If you run a business, odds are security is top of mind – and with good reason. Data breaches now cost companies an average of $4.24 million according to IBM, while over 40% of cyberattacks specifically target small businesses. Suffice to say, threats are growing more sophisticated all the time.
Fortunately, there are tools available to harden your defenses. One technology I highly recommend is DNS filtering – especially if productivity and securing your network perimeter are priorities.
But what exactly is DNS filtering and how does it work? What key criteria should you look for when selecting a solution? What are the best DNS filtering products on the market today for business use cases? Read on for insights from an cybersecurity expert.
How DNS Filtering Layers on Protection
First, a quick DNS primer. The Domain Name System (DNS) acts like an "internet phonebook" that translates domain names people type into browsers to numbered IP addresses that computers use to route traffic.
DNS filtering solutions add an extra security layer on top of this process. They intercept your employees‘ DNS queries and cross-check requested sites against continuously updated lists of malicious domains and IP addresses. Requests to destinations tagged as dangerous then get blocked before any content even gets downloaded.
So in other words, DNS filtering stops threats at one of the earliest possible points – the lookup stage. This containment saves your downstream security tools like firewalls and sandboxes from having to spot and defeat malware payloads already inside your network perimeter.
Why Should Businesses Invest in DNS Filtering?
There are five core benefits compelling enterprises across all industries to deploy DNS filtering:
1. Shield Against Rapidly Evolving Threats That Slip Past Defenses
The vast majority of malware now leverages DNS in some way for command and control or to obscure phishing sites. Cisco‘s 2022 Security Outcomes Study found that 71% of breaches involved malware – a number that keeps steadily rising.
Meanwhile zero-day exploits increased by 25% in 2022 per Fortinet‘s latest threat landscape report. Such brand new attack variants automatically bypass traditional signature-based defenses. AI-powered DNS filtering can spot some of these unknown threats however by identifying subtle suspicious traffic patterns in allowing through only legitimate domains.
2. Meet Compliance Mandates Around Restricting Access
Regulations like HIPAA place strict confidentiality rules around shielding healthcare data while Sarbanes-Oxley imposes financial controls on public companies. Educational institutions receiving federal funding must additionally comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) limiting access to inappropriate content.
Deploying DNS filtering allows organizations in these industries to meet such mandates with strong web controls and activity audit trails. Some solutions like DNSFilter even provide pre-configured CIPA compliance reporting packages.
3. Empower Security Teams with Visibility
Trying to secure what you can‘t see is nearly impossible. Yet according to Cisco, 65% of companies lack full visibility over DNS traffic on protected networks. Such major blindspots open the doors to lateral movement once threats gain that initial foothold.
DNS filtering paired with robust analytics sheds light on suspicious anomalies security analysts should dig into like unusual spikes in DNS requests to new domains. Logging also shows what sites and categories users across your environment are accessing – invaluable context during incident investigations.
4. Boost Productivity Through Better Internet Controls
It‘s no secret employees get distracted browsing social media and gaming sites. In fact one study by Civica found that over 50% of workers admit social media harms their productivity.
Legitimate yet high-bandwidth sites like YouTube also consume scarce internet capacity needed for critical apps. And inappropriate content creates legal liability risks for employers.
The good news is DNS filtering allows carefully limiting access to non-business domains so staff stay focused. Common use cases include restricting sites by category, blocking outright based on URL/domain lists, enforcing SafeSearch, and setting bandwidth quotas.
5. Stop Cryptomining Damage and Data Theft
Cryptojacking attacks secretly install programs on devices leveraging spare CPU cycles to mine cryptocurrency. The cumulatively stolen computing resources can significantly impact operations. Even worse though, cryptominers also frequently download malware payloads enabling broader system compromise.
Meanwhile insider data theft via unauthorized cloud sync tools and collaboration platforms now makes up 33% of breaches according to IBM’s 2022 report. DNS filtering allows easily blocking unsanctioned apps so that business information stays protected.
Now that you know what DNS filtering brings to the table security-wise for enterprises, let‘s compare solutions. I evaluated dozens of providers against five core criteria to surface the top 9 highest-value options.
9 Top-Rated DNS Filtering Solutions for Business Networks
| Solution | Ideal For | Deployment Options | Top Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Gateway | Mid-size to large orgs | Cloud-based | Robust threat intelligence, DLP controls, 1-click app blocking | Starts at $5/user/month |
| Perimeter 81 | Distributed workforces | Cloud-based | Zero trust network access, conditional access policies | Starts at $4/user/month |
| Cisco Umbrella | Heavily regulated enterprises | Cloud, on-premise, or hybrid | Granular content filtering, 400B+ internet activity database | Starts at $1.25/user/month |
| Webroot | Lean security teams | Cloud-based | Fully automated threat intelligence updates | Starts at $1.275/user/month |
| DNSFilter | K-12 schools and universities | Cloud-based | CIPA compliance made easy, powerful AI-driven threat detection | Starts at $1.50/user/month |
| Heimdal | SMBs | Cloud, on-premise, or hybrid | Behavior-based malware blocking, developed specifically for smaller security teams | Starts at $6/user/month |
| SafeDNS | Multi-location enterprises | Cloud or on-premise | Secure web gateway supporting 20 locations, BGP Anycast routing protocol for speed | Contact for quote |
| NordLayer | Highly regulated sectors like finance and healthcare | Cloud-based | Advanced threat prevention and DLP capabilities scaled for large deployments | Contact for quote |
| DNSCyte | organizations | Cloud-based | Machine learning detection models customized per client vertical and tech stack | Contact for quote |
Cloudflare Gateway shines for its extensive one-click app blocking capabilities spanning popular SaaS apps. This helps mitigate risky app sprawl. DNSFilter similarly makes it easy for schools and libraries to meet stringent CIPA policies around limiting exposure to harmful content.
Meanwhile solutions like SafeDNS cater to complex enterprises running older on-premise infrastructure vs only newer SaaS apps. And NordLayer delivers advanced threat prevention tailored specifically for highly sensitive data environments like healthcare.
Beyond static features though, it‘s also worth considering which vendors best fit your in-house skillset. Heimdal for instance stands out for its exceptional ease of management – perfect for lean teams without huge security engineering bandwidth.
The most robust analytics dashboards empowering fast incident response also differentiate the solutions with visibility needs top of mind. So factor your use cases, resources, and risk tolerance when deciding amongst the leaders.
Now let‘s get more tactical on how to successfully roll out DNS filtering at your organization.
6 Best Practices for Deploying DNS Filtering
Based on my firsthand experience securing enterprise networks, here are vital ground rules to follow:
Combine DNS Filtering with Other Safeguards for Defense-in-Depth
While powerful, no single control fully protects against sophisticated multifaceted attacks today. So make DNS filtering one layer within a mesh of firewalls, proxies, endpoint detection tools, access controls, staff education, and more. This "defense-in-depth" approach complicates cybercriminals‘ efforts reaching their targets.
Set Clear, Enforced Internet Usage Policies
Document appropriate vs prohibited online activities aligned to business needs, local laws, and ethics. Confirm staff understand through training. This policy underpins filtering rules, demonstrating due diligence governing access.
Prioritize Custom Category Blocking and Whitelists
Leverage the native controls in your chosen filtering solution for fine-tuned balancing of security and productivity needs. Blanket allowance or blocking seldom Suffices.
Permit Case-by-Case Exceptions
Overly rigid controls disrupt legitimate business activities, prompting users to bypass them. So have a transparent exception process based on justified requests like limited social media for marketing. But log approvals centrally and follow up on potential policy gaps driving workaround attempts.
Continuously Check Filtering Reports
Threat landscapes evolve so quickly that what was once "safe" often no longer holds even months later. Monitoring rules against traffic patterns identifies coverage gaps to address by broadening categories or identifying new high-risk destinations.
Frequently Update Rules
Sign up for automatic threat feed updates from vendors to stay on top of emerging dangers without manual effort. Review notifications and decide where more restrictive policies make sense.
Following this battle-tested advice, you can have DNS filtering working its magic bolstering defenses across your environment in no time. But what else might you still be wondering about this technology? Let‘s tackle some common FAQs for the full picture.
Top DNS Filtering Questions Answered
Does DNS Filtering Noticeably Slow Internet Performance?
Cloud-based implementations have minimal impact on speed with geo-distributed architectures. For on-premise hardware, go with purpose-built gateways over retrofitting existing infrastructure to avoid bottlenecks.
Can Users Bypass DNS Filtering Controls?
Solutions using a proxy or IP whitelist validation provide stricter protection than basic DNS rerouting. However, technical workarounds potentially exploit vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. So combine with endpoint software,Layer 7 inspection, and network segmentation reducing this risk.
How Are Mobile and Roaming Users Covered Outside the Corporate Network?
Cloud-hosted DNS filtering funnels all DNS queries through vendors’ global infrastructures rather than on-premise gateways. This enables consistent security extending to devices off-network – especially valuable in hybrid remote work environments.
What Technical Expertise is Required for DNS Filtering Management?
Cloud solutions are turnkey with intuitive dashboards customizable through self-service. But on-premise deployments require networking and server administration skills for hardware maintenance plus policy/rule tuning. If lacking specialized resources in-house, lean towards SaaS-based options.
How Are Data Privacy and Confidentiality Handled?
Vendors only log online activity metadata like domains visited rather than seeing actual page content or queries due to encryption. Firms serious about data governance generally allow restricting data storage geographies. Review third-party attestations like ISO 27001 certification covering controls around access and retention.
If still hesitant given privacy obligations in your industry, some solutions have on-premise hardware options keeping inspection localized.
I hope these answers help address any lingering concerns! Still have additional questions? Feel free to reach out to my team for guidance finding the best DNS filtering fit for your organization‘s needs.
Reduce Risk Without Slowing Business
At the end of the day, DNS filtering checks all the boxes: stopping advanced threats, controlling web access, enabling compliance, boosting productivity, and delivering actionable visibility.
The solutions profiled all bring tremendous protective value safely scaled for enterprise environments. Cloudflare Gateway, Cisco Umbrella, and Perimeter 81 lead in threat prevention and intelligence capabilities for mid-size and larger firms. Schools should check out DNSFilter, while NordLayer suits data-sensitive verticals.
Start by evaluating against my recommended criteria to home in on the best match. Then applying the deployment best practices, seamlessly layer on this potent new defense with minimal disruption. The result: your organization stays safer from the exponentially growing menace of cyberattacks and insider incidents victimizing businesses worldwide.
So don‘t leave DNS protection gaps your adversaries can exploit! I urge CISOs and network security leaders to seriously consider adding DNS filtering to their technology stacks in 2023 if not already – an investment guaranteed to pay dividends shielding your company from harm. Reach out if I can offer any personalized guidance. Here‘s to defending your enterprise in the year ahead.
