FlashStart

FlashStart

FlashStart Group Srl
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About

Control D is a customizable DNS filtering and traffic redirection platform that leverages Secure DNS protocols like DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS and DNS-over-QUIC, with support for Legacy DNS. - Block malicious threats - Block unwanted types of content network wide (ads & trackers, IoT telemetry, adult content, socials, and more) - Deploy in minutes on fleets of devices using RMM - Manage clients using sub-organizations - Gain visibility on network events and usage patterns, with client level granularity - Re-route traffic via proxies (through DNS) for improved privacy and security - Enjoy superior UX and simplicity Think of it as your personal Authoritative DNS resolver for the entire Internet that gives you granular control over what domains get resolved, redirected or blocked.

About

FlashStart is a global, cloud-based cyber security platform that specializes in DNS filtering with the support of artificial intelligence. It protects against malware and unwanted contents by classifying domains into eighty-five categories, using machine learning with high predictive capability and incorporating government blacklists and warnings for high-risk sites. It offers global coverage, thanks to Anycast Network, which is among the fastest and most stable in the world. It presents advanced and exclusive features, like geographically based protection. Easy installation, centralized multi-tenant management, filter customization, and maximum cost-effectiveness make FlashStart the optimal cloud solution for businesses, PAs, schools, households, etc.

Platforms Supported

Windows Supported
Mac Supported
Linux Supported
Cloud Supported
On-Premises Supported
iPhone Supported
iPad Supported
Android Supported
Chromebook Supported

Platforms Supported

Windows Supported
Mac Supported
Linux Supported
Cloud Supported
On-Premises Supported
iPhone Supported
iPad Supported
Android Supported
Chromebook Supported

Audience

Organizations and power users who want to control DNS on networks and devices

Audience

ISP & WISP, MSP, Retailers

Support

Phone Support Not Supported
24/7 Live Support Not Supported
Online Supported

Support

Phone Support Supported
24/7 Live Support Supported
Online Supported

API

Offers API Supported

API

Offers API Supported

Screenshots and Videos

Screenshots and Videos

Pricing

$0.5/endpoint
Consumer plans: $3–$6/month
Business plans: $0.5–$2/endpoint/month
Free Version Supported
Free Trial Supported

Pricing

$0.90/month
Pricing Model: Per User
Free Version Supported
Free Trial Supported

Reviews/Ratings

Overall 4.9 / 5
ease 4.8 / 5
features 4.8 / 5
design 4.8 / 5
support 5.0 / 5

Reviews/Ratings

Overall 5.0 / 5
ease 5.0 / 5
features 5.0 / 5
design 5.0 / 5
support 5.0 / 5

Pros from Real Users

Pros

  • I have it since the first release, great way to handle DNS queries and keep everything clear and secure, fast responses, easy management and plenty of options.
  • Simple setup Multiple deployment options Good prices Good blocking Intuitive layout Good support.
  • The layout is easy to navigate and configure. Advanced DNS settings are available but the interface isn't complicated. Service itself has been super fast and reliable. Support has been amazing. Very quick and knowledgeable. Provisioning scripts work great.
  • Easy deployment and set up. Fantastic, responsive customer service. Easy and intuitive admin portal and UI. Reasonable pricing.
  • -Easy to configure and set up -Works seamlessly with Apple iPad's -Accurate results (it does what it is supposed to at all times) -Fast DNS resolution -Very functional web interface -Lots of up-to-date supporting documentation -Packed with features and filter sets that just make sense (and actually work!) -Actively being developed, maintained, and supported -Support is fantastic and great customer service! -Fair pricing
  • This is a great tool for serverless environments that need DNS filtering. The entire team that we have worked with is always very responsive and it's a pleasure getting to know their product better.
  • Incredibly feature rich and powerful tool for a fraction of the cost of the competition. Great blocking features with regular updates meeting more and more needs monthly.
  • Best support you can find. These guys know their stuff. Easy to use. Easy to manage. Easy to deploy.
  • Been using the business beta for about 3 months now after being a user of the consumer service for 8 months. The service is very different from other DNS platforms I used before (Umbrella, dnsfilter) and there is a bit of a learning curve but after you "get it" there is no going back. DNS resolution is very fast I'm seeing about ~5ms and DNS-over-HTTPS3 is supported. I don't know any other DNS service that has this. Onboarding was very straight forward, we use Ninja and the provided tutorial was very useful. I onboarded 250 clients in a manner of minutes, seriously. We use this for malware blocking and some general content filtering and it does the job. No false positives so far.
  • This is a very highly customizable DNS platform, that is not overly complicated. Can block malware, trackers and even ads! Browsing with it enabled makes browsing the Internet a lot more palatable. Works on mobile without any software and the redirection feature is quite excellent as it eliminated the need for VPNs for our company. Router deployment was especially easy. We use Ubiqiti, and the process was copying a single command and running it in SSH on the router. A+

Pros & Cons from Real Users

Pros

  • It's easy to configure, works fine and efficiently. This product covers almost every content that we wanted to block. Since we've installed FlashStart, our students had never seen bad web content again.
  • This was a very easy setup. Just added to my router and it started working right away. Had a couple websites that it was blocking that we used and adding them to the allow list was quick and simple. Glad I found the website. Much simpler than trying to setup my own filter.
  • Tool well-built and simple to use. Possibility of implementation at network level or directly at endpoints. Anycast network with excellent performance in all major locations. Fast and efficient support. Current technology integrated with artificial intelligence where we can really guarantee security. Collection method and attractive prices.
  • FlashStart is set up in a few minutes and is a high value solution for our customers. Malware Protection works at its best. As a customer, you retrieve reports every week showing nicely how effectively protection works. The team from FlashStart works close with its partners and is implementing ideas proposed by them.

Cons

  • Honestly there's nothing to me to be considered as a con.
  • Figuring out what package I needed to purchase. It's sold based of the number of devices connected and it took me awhile to figure that out as a school we get a lot of extra devices connected to our network at different times. It would be nice if the filter would of kept a tally of how many devices hit it during my trial.
  • So far everything is perfect, as expected. In occasional problems related to small details such as uncategorized local domains, we called support and were quickly attended to.
  • In five years of using FlashStart the service once was not available for about half an hour.

Training

Documentation Supported
Webinars Not Supported
Live Online Not Supported
In Person Not Supported

Training

Documentation Supported
Webinars Supported
Live Online Supported
In Person Supported

Company Information

Control D
Founded: 2021
Canada
controld.com

Company Information

FlashStart Group Srl
Founded: 2003
Italy
flashstart.com

Alternatives

Alternatives

WebTitan

WebTitan

TitanHQ
OpenDNS

OpenDNS

Cisco Umbrella

Categories

Ad Blockers Supported
Anti-Phishing Supported
Anti-Spyware Supported
DNS Filtering Supported
DNS Monitoring Supported
DNS Security Supported
Managed DNS Supported
Network Security Supported
Proxy Servers Supported

Categories

Cloud Security Supported
Cybersecurity Supported
DNS Filtering Supported
DNS Security Supported
DNS Servers Supported

Web Content Filtering Features

Antivirus Supported
Automated Blacklist Supported
Browser-based Management Portal Supported
Category / Keyword Filters Supported
LDAP Integration Not Supported
Multi-Language Filtering Supported
Reporting / Analytics Supported
Roles / Permissions Supported
SSL Inspection Supported
Time-based Controls Supported
VPN Blocking Supported
White Label Supported
Whitelisting Supported

Managed DNS Features

Anti-Malware Supported
Change Management Not Supported
DDoS Protection Not Supported
Disaster Recovery Not Supported
DNS Failover Supported
DNS Propagation Supported
Global DNS Network Supported
Intelligent Traffic Routing Supported
Load Balancing Not Supported
Reporting / Analytics Supported
Secondary DNS Supported
Web Application Firewall (WAF) Supported

Network Security Features

Access Control Supported
Analytics / Reporting Supported
Compliance Reporting Not Supported
Firewalls Supported
Internet Usage Monitoring Supported
Intrusion Detection System Supported
Threat Response Not Supported
VPN Supported
Vulnerability Scanning Not Supported

Proxy Servers Features

Anonymous Supported
Automatic IP Rotation Not Supported
Data Center Proxies Not Supported
Geo-Targeting Supported
Mobile Proxies Not Supported
Reporting / Analytics Supported
Residential Proxies Supported
SSL Supported
Whitelisted IPs Not Supported

Web Content Filtering Features

Antivirus Supported
Automated Blacklist Supported
Browser-based Management Portal Supported
Category / Keyword Filters Supported
LDAP Integration Not Supported
Multi-Language Filtering Supported
Reporting / Analytics Supported
Roles / Permissions Supported
SSL Inspection Not Supported
Time-based Controls Supported
VPN Blocking Supported
White Label Supported
Whitelisting Supported

Artificial Intelligence Features

Chatbot Supported
For eCommerce Supported
For Healthcare Supported
For Sales Supported
Image Recognition Not Supported
Machine Learning Supported
Multi-Language Supported
Natural Language Processing Supported
Predictive Analytics Supported
Process/Workflow Automation Supported
Rules-Based Automation Supported
Virtual Personal Assistant (VPA) Not Supported

Cloud Security Features

Antivirus Supported
Application Security Supported
Behavioral Analytics Supported
Encryption Not Supported
Endpoint Management Supported
Incident Management Not Supported
Intrusion Detection System Supported
Threat Intelligence Supported
Two-Factor Authentication Supported
Vulnerability Management Supported

Cybersecurity Features

AI / Machine Learning Supported
Behavioral Analytics Supported
Endpoint Management Supported
Incident Management Supported
IOC Verification Not Supported
Tokenization Not Supported
Vulnerability Scanning Supported
Whitelisting / Blacklisting Supported

Integrations

Active Directory Not Supported
Atera Supported
Azure DNS Supported
Brave Browser Supported
ConnectWise Automate Supported
Google Chrome Supported
Kaseya VSA Supported
LogMeIn Central Supported
ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP Supported
Microsoft Edge Supported
Mozilla Firefox Supported
NinjaOne Supported
N‑able N-sight RMM Supported
OPNsense Supported
Opera Supported
Pulseway Supported
Safari Supported
Tailscale Supported
Vivaldi Supported
pfSense Supported

Integrations

Active Directory Supported
Atera Not Supported
Azure DNS Not Supported
Brave Browser Not Supported
ConnectWise Automate Not Supported
Google Chrome Not Supported
Kaseya VSA Not Supported
LogMeIn Central Not Supported
ManageEngine Desktop Central MSP Not Supported
Microsoft Edge Not Supported
Mozilla Firefox Not Supported
NinjaOne Not Supported
N‑able N-sight RMM Not Supported
OPNsense Not Supported
Opera Not Supported
Pulseway Not Supported
Safari Not Supported
Tailscale Not Supported
Vivaldi Not Supported
pfSense Not Supported
Claim FlashStart and update features and information
Claim FlashStart and update features and information