DNS security for your small
business

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Why is DNS content filtering important for your small business?

DNS filtering prevents your organization’s web users from internet nonsense by providing DNS layer cybersecurity protection. DNS security guards your business’s end-user devices and networks against web-based threats which can introduce threat anomalies and computer viruses to your organization. DNS content filtering works by blocking user access to known malicious websites and suspicious content. Businesses can better control network vulnerabilities by denying or allowing internet accessibility to users visiting specific websites and web categories. Threat actors use nefarious websites as vectors for malware, phishing, and a range of web-based cyberattacks which seek to take advantage of unknowing users via their web connection.

Browser Protection

Your company’s internet users visit web browsers for various reasons, whether it be for the purpose of research, recreation, retail, communication, or collaboration with third parties. Leveraging DNS filtering software helps protect your company’s internal networks from harmful intrusions that infiltrate through end-user Wi-Fi hotspots and online browser connections.

DNS Protection in collaboration with third party vendors

DNS filtering not only protects web browser connections, but also aids in protecting your company’s networks when collaborating with third party vendors, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and other systems. Organizations need to be confident the environments they share with external vendors are safe.

5 Benefits of DNS security for small businesses

Prevention and real-time protection

DNS filtering includes a continuously updated database of known malicious domain names and IP addresses that gives businesses the control to block web categories, such as social media, adult websites, gambling, and more. DNS content filtering focuses on incident prevention and real-time protection of web-based systems.

Saves organizational time

DNS blocking stops threats before they reach inner layers in your cybersecurity infrastructure and prevents threats from causing harm. By blocking suspicious activity at the DNS level there is no need to handle attacks at the remediation point and your business’s security team can focus on the higher priority tasks.

Compliance regulations

DNS filtering can help organizations satisfy the policies of CIPA (The Children’s Internet Protection Act)HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and other industry standard regulations.

Added layer of protection

DNS web filtering works with your business’s existing endpoint security to provide an extra layer of security. DNS security shields end user devices and web-based systems from suspicious content and nefarious websites harboring cyberthreats. Most modern-day security teams include DNS protection as part of a comprehensive endpoint security plan.

Leveraging a cloud-based DNS protection offers improved DNS filtering features and capabilities that can be tailored to an organization’s needs, budget, and size.

Maintain productivity

Along with blocking known nefarious websites, DNS protection helps business control end user web access by blocking counterproductive content. Through DNS filtering, businesses focus their ability to manage end-user experience on the web while maintaining their organization’s productivity, growth, and business operations.

URL filtering vs DNS filtering

URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. URL filtering consist of blocking URLs from being loaded which can be categorized by topic and by group. The main difference between URL filtering and DNS filtering is that URL filtering occurs at the URL application level. URL requests are allowed or blocked and can restrict specific webpages from loading. This type of filtering uses web protocols to examine requests and provides granular protection.

DNS filtering works at the DNS layer to block threats by domain name or domain query. The advantages of DNS filtering involve its ability to block entire websites and subsequent webpages regardless of their URL.

DNS filtering vs web filtering

Both URL filtering and DNS filtering are forms of web filtering. The purpose of a web filter is to block unwanted content or nefarious webpages that may carry malwarephishing, and other malicious cyberthreats causing damage to your organization’s systems and data.

What is the difference between DNS vs VPN

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN is similar to a digital middleman between your device and the Internet that uses encryption to ensure a secure internet connection. Your Internet traffic travels through an encrypted tunnel and appearing as though it’s coming from the VPN server rather than your own IP address. Unlike a VPN, Domain Name System (DNS) is not used to protect privacy, but a DNS filter can be used to block websites at the DNS level.

Challenges of DNS filtering for enterprise vs small business

Robust, bulky network security products are heavy agents and among what they offer, DNS filtering is usually a small portion of the product’s functionality. Although large enterprises may need expansive security tools to support a wider network with more endpoints and complex cybersecurity infrastructure, but the needs of small businesses greatly differ. Small businesses seek a lightweight web protection agent. Malwarebytes DNS filtering module caters to your small business’s IT and security teams who require a simple to use and easy to deploy content filtering. The DNS filtering module provides content blocking backed by real-time DNS protection and creates reports to help teams understand their network’s web usage.

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