At Mechdyne, we’ve always discussed the importance of layering within cybersecurity measures to strengthen your security posture as an organization. Because attacks are more a matter of “when” rather than “if”, the way you approach choosing and implementing cybersecurity solutions is paramount to protecting your organization’s data and end users alike. While no solution is completely foolproof, adding different layers to the environment makes any attackers’ work much more difficult and hardens systems against possible threats or intrusions.
As threats evolve, the Internet-based attack vector has become increasingly more sophisticated, requiring more advanced levels of threat identification and remediation to keep the necessary steps ahead of cybercriminals. Enter the concept of DNS filtering!
What is Domain Name System (DNS) Filtering?
While there are a number of enterprise-level security solutions that leverage DNS filtering including Cisco Umbrella, DNSFilter, WebTitan Web Filter, Webroot DNS Protection, and others, the core concept between them is the same. DNS filtering uses the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol.
When applications make domain-name requests, these requests are routed through the managed DNS filter service’s servers, where they are matched against threat feeds and the policy settings configured in the security solution. If a request is sent to a malicious and/or blocked domain, the user is diverted. This cuts off unwanted activity at the root by making sure the request never has access to the blocked domain.
Because DNS management is essential for establishing most network connections, DNS filtering comprehensively covers all devices on a network, including servers, computers, printers, and tablets.
Let’s look at two major benefits of a DNS filtering service: Content filtering and threat protection.
Benefits of a DNS Filtering System
DNS Content Filtering
- Web content may be filtered using a wide variety of content categories to block or allow sites with questionable content based on the organization’s discretion.
- A domain-specific allow list/block list policy configuration allows for complete control over which domains and subdomains users are able to access.
- Artificial intelligence scanning engines can identify and categorize newly seen domains in real-time.
DNS Threat Protection
- DNS filtering is able to block sources of malware and phishing, as well as next-generation threats such as botnets and cryptomining.
- Malicious content filtering is based on threat feeds maintained by the global security community and reported by humans, resulting in highly reliable data.
- Newly registered domains, newly seen domains, and domains with suspicious characteristics are analyzed to provide heuristic blocking.
With these features in mind, you’ll next want to be familiar with the two main approaches that organizations and companies tend to use when it comes to DNS filters:
- Onsite locations that host in-person office environments historically have typically leveraged a combination of Active Directory, DHCP, and router/firewall appliances. This approach is very effective at providing protection to devices connected to the local network. However, once an endpoint, such as a laptop, leaves the site premises, it resorts to using the DNS servers of whatever new network it connects to leaving it vulnerable.
- With remote work now firmly a part of many working environments, organizations will often choose to install endpoint software to monitor all DNS requests on their devices. This type of software identifies whether to allow the request to proceed or to deny it due to policy configuration and/or the detection of a malicious domain.
While there may be situations or environments where onsite management is necessary, it’s clear that investing in the proper endpoint software will provide a more comprehensive amount of security on a wider scope and scale for a wide variety of organizations within many different industries and verticals. At Mechdyne, we’re proud to offer robust endpoint detection and response solutions that can truly fortify your organization’s cyber defenses, which include benefits such as:
PRO-TIP: Copy or screengrab this handy graphic to make sure that your IT team, whether in-house or partner-provided, is giving you all the resources you need to be truly protected from threats!
Cybersecurity Made Easy with DNS Filters
Cyber threats and attacks will inevitably occur; it’s up to you to make sure that you’re ready for them. However, as we’ve explored here, you don’t have to go it alone. DNS filtering, along with a proper endpoint software setup, gives you a wide array of tools and assets to effectively and efficiently manage your cyber defenses. And while threats may be ever-present, you’ll be more than prepared for whatever comes.
Is your current service provider and/or IT team capable of these key cybersecurity needs? We’re here to get a conversation started with you about how we can truly bolster and solidify your organization’s defenses.