DNS, or Domain Name System, essentially translates the names of websites into a registered IP address which allows your system to contact that site.  DNS acts like the phonebook for the internet.  DNS Protection Software is deployed on networks, end-user, and server systems to help prevent malware from being downloaded.

When installed on laptops and mobile devices, it protects the device when it is outside of a secure network, enhancing device security and safeguarding your systems, software, and hardware. Secure DNS protection can also filter unwanted web browsing, blocking sites that may be inappropriate to access on your systems, such as entertainment, gambling, social media, and streaming services, or that may pose potential threats of their own.

DNS protection services protect users from accessing a malicious site by using a known database that is updated daily. This level of protection keeps off-site, roaming, and VPN users who are utilizing a home network or a public WiFi hotspot safe.

At Concensus, we use secure DNS protection as part of a multi-layer cybersecurity strategy to protect your network and end-user devices from threats, viruses, and malware. For example, an email’s spam/anti-virus solution may not catch a malicious email. So, if the end-user were to click a link in a spam email that takes them to a malicious site, the DNS protection would recognize that website from its database and block access.

Often, large organizations deploy an onsite web filter that blocks access to unwanted or inappropriate sites based on their internal policies and neglect to provide any protection for users outside of the corporate network.

In addition to the protection and security they provide, DNS protection solutions also provide detailed history reports by design, allowing internet browsing policies to be better followed and enforced.

When evaluating options for employing a secure DNS protection solution, it is important to go with a Cloud-based solution. Cloud-based DNS solutions offer multiple threat protection networks to block as many malicious sites as possible. A secure and robust DNS protection solution will also provide a web filter to prevent access to websites by category (gambling, drugs, etc.). In some cases and organizations, reporting on web browsing history is required for compliance.

Choosing the right solution for your unique environment is key to providing this critical layer of protection for your users.