OpenDNS
A DNS resolution and cloud-based network security brand acquired by Cisco in 2015.
Last updated August 22, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
OpenDNS is an American internet infrastructure and cybersecurity brand built around recursive Domain Name System resolution. Founded by computer scientist and entrepreneur David Ulevitch, the service emerged as an alternative to DNS resolvers operated by internet service providers or configured locally by users. Its public resolvers became known for combining DNS lookup with optional phishing protection, content filtering, parental controls, typo correction, and tools for managing dynamic IP addresses. Although the name suggests an open-source project, OpenDNS has historically been based on proprietary software; the “open” concept refers primarily to accepting DNS queries from broadly distributed users. The company launched its public DNS service in 2006 and expanded beyond basic resolution during the following years. In 2006 it introduced PhishTank, a collaborative database for identifying suspected phishing sites. In 2007 it added domain-category blocking and customizable filtering, allowing users to apply controls to adult content and other categories while maintaining personal allowlists and blocklists. OpenDNS later introduced FamilyShield for simplified family-oriented filtering, DNSCrypt support for authenticated DNS traffic, and DNS-O-Matic, a service that could distribute dynamic-DNS updates to multiple providers. OpenDNS developed a commercial business alongside its consumer offerings. OpenDNS Enterprise, introduced in 2009, added administrative sharing, audit logging, malware protection, reporting, and customized blocking pages. OpenDNS Insights, introduced in 2012, expanded enterprise management through integration with Microsoft Active Directory and more granular policy control by user, device, and group. The company’s central strategic shift was toward cloud-delivered security rather than DNS as a performance utility alone. That shift was represented by Umbrella, launched in 2012 as a security suite for organizations with users, devices, branch offices, and mobile employees operating outside the traditional corporate perimeter. Umbrella used DNS-layer enforcement and threat intelligence to help block malware, botnets, phishing, and targeted attacks. OpenDNS followed it with the Security Graph threat-intelligence engine, Investigate analysis tools, and an Intelligent Proxy that selectively proxied suspicious destinations. The company also integrated with FireEye to extend threat indicators to mobile workers and remote offices. OpenDNS operated a large globally distributed network and reported handling tens of billions of DNS requests per day during its independent period. Its consumer service historically included both free and paid options. An advertising-based response for nonexistent domains was discontinued in June 2014 as the company concentrated on security and began returning conventional failure responses instead of redirecting users to an advertising search page. Cisco acquired OpenDNS on August 27, 2015, in a reported all-cash transaction valued at US$635 million, excluding retention-based incentives. Cisco renamed the business offerings Cisco Umbrella while retaining the OpenDNS name for home products. OpenDNS therefore remains a consumer-facing brand within Cisco’s security portfolio, while much of its enterprise identity and technology is represented by the Cisco Umbrella platform.
History
OpenDNS was founded by David Ulevitch as a public DNS initiative intended to provide an alternative to resolver services operated by internet providers. The service became publicly available in 2006 and was supported by venture funding associated with Minor Ventures. Rather than functioning only as a lookup utility, OpenDNS used DNS as a control point for internet safety and network policy. One of the company’s earliest major extensions was PhishTank, launched in October 2006. The service enabled users to submit and assess suspected phishing domains, helping create a community-informed source of abuse intelligence. In 2007 OpenDNS added optional web filtering based on domain categories. Users could block broad classes of websites and supplement those controls with personal allowlists and blocklists. The company later moved toward community-supported categorization, allowing subscribers to propose classifications for domains. DNS-O-Matic also launched in 2007, helping users synchronize dynamic-DNS changes with multiple providers. OpenDNS’s consumer portfolio developed through a mixture of free and paid services. FamilyShield, introduced in 2010, simplified parental filtering by using preconfigured resolver addresses. DNSCrypt support was added to authenticate DNS traffic between compatible clients and OpenDNS resolvers. Premium home services provided additional reporting and control features. Until 2014, OpenDNS also monetized some free usage through advertising redirects for nonexistent domains. That approach generated criticism because it could interfere with applications that expected normal NXDOMAIN responses, including some VPN and mail-related workflows. OpenDNS ended the advertising system in June 2014 and restored conventional failure behavior. The company began pursuing enterprise customers in 2009 with OpenDNS Enterprise. This product added shared administration, audit logs, security reporting, malware protection, and customized policy pages. OpenDNS Insights, launched in 2012, deepened the enterprise offering through Microsoft Active Directory integration and policy controls organized around individual users, devices, and groups. The most important strategic development was Umbrella, launched in November 2012. It applied DNS-layer controls to users and devices operating beyond a company’s physical network, including roaming laptops, smartphones, tablets, and branch-office systems. OpenDNS expanded the platform with Security Graph in 2013, Investigate in late 2013, and Intelligent Proxy in early 2014. These tools connected DNS telemetry, routing information, threat scoring, investigation workflows, and selective proxying. A 2014 integration with FireEye allowed indicators of compromise from FireEye’s notification system to inform Umbrella protections. OpenDNS reported substantial global scale, with its network handling tens of billions of DNS requests daily and serving users through a distributed infrastructure. The company was also recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer for 2011. Financing activity included secondary share transactions involving Sequoia Capital, Greylock, and other investors, followed by later venture funding; the available reference material does not establish a complete capitalization history. Cisco announced and completed its acquisition of OpenDNS on August 27, 2015. The reported purchase price was US$635 million in cash, supplemented by retention-based incentives. Cisco integrated the enterprise business into its security portfolio and renamed it Cisco Umbrella, while continuing to use OpenDNS for home products. The acquisition marked the transition from an independent DNS company to a Cisco-owned security brand, but preserved the core idea of using DNS visibility and enforcement as a foundation for internet protection.
- 2015
Cisco acquisition closes
[1]Cisco acquired OpenDNS and subsequently incorporated its enterprise capabilities into Cisco Umbrella.
- 2014
Advertising-supported DNS behavior ends
[1]OpenDNS discontinued redirects and advertising on nonexistent-domain responses as it refocused on security.
- 2013
Security Graph launches
[1]OpenDNS introduced a threat-intelligence engine for updating security decisions concerning malicious domains and infrastructure.
- 2012
Umbrella launches
[1]Umbrella extended DNS-based security policies to roaming users, mobile devices, branch offices, and networks outside the corporate perimeter.
- 2009
Enterprise offering launches
[1]OpenDNS Enterprise marked the company’s move into managed network security for organizations.
- 2007
Web filtering expands
[1]OpenDNS added optional category-based domain blocking and customizable filtering for personal users.
- 2006
Public DNS service launches
[1]OpenDNS began offering public recursive DNS resolution as an alternative to ISP and locally operated resolvers.
- 2006
PhishTank is introduced
[1]The company launched a collaborative database for identifying and reviewing suspected phishing websites.
- 2005
OpenDNS is founded
[1]David Ulevitch founded OpenDNS to provide public recursive DNS resolution and related internet services.
Products and positioning
A DNS-layer security and internet-resolution provider serving households, organizations, mobile users, and managed service providers.
DNS resolution · 2006
OpenDNS Public DNS
OpenDNS Public DNS provides recursive domain-name resolution through globally distributed, anycast-addressed servers. It is designed as an alternative to DNS resolvers supplied by internet service providers or operated locally. Depending on configuration, the service can combine lookup with security and filtering functions.
Consumer DNS security · 2007
OpenDNS Home
OpenDNS Home provides household users with DNS resolution, phishing protection, and configurable content controls. Registered users can apply category policies and maintain custom allowlists or blocklists. The home product identity was retained after Cisco acquired OpenDNS.
Parental control · 2010
FamilyShield
FamilyShield is a preconfigured DNS filtering service intended to simplify family-oriented protection. Its resolver configuration blocks categories such as pornography, proxy services, and phishing without requiring users to build a detailed policy set.
Enterprise network security · 2009
OpenDNS Enterprise
OpenDNS Enterprise brought DNS-layer protection into organizational administration. It included shared management, audit logging, expanded malware protection, network statistics, and customized block-page behavior for business environments.
Security administration · 2012
OpenDNS Insights
OpenDNS Insights expanded enterprise policy management through Microsoft Active Directory integration. Administrators could organize controls by user, device, and group, improving the granularity of DNS-based security enforcement.
Cloud security platform · 2012
Cisco Umbrella
Umbrella is the enterprise security platform that grew from OpenDNS’s business products. It uses DNS-layer visibility and enforcement, threat intelligence, investigation features, and selective proxying to protect users and devices on and off corporate networks. Cisco renamed the OpenDNS business offering Cisco Umbrella after the acquisition.
Phishing intelligence · 2006
PhishTank
PhishTank is a collaborative service for submitting, reviewing, and tracking suspected phishing websites. It helped extend OpenDNS’s security role beyond resolution into community-supported threat identification.
Dynamic DNS management · 2007
DNS-O-Matic
DNS-O-Matic provides a coordination layer for sending dynamic-DNS address updates to multiple supported providers. It was designed for users whose changing public IP addresses needed to remain synchronized across services.
Brand decisions
2015
Cisco acquires OpenDNSM&ABackground
Cisco sought to strengthen its cloud-based security portfolio with OpenDNS’s DNS visibility, threat intelligence, and Umbrella technology.
Action taken
Cisco acquired OpenDNS in an all-cash transaction reportedly valued at US$635 million, together with retention-based incentives.
Aftermath
The enterprise business was renamed Cisco Umbrella, while Cisco retained the OpenDNS name for home products and stated that existing services would continue.
Reported acquisition value. US$635 million (2015 acquisition announcement and closing)
2014
End advertising redirects for nonexistent domainsStrategyBackground
OpenDNS’s advertising-supported handling of unresolved domains could redirect users to an OpenDNS search page and could interfere with applications that relied on standard DNS failure responses.
Action taken
The company discontinued the advertising service and moved toward returning NXDOMAIN or SERVFAIL responses for unresolved names.
Aftermath
The change reduced incompatibilities associated with response redirection and reflected OpenDNS’s stronger focus on network security.
2012
Launch Umbrella as a mobile and perimeter-independent security platformProduct launchBackground
Organizations increasingly needed security controls for roaming employees, mobile devices, branch offices, and systems outside the traditional corporate network.
Action taken
OpenDNS introduced Umbrella, applying DNS-based policy enforcement and threat protection across users and devices regardless of their network location.
Aftermath
Umbrella became the foundation of OpenDNS’s enterprise strategy and was later rebranded Cisco Umbrella following the Cisco acquisition.
Recent events
- 2015
Cisco acquires OpenDNS[1]
M&A
Cisco acquired OpenDNS in an all-cash transaction reported at US$635 million, with additional retention-based incentives.
- 2014
OpenDNS discontinues advertising redirects[1]
Other
OpenDNS ended its advertising-supported handling of nonexistent domains and returned standard DNS failure responses as it focused on security.
- 2013
OpenDNS introduces Security Graph[1]
Product launch
Security Graph used DNS observations and routing data to update intelligence concerning malware, botnet, and phishing infrastructure.
- 2012
OpenDNS launches Umbrella[1]
Product launch
Umbrella extended OpenDNS security policies to mobile employees, roaming devices, branch offices, and networks outside the traditional perimeter.
- 2010
OpenDNS launches FamilyShield[1]
Product launch
FamilyShield offered simplified DNS filtering intended to block pornography and related categories without extensive user configuration.
- 2009
OpenDNS launches Home VIP[1]
Product launch · Pricing
The company introduced paid premium home services with expanded reporting and blocking capabilities.
- 2009
OpenDNS enters enterprise security[1]
Product launch
OpenDNS Enterprise added team administration, auditing, malware protection, reporting, and customized block pages.
- 2007
OpenDNS introduces category-based web filtering[1]
Product launch
The company added optional domain-category blocking and customizable controls for personal users.
- 2007
OpenDNS launches DNS-O-Matic[1]
Product launch
DNS-O-Matic provided a way to send dynamic-DNS updates to multiple supported providers.
- 2006
OpenDNS launches PhishTank[1]
Product launch
OpenDNS introduced PhishTank as a collaborative service for submitting and reviewing suspected phishing websites.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/opendns · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled