As vital to the internet as the domain name system (DNS) is, security was more of an afterthought during its development. Instead, the focus was on functionality and implementation. If had a crystal ball when he first invented it in 1983, securing DNS would have been more of a priority.
Still, after nearly 40 years, DNS is fundamental to our increasingly digitized world. As technology evolves, cybercriminals continually find new ways of exploiting the domain name system. By the same token, the tech industry continues to develop security measures to thwart such attacks. In this blog, we’ll be analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of DNS security, as well as solutions that can be used to safeguard your domain on the DNS level.
Before you can fill in security gaps related to DNS, you must first understand its weaknesses. As mentioned above, DNS wasn’t created with security in mind. Therefore, it is inherently vulnerable in certain areas.
Although the domain name system wasn’t designed for security, how you are using it can make it more or less secure. For instance, while often used in combination, authoritative and recursive nameservers were designed to be used separately. Using them together can cause unforeseen issues and make your server(s) or network more vulnerable to threats. Furthermore, systems without proper BIND patches and regular security updates are more easily exploited. Appropriate DNS practices and configurations go a long way in protecting your server(s) or network from attacks.
Okay, so DNS has weaknesses. But so does everything else. Luckily, there are several weapons you can add to your domain’s arsenal that can fortify your DNS’s defenses.
DNS Made Easy knows how important security is for your domain. That’s why we don’t piggyback off of other provider networks. Instead, all of our DNS runs on our own bare-metal servers located within major data centers across the globe. Not only does this give us full control of our network, but it’s also why we’re able to deliver top speeds and live up to our 100% uptime guarantee.
Did you know:? DNS Made Easy has the longest-running uptime history in the industry—11+ years of continuous, uninterrupted DNS service—even when faced with large-scale attacks!
It’s our goal to eliminate as many pain points for our customers as possible. This includes DNS-related threats that domain owners face in the online marketplace. Security is always a top priority. That’s why we support DNSSEC and provide advanced DNS monitoring and analytics tools. Our solutions are developed from the ground up—by IT for IT—to ensure domains have the best and safest DNS experience. Below, we’ll explore solutions in DNS Made Easy that will help keep your domain secure.
One of the top methods for protecting your domain on the DNS level is with DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC). In a nutshell, DNSSEC is a protocol designed to protect websites against attacks by securing DNS lookups. This is done via a hierarchical digital signing policy or chain of trust across all DNS layers. With DNSSEC enabled, each layer of the lookup process must be verified and signed before a query can be resolved.
DNSSEC is especially helpful for preventing common DNS-related attacks like DNS hijacking, poisoning, and tunneling, as it requires validation for each part of the lookup process.
DNS Made Easy supports DNSSEC for added protection for domains hosted on our already secure Anycast+ network. Corporate and enterprise-level members using DNS Made Easy as their primary provider will receive full support on DNSSEC implementation. DNSSEC is also supported for all clients who use DNS Made Easy as secondary DNS.
There are two types of domain owners. Those who make reactive decisions and those who make proactive decisions. Having to scramble to the defense in the midst of an attack always puts your domain at a disadvantage. With DNS Made Easy’s advanced , you can view your web traffic’s real-time and historical patterns. With this unique data at their fingertips, your IT team will be able to spot unusual behavior and take appropriate measures before things spiral out of control.
uses machine learning to detect and predict suspicious or unusual activity for your domain. By continuously analyzing your unique traffic, RTTAD learns what is and isn’t normal for your domain and sends instant notifications to IT teams if it notices anything out of the ordinary. The longer RTTAD has been enabled, the more accurate it becomes. With real-time alerts and clear visualizations of activity, teams can quickly determine if detected anomalies are legitimate or a threat, and take action accordingly.
While all industries should be concerned about DNS security, some are bigger targets for attacks than others and have increased liability due to the nature of their business. Below is a breakdown of some of the highest-risk industries:
Tip: Visit our blog for a detailed analysis of how DNS can help financial institutions.
Tip: For an in-depth look at how DNS can help the lodging industry, check out our .
Tip: For an in-depth look at how DNS can help the gaming industry, check out our Gaming white paper.
Due to the large volume of users and sensitive information held by companies within these sectors, they are at high risk for DNS-related attacks and other cyber threats. If your company falls under one of these categories, it’s imperative that you do whatever you can to protect your domain and your customers.
It is essential that organizations secure each aspect of their online-facing operations—starting with DNS. While the domain name system wasn’t designed with stringent security in mind, there are ways to protect your domain from common DNS exploitations. At DNS Made Easy, we go to great lengths to ensure your domain is safe. This includes running our DNS on our own infrastructure and providing enhanced security-based solutions such as DNSSEC, Real-time Anomaly Detection, and the most advanced DNS analytics in the industry. We also offer superior products for redundancy and Geo-accuracy, such as , , and our . On top of that, our customers enjoy consistently fast speeds and true 100% uptime.
What are you waiting for? Talk to one of our DNS experts today and see the DNS Made Easy difference for yourself.
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