycast footprint. Primary free-speed alternative to OpenDNS for consumer and SMB users, though lacks integrated security filtering.
- Infoblox: Provides DNS, DHCP, and IPAM (DDI) appliances plus BloxOne Threat Defense for DNS-layer security. Comparable to OpenDNS on enterprise DNS security, with stronger on-prem appliance presence.
- BlueCat Networks: Enterprise DNS, DHCP, and IPAM vendor with DNS-based security and threat intelligence offerings for large enterprises. Comparable to OpenDNS on enterprise DNS infrastructure and filtering, with stronger on-prem and hybrid deployment options.
Broad incumbents
- Cisco Umbrella / Cisco Secure Access: OpenDNS's own enterprise brand post-acquisition, now part of Cisco's broader Secure Access / SSE portfolio alongside Duo, Secure Firewall, and Talos. Represents the broader incumbent platform into which OpenDNS technology has been integrated.
- Akamai (Secure Internet Access / Guardicore): Akamai's Enterprise Threat Protector and broader zero-trust/SASE portfolio include DNS-layer filtering and cloud-delivered recursive DNS security. Overlaps with OpenDNS Umbrella on enterprise DNS security and competes in adjacent SSE categories.
- Zscaler (ZIA / Zscaler Cloud DNS): Zscaler Internet Access includes DNS-layer security and filtering as part of its SSE/SASE platform. Competes with OpenDNS/Cisco Umbrella in enterprise cloud-delivered security, though anchored on a full SSE architecture rather than standalone DNS.
- Netskope: Netskope Security Service Edge platform includes DNS-layer controls as part of broader SSE capabilities. Overlaps with Umbrella on enterprise cloud-delivered security and competes for the same SSE/SASE budget.
Emerging players
- DNSFilter: Cloud-native DNS-layer security and content filtering platform targeting mid-market and MSPs. Competes with OpenDNS Umbrella in the SMB/MSP segment with a more focused, AI-driven threat categorization approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OpenDNS social profiles
Digital presenceOpenDNS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OpenDNS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
OpenDNS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OpenDNS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OpenDNS
What does OpenDNS do?
OpenDNS provides cloud-delivered DNS-based security and content filtering services. Enterprise customers subscribe to Cisco Umbrella for protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware, while consumer/home users use OpenDNS FamilyShield and related products for faster, safer home internet with built-in parental and content controls. The platform resolves DNS queries through OpenDNS's global infrastructure, applying threat intelligence and customizable content policies at the DNS layer.
Is OpenDNS a public or private company?
OpenDNS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was OpenDNS founded?
OpenDNS was founded in 2005. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is OpenDNS based?
OpenDNS is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does OpenDNS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Security (Cisco Umbrella) is the primary driver. The others are consumer DNS Services.
Who are OpenDNS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cloudflare, Quad9, Google Public DNS, Infoblox and BlueCat Networks. Broad incumbents are Cisco Umbrella / Cisco Secure Access, Akamai (Secure Internet Access / Guardicore), Zscaler (ZIA / Zscaler Cloud DNS) and Netskope. DNSFilter is listed as an emerging player.
Does OpenDNS have an API?
No public API is recorded for OpenDNS.
What industry is OpenDNS in?
OpenDNS's product category is DNS Security / Network Security. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADABAF, DNS Security & Protective DNS, with a secondary code of HDABAIAI, Resilient DNS, Traffic Management & Global Load Balancing. Its NAICS code is 518210 and its SIC code is 7370.