Small Business Solutions
If you are a small to medium-sized business owner today without an IT department, don't feel alone. Blue Oak Tech is here to help as your off-site IT department! We can answer all the technical questions you have, such as what is DNS and what is a DNS filtering service? This post answers these questions and many more.
What Is A Domain Name System?
Starting at the beginning, domain names are our URLs, or more commonly referred to as our website names, which typically match our business names (or a shortened version or abbreviation of them). A domain name system (DNS) is the means by which a server turns the domain name into an IP address. IP addresses are a string of numbers that are the language computers communicate in.
You can think of a DNS as the active directory of categorized websites. Every time you type a URL into your web browser, you are making a DNS query to find the address. In this way, we don't have to remember IP addresses instead of domain names.
What Is A Domain Name System (DNS) Filtering Service?
DNS filtering is a way of blocking access to malicious and risky websites, and their content or purpose, to aid in the prevention of malware attacks. A DNS filter can also be utilized for Internet content filtering to specifically prevent access to websites of a specific name or within a generalized category, such as social media, job search, adult content, or gambling. A DNS-based web filtering solution can be a service from Blue Oak Technology Solutions for your small business, custom-tailored to fit your individual needs.
DNS Based Web Filtering Solutions - Software
The first type of DNS web filter we'll talk about is DNS web filtering software. DNS-based web filtering offers a unique DNS filtering solution because there are no hardware requirements or software downloads. With DNS-based web filtering software, you'll use a web-based interface to set filtering parameters depending on what you want to set "off-limits" for your employees. Blue Oak Tech can help you get set up.
DNS Filtering Service - Cloud-Based Solution
A DNS content filtering service can also be cloud-based and Blue Oak Tech can provide a low-cost monthly managed service for you with all the security and support your business needs. The added layer of protection in your security system will protect your network from most threats. And the best part is, it's customizable - just like the services you choose, in your monthly managed service package from Blue Oak Technology Solutions. Everything you need and nothing you don't!
How Does A DNS Filtering Solution Work?
DNS filtering works in multiple ways to block access to known malicious websites, including phishing websites. Bad actors will create websites to mimic the appearance of legitimate sites and businesses and send out email blasts that contain links to these. An employee can click on one of these links, innocently enough, in an effort to carry out their assigned job tasks, and fall prey to an illicit site that has a dedicated purpose to collect user information.
One way DNS filtering functions is to access a database of known malicious websites and malicious webpages and blocking access to or from them. You can accomplish this by automatically including all of them, or by putting them on a "blacklist" for admin-controlled lists.
Blue Oak Tech can help you with content filtering and creating black and white lists, so you can control DNS filters and manage which websites are allowed and which are not, on your network. The most effective way to manage an efficient workspace and minimize threats includes a DNS filtering solution.
Malware Threats
DNS blocking will restrict access and block malware to any employee that might visit a malicious website, whether accidental or not. Poison links can be contained within emails received, or found as a result of a 'Google' search; by all accounts, it appears to be a link to a legitimate site, but in fact, is not. Malicious web content can include "drive-by" malware downloads and phishing attempts where login credentials are requested/required and then ultimately stolen and used to nefarious ends, such as ransomware attacks or logging into websites to access financial information. System filtering with an advanced DNS filter that can also scan each page will get you the top DNS protection for your DNS infrastructure.
DNS Function
A DNS lookup occurs when you put a website URL in your web browser and click. In the nearly instantaneous response time, quite a bit has happened. First, the DNS server executes the DNS lookup of the domain name you entered, then the DNS server responds with the IP address of the requested website and voilá! DNS servers ensure that every domain name is unique, as well.
How DNS Filtering Can Be Applied
DNS filtering can be a helpful tool in providing the network security you need. It can be applied at the router level through your internet service provider or through a web filtering service provider. The service provider maintains a list of blacklisted websites that it will not provide access to through a DNS filter. DNS settings can also be configured to block categories of websites, either a default group as recommended by the solution or custom defined by you. DNS logging can keep track of every IP address searched for.
The Importance of An Internet Usage Policy
WiFi or guest users will request internet access on any internet-enabled device at any time, so a web filter can provide the necessary web security. Web filtering (or DNS filter) can offer improved internet speed and better productivity. Be sure to implement an acceptable internet usage policy. DNS filtering allows you to have some control over web content accessibility at your place of business and enforce internet usage policies.
Blue Oak Technology Solutions
When you're considering internet and network security, Blue Oak Technology Solutions has the security solutions you need, including DNS filtering and much more! We are committed to providing the kind of personalized and customized services our clients need, including all the technical support necessary. You choose the services you need with a monthly managed plan, so you're never "stuck" paying for things you never wanted or needed.
You can also choose to call us on a pay-as-you-go, as-needed basis. Whatever works best for your needs, we will be happy to accommodate you. We like to think of ourselves as your off-site IT department and can provide the technical solutions and support you need for success! Call or contact Blue Oak Tech today.
