The internet may have opened the door to unfathomable amounts of information but it has also opened the door to cyber attackers. When browsing online, it only takes one stray click to find yourself the target of malware or a phishing attempt. UsingDNS protection solutions is becoming standard practice as enterprises attempt to protect themselves against cybercrime.
Here is our list of the best DNS Protection Solutions for your network:
- Neustar UltraDNS
- Comodo Dome Shield
- Cloudflare
- StackPath DNS
- Paloalto Networks DNS Security
- Cyren DNS Security
- Nexusguard DNS Protection
- DNSFilter
DNS protection solutions have become one of the core tools that enterprises use to protect themselves against threats online and avoid unnecessary costs. In this article, we’re going to look at the eight best DNS protection solutions for your network, but first, let’s look at what DNS is and what protection tools do.
What is DNS?
The Domain Name System or DNS acts as an online phonebook. The DNS is used to convert a domain name into an IP address for a device to connect to. DNS is used because it’s easier for the user to remember a domain name rather than a long-winded IP address. When you enter a search query into your web-browser the DNS server translates it into the IP protocol that enables the computer to open the site.
What are DNS Protection Tools and Why Do I Need Them?
If left unprotected, the DNS is vulnerable to being tampered with by cybercriminals. For example, malicious entities can create false DNS records and fool legitimate users into visiting fake websites and downloading malware. An unfortunate interaction between the DNS server and a compromised site can result in:
- DDoS attacks
- DNS hijacking
- Cache poisoning
- Botnets
- Man-in-the-middle attacks
DNS protection tools are designed to prevent cyber attacks by acting as an intermediary between your web browser and the websites/content you access online. DNS protection software can block compromised sites, block known botnet servers, filter content such as advertisements or adult sites, correct domain typos, and more.
The best DNS Protection Solutions
Essentially, a DNS protection tool acts as a buffer that limits your exposure to online threats. Ultimately, how safe you are depends on the quality of the product that you’re using. Let’s take a closer look at what’s available.
1. Neustar UltraDNS
Neustar UltraDNS isone of the topDNS protection solutions for enterprise users that guarantees 100% website availability. Neustar UltraDNS is a high-performance solution with next to no latency and instant cache hosts for enterprises located next to Neustar hosts.
The service is resistant to failure with 30 nodes distributed across six continents providing resistance to technological and geographical events. The program has built-in DDoS protection with local mitigation to stop attackers in their tracks.
The price of Neustar UltraDNS depends on the number of queries that you want to support. Prices start at 500,000 queries for $30 (£24) per month. The next package supports one million queries for $50 (£41). The last package supports two million queries at $90 (£73) per month. You can learn more on the product page.
2. Comodo Dome Shield
Comodo DomeShield is a Secure DNS Filtering solution designed to protect enterprise users online. Comodo Dome Shield enables the user to monitor web traffic in real-time and block risky websites. Once a website has been blocked it will be added to a blacklist so that you won’t access it by mistake in the future. Configuring Comodo Dome Shield is easy, and all you need to do is change your DNS settings to Shield’s DNS.
The platform controls what content is blocked through the use of security rules. Security rules are rules configured by the user that implement blocks on malicious sites, malware, phishing attacks, spyware, and other cyber attacks.
There is a free version of Comodo Dome Shield called Dome Shield Gold. Dome Shield Gold supports up to 300,000 DNS requests per month. The paid versions are called Dome Shield Platinum for Enterprises and Dome Shield Platinum for MSPs.
The MSP version has extra features like the ability to encrypt all DNS traffic and create Integral IP or IP block site-based policies. You’ll have to contact the company directly to view a quote. You can also request a demo.
3. Cloudflare
Cloudflare is another top DNS provider. You can manage all your domains through one user interface or API. Cloudflare is widely used because it can process domain name queries lightning fast with an average DNS lookup speed of 11ms. Cloudflare can be configured as a secondary DNS provider and will automatically update records when the primary DNS provider is updated.
When using Cloudflare you aren’t subject to any query limits so you stay protected no matter what. For added security, Cloudflare uses built-in load balancing and automatic failover. These features help to keep your DNS available even if there is an outage or failure.
There are four versions of Cloudflare available: Free, Pro, Business, and Enterprise. The Free version doesn’t cost anything and supports personal websites. The Pro version costs $20 (£16) per month per domain for professional websites.
The Business version costs $200 (£163) per month per domain for eCommerce websites and other businesses that require advanced security and performance functionality. The Enterprise version is for enterprises requiring enterprise-grade security and 24/7/365 support. You can sign up for the program.
4. StackPath DNS
StackPath DNS is a DNS protection tool that processes queries with high speed and low latency. DNS data is processed at the edge of the cloud to provide the best performance to the end-user. Security-wise, the solution protects against level 3-level 5 DDoS attacks and uses authentication to prevent DNS cache poisoning.
The tool is a good choice if you process a high volume of queries on account of its automated scaling, which maintains performance if there is a spike in queries. The service is also very resistant to failure with built-in load balancing and failover to stop your service from being put out of action if there is an outage. There is no single point of failure, which keeps the availability of the service high.
There are four versions of StackPath DNS available to download: Global Managed DNS, Edge Deliver 20, Edge Delivery 200, and Edge Delivery 2000. The Global Managed DNS version costs $10 (£8.21) per month for two million queries a month. Edge Delivery 20 costs $20 (£16.43) per month and includes two million DNS queries per month plus a CDN, WAF, and monitoring for five services.
Edge Delivery 200 costs $200 (£164) per month for five million DNS requests and monitoring for five services. Edge Delivery 2000 costs $2,000 (£1,642) per month with 10 million per month DNS requests and monitoring for up to 10 services. You can download the free trial by registering for an account.
5. Paloalto Networks DNS Security
Paloalto Networks DNS Security is a DNS protection tool that uses URL filtering, predictive analytics, and machine learning to block the latest online threats. Paloalto Networks DNS Security automatically blocks malicious domains and identifies DNS tunneling attacks in real-time.
The service is scalable, with a cloud-based database that means there’s no limit to the number of domains it can block. If you’re looking for an intelligent DNS protection solution with machine learning capabilities, Paloalto Networks DNS Security is a product worth considering. In order to purchase Paloalto Networks DNS Security, you’ll have to contact the sales team directly. You can request a demo.
6. Cyren DNS Security
Cyren DNS Security is a cloud-based web filtering tool that protects against DNS attacks. The software blocks access to malicious sites and content. You can view your web usage in real-time through the dashboard. The dashboard allows you to view an activity log, create custom DNS policies, and generate reports on web activity.
To keep browser results clean from threats there is a Safe search function which filters out offensive content so the user doesn’t access anything problematic. You also have block policies to control the content you see when you’re browsing online.
The setup process for Cyren DNS security is very simple, and in just a matter of minutes, you can be protected against the latest threats. Also, you don’t need to install any agents on devices to be protected. The lightweight setup process makes Cyren DNS Security ideal for enterprise environments.
Cyren DNS Security is a tool that stands out on this list if you’re looking for a filtering tool that is easy to deploy and configure. In order to view a quote for Cyren DNS Security, you will have to contact the company directly. You can request a demo of the program.
7. Nexusguard DNS Protection
Nexusguard DNS Protection is another well-reputed DNS protection program. Nexusguard DNS Protection is powered by a global network of distributed nodes to ensure resistance against performance issues or outages. The fast-track setup process allows you to enter the IP addresses of your DNS servers and be ready to go.
You can monitor the status of your DNS via the customer portal. The customer portal shows you stats on DNS queries and bandwidth consumption. It is here that you will configure which domains are protected.
Nexusguard DNS Protection comes with Two-Factor Authentication to keep your account safe from unauthorized access. The tool is recommended to those who want a leaner DNS management experience. If you’re interested in downloading Nexusguard DNS Protection you’ll have to contact the sales team directly. You can contact them on their site to request a demo.
8. DNSFilter
DNSFilter is a cloud-based DNS protector designed to stop malware, viruses, phishing attacks, and other online threats. DNSFilter uses features such as AI powered-content filtering to control what content the user can access. DNSFilter also has a dashboard where you can view your sites, network activity, and generate security reports.
You can configure content filtering policies to determine what content you see. For instance, you can choose what type of websites you want to block. Whether that is illegal sites, adult sites, streaming sites, and more. These lists are maintained by algorithms so you don’t have to manually update them regularly.
There are three Standard Plans for DNSFilter; Basic, Pro, and Enterprise. The Basic version costs $0.90 (£0.74) per month per user. The Pro version costs $1.80 (£1.48) per month, per user with additional features like per client reports. The Enterprise version costs $2.70 (£2.22) per month, per user with additional data retention. You can start the 14-day free trial.
Best DNS Protection Solutions
Choose a DNS protection solution that best matches your budget and your business requirements. Deploying content filtering will not only keep you safe online but help to make for a more positive browsing experience. Deploying a DNS security program will stop malicious entities from being able to negatively affect your online activity.
Tools like Comodo Dome Shield, Cyren DNS Security, and StackPath DNS are all good choices for enterprise users. With the right configurations, you’ll be able to give yourself the best line of defense against cyber attackers.