Interacting with the Domain Name Service (DNS) is the first step to creating a connection from your network to the internet. This makes DNS security essential because this process is an appealing attack surface for malicious actors as they try to intercept information, and they must interact with the DNS layer when launching their own attacks. This means having a DNS layer security service can go a long way in preventing attacks that try to steal information from your network or bring in malicious assets that can launch further attacks. But what is the DNS layer and how does DNS security work?
What is Domain Name Service (DNS)?
The DNS is a network made up of domain servers, domain registrars, services provided by DNS operators, and many other tools that make it so that the average person does not need to know the internet protocol (IP) address for sites they visit. Because of the DNS, a user can navigate to a website using its domain name, like robinett-consulting.com. Websites must have a unique domain name because their domain name will correlate with the specific IP address for their website. When a website is visited, a DNS query is made automatically, and the steps that query goes through to translate the domain name to an IP address is where DNS security functions.
How DNS Security Works
DNS layer security provides multiple security features that can help prevent man in the middle attacks, ransomware, some forms of malware, and more. DNS layer security monitors DNS queries made from your network and can monitor the resulting IP connections that are made. This helps identify suspicious activity that occurs while the query is being resolved that may indicate an attack is occurring. Additionally, DNS security can verify the integrity of the IP address that is being connected to and subsequently block harmful DNS connections. For example, if malware needs to download a payload from a malicious server, DNS layer security can flag that query as malicious when a connection is being made and prevent it immediately.
DNS Security Features
DNS layer security provides services that work together to provide the highest level of protection possible. DNS filtering will investigate data packets in your network traffic to identify any suspicious DNS queries. This activity can then be logged with DNS activity monitoring, which helps create a baseline understanding of your network traffic. When DNS queries begin to spike or act suspiciously, these patterns can be identified and flagged for investigation. A strong DNS layer security service will also provide a wide range of details on your DNS activity that can aid in threat identification and remediation. Some of this data includes where the threat originates from, a timeline of the suspicious activity, and identifying information on the sender.
Summary
Your small business will interact with the DNS layer countless times a day without any users on your network being aware of what goes on behind the scenes. This efficiency helps the internet run as smoothly as it does, but it also provides a place for malicious actors to launch attacks and steal data. Robinett Consulting recommends businesses implement DNS layer security because its combination of query monitoring and connection prevention makes it a valuable asset in keeping your network secure as it interacts with an essential part of the internet. If you think your network needs DNS security, then we’re ready to have a complimentary consultation to see how our experts can best help your business!
