What is DNS Filtering?

In today’s digital landscape, network security is paramount. One of the most effective ways to protect your network is through DNS filtering. But what is DNS filtering, and why is it so crucial? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about DNS filtering, its benefits, how it works, and why EfficientIP’s solutions stand out in the market.

DNS filtering: what is it?

DNS filtering is a security measure that blocks access to harmful domains and filters out malicious or unauthorized content by resolving domain names through a secure DNS server. It serves as a first line of defense by preventing users from accessing unsafe websites or services, thereby protecting the network from various cyber threats. When a user enters a web address into their browser, a DNS query is sent to resolve the domain name into an IP address. With DNS filtering, this query is checked, and if the domain is flagged as unsafe, the connection is blocked. DNS filtering is often part of application access control strategy.

Why is DNS filtering important for network security?

With the rise of cyber threats, from phishing attacks to malware, DNS filtering plays a vital role in safeguarding your network. Cybercriminals often exploit weaknesses in DNS to redirect users to malicious websites. By intercepting requests to known malicious domains, DNS filtering stops threats before they can infiltrate your system. This makes it an important component of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) strategies, enabling organizations to reduce the workload of other security tools and strengthen their security posture by ensuring a protected and filtered Internet connection. This makes DNS filtering an essential component of any robust network security strategy.

How does DNS filtering work?

DNS filtering works by using a DNS resolver that filters out traffic over the domain name requests. For instance, when a user or device attempts to visit a website, the request goes through a DNS domain name check. If the site is deemed unsafe and therefore included in a blocklist (denylist), the user is blocked from accessing it. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of how blocklisting is used:

• DNS Query resolution: When a user types a web address (URL), a DNS query is sent to a DNS resolver in order to translate the associated domain name into the IP address of the website.
• Filter Application: The DNS filter checks the request against a list of categorized domains known to be unsafe or inappropriate.
• Response Delivery: If the domain is on the blocklist, the user is redirected to a safe page, or a warning message is displayed. Good DNS protection techniques such as a DNS Sinkhole are often used for this. If not, the IP address is resolved, and the user can then access the site.

What are the benefits of implementing DNS Filtering?

Implementing DNS filtering offers great benefits for organizations of all sizes, including:

• Enhanced Security: Blocks access to malicious sites, preventing infections from malware, phishing, ransomware, and other cyber threats.
• Increased Productivity: Prevents access to distracting or harmful sites, ensuring that employees remain focused on their tasks.
• Cost Efficiency: Reduces the need for more expensive security measures and mitigates potential financial losses due to cyberattacks.
• Improved Compliance: Helps meet regulatory requirements such as GDPR, NIS2, and DORA by ensuring that access to inappropriate or harmful content is blocked.
• Better Performance: EfficientIP’s technology optimizes DNS caching, improving overall web performance and reducing latency.
  

Does EfficientIP offer DNS Filtering solutions?

EfficientIP offers state-of-the-art, robust DNS filtering solutions designed to enhance DNS security by proactively identifying and blocking harmful content. Consequently, they protect your network from new and evolving threats. Our solutions provide comprehensive real-time DNS protection, easy integration, and unmatched reliability, leveraging our extensive threat intelligence data feed.

The feed is supplied in two formats to enable dynamic DNS filtering and adaptive security by blocking known malicious domains:
1) Response Policy Zone (RPZ) format: a standard for filtering lists and feeds, compatible with any DNS firewall.
2) Client Query Filtering (CQF) format: advanced capability for better domain coverage, finer control, and use in conjunction with the EfficientIP DNS Guardian product.
Multiple categories are defined, including phishing, malware, Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA), and Newly Observed Domains (NOD) among others.

With EfficientIP DNS filtering solutions, security teams can implement both a blocklist and a whitelist. Customized blocklisting, whitelisting (or allowlisting) allows organizations to tailor their security posture according to specific needs, blocking unwanted or harmful traffic while permitting legitimate requests to trusted websites.

Case studies and success stories about DNS filtering

EfficientIP’s DNS filtering solution has been successfully implemented across a variety of industries to bolster network security and ensure safe browsing. In the financial sector, organizations have used the technology to block phishing sites, preventing costly data breaches and protecting sensitive customer information. In healthcare, our products have helped safeguard patient data by filtering out malicious domains and ensuring compliance with strict regulatory requirements. Educational institutions have utilized DNS filtering to restrict access to inappropriate content while maintaining a safe online environment for students and staff. In manufacturing, a European firefighting business is leveraging EfficientIP DNS Filtering to build extensive user-based security policies, enhance micro-segmentation, and prevent any unauthorized access to their network. And an ISP in Asia has boosted their regulatory compliance thanks to EfficientIP’s solution keeping the list of forbidden domains always up to date by automatically synchronizing with the government feed.

Additionally, global enterprises have leveraged EfficientIP’s DNS protection to enhance overall cybersecurity by preventing access to malware-infected websites, controlling network traffic, and blocking access to known malicious sites across multiple locations. In all these cases, EfficientIP’s DNS filtering solution has provided organizations with fine-grained control, using blocklists, RPZs, and whitelisting features to tailor security policies to their unique needs and protect their networks from emerging cyber threats.

How to choose the right DNS filtering solution?

When selecting a good DNS filtering solution, consider the following criteria:

• Ease of Use: The solution should be easy to implement and manage without requiring extensive technical expertise.
• Integration Capabilities: Ensure that the solution can seamlessly integrate with your existing network infrastructure and security systems.
• Support Services: Choose a provider that offers robust customer support and regular updates to keep the solution effective against new threats. EfficientIP stands out with its user-friendly interface, seamless integration, and exceptional customer support. Our DNS filtering solutions are trusted by organizations worldwide to provide reliable and comprehensive protection.

FAQs about DNS filtering

• What is DNS filtering? DNS filtering is a security measure that blocks access to harmful websites by resolving domain names through a secure server.
• How does DNS filtering enhance security? It prevents users or devices from accessing malicious sites, thus protecting the network from threats.
• Can DNS filtering improve productivity? Yes, by blocking access to distracting sites, it helps maintain focus and productivity.
• What role does a DNS cache play in filtering? A DNS cache stores recently queried addresses, which speeds up the resolution process for frequently accessed domains, improving overall network efficiency.
• How does EfficientIP ensure the safety of the web? EfficientIP uses an extensive and continuously updated list of unsafe domains to ensure that your organization remains protected against the latest threats.

DNS filtering is a crucial component of network security. By blocking access to malicious websites and filtering out harmful content, it protects your network from a wide range of cyber threats. EfficientIP offers reliable and effective DNS filtering solutions that provide comprehensive protection, easy integration, and unmatched reliability. Explore our solutions today and secure your network against cyber threats.