Top 5 DNS Security Solutions: Features & Benchmark
We’ve compared the top DNS security solutions, their key features, and pricing to help you find the best protection for your organization’s network. See our rationale for these recommendations by following the links on the product names:
Benchmark Results
With over 20 DNS security tools available on the market, selecting the right solution can be a complex task. When choosing a DNS security tool, users often consider the following factors:
- Threat Detection Capabilities: Ability to detect and block malicious domains, phishing attempts, and DNS tunneling.
- Response Time: Speed at which the tool identifies and reacts to threats to minimize exposure.
- Integration with Existing Security Stack: Compatibility with firewalls, SIEMs, and endpoint protection tools.
- Admin Panel Functionality: Ease of use, configurability, and depth of control in the tool’s administrative dashboard.
- Policy Management: Granular control over DNS queries based on users, devices, or network segments.
Understanding DNS Security Challenges
DNS infrastructure faces multiple threat vectors that traditional security tools often miss:
- DNS Tunneling: Attackers use DNS queries to exfiltrate data or establish command and control channels, bypassing conventional firewalls and detection systems.
- Cache Poisoning: Malicious actors inject false DNS records into resolvers, redirecting users to fraudulent websites or malicious servers.
- DDoS Attacks: High-volume DNS queries can overwhelm servers, causing service disruptions and availability issues.
- Domain Hijacking: Unauthorized changes to domain registrations can redirect traffic to attacker-controlled infrastructure.
- DNS Amplification: Attackers exploit open DNS resolvers to amplify attack traffic, using legitimate DNS infrastructure for malicious purposes.
Top 5 DNS Security Tools Compared
Features of DNS Security Solutions
All providers: Cisco Umbrella, DNS Sense, DNSFilter, Zscaler, and NextDNS, offer essential features such as real-time DNS filtering, customizable blacklist/whitelist controls, category-based website blocking, and a centralized admin dashboard for monitoring and policy management.
Cisco Umbrella
Cisco Umbrella is one of the most recognized DNS security solutions on the market and widely adopted by large enterprises.
Cisco’s intuitive admin panel offers powerful visibility and quick policy enforcement across distributed environments.
Core Capabilities:
- Real-time DNS filtering based on threat intelligence from 620+ million domains
- Machine learning algorithms analyzing 200+ billion DNS requests daily
- Secure web gateway functionality integrated with DNS protection
- Cloud access security broker (CASB) features for SaaS application visibility
- Intelligent proxy for SSL decryption and advanced threat detection
Deployment Options:
- API connectivity for security orchestration platforms
- Cloud-delivered service requiring minimal infrastructure
- Integration with existing Cisco security ecosystem
DNS Sense
DNS Sense is an emerging player gaining traction in markets that need dynamic, role-based segmentation. Unlike many traditional DNS tools, administrators can assign DNS policies based on user roles, network segmentation (such as WLAN or IP block), and even dynamic DNS records.
Core Features:
- Real-time DNS threat intelligence with AI-driven threat classification
- Advanced malware domain detection using behavioral analysis
- Phishing and fraud protection with fast domain reputation scoring
Technical Capabilities:
- API-first architecture for custom integrations
- High-performance DNS resolution with minimal latency impact
- Integration with major SIEM platforms and security orchestration tools
Deployment Options: Cloud-based service with on-premises appliance options for hybrid environments
DNSFilter
A cloud-first DNS security solution that uses AI to detect new threats in real time. Offers robust content filtering, roaming client support, and per-user or per-location policies. Integrates easily with MSPs and enterprise setups.
Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA)
Zscaler is a cloud-native security platform primarily used by enterprises for secure internet and cloud access. While it goes far beyond DNS filtering, it includes DNS security as part of its broader Zero Trust model.
Advanced DNS Security Features:
- DNS filtering integrated with full SSL inspection and advanced threat protection
- Cloud-native architecture with 150+ global data centers for optimal performance
- AI-powered threat detection analyzing 300+ billion transactions daily
- Advanced persistent threat (APT) protection with sandbox analysis
- Cloud application control and shadow IT discovery
- Data loss prevention (DLP) integrated with DNS security policies
Zero Trust Integration:
- User and device-based DNS policies regardless of location
- Seamless integration with identity providers and endpoint management systems
- Real-time risk scoring and adaptive security policies
- Comprehensive visibility across all internet-bound traffic
Deployment Models:
- Agentless deployment through PAC files or GRE/IPSec tunnels
- Zscaler Client Connector for comprehensive endpoint protection
- Browser-based isolation for high-risk domains
- API integration for security orchestration and automated response
NextDNS
A privacy-focused DNS firewall offering real-time analytics, device-level rules, and extensive customization. You can set per-profile rules, access detailed query logs, and block trackers, ads, and threats. Consumer and SMB-friendly DNS filtering service offering customizable blocklists, analytics, and encrypted DNS protocols (DoH, DoT). Focused on privacy and parental control.
Key Features:
- Privacy-first DNS resolution with no logging of personal data
- Custom allowlist and blocklist creation with domain-level granularity
- Parental controls and content filtering capabilities
Advanced Capabilities:
- AI-powered threat detection for zero-day domain threats
- DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) support for encrypted queries
- Global anycast network with 45+ server locations worldwide
- Integration with popular ad blockers and privacy tools
- Mobile app support for iOS and Android devices
Deployment Flexibility:
- Simple DNS server configuration for network-wide protection
- Router integration for automatic protection across all connected devices
- Individual device configuration with detailed setup guides
- API access for programmatic management and automation
Why are the differentiating features important?
1. DNSSEC Support
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) adds a layer of authentication to DNS lookups by using digital signatures to verify that the DNS responses come from a legitimate source and haven’t been altered.
DNS does not verify the authenticity of responses by default, making it vulnerable to attacks such as DNS spoofing or cache poisoning. DNSSEC helps protect against these threats by ensuring the integrity of DNS data.
When a DNS resolver queries a domain, DNSSEC verifies the cryptographic signatures in DNS records to confirm their validity. The response is rejected if the signature doesn’t match, preventing potentially harmful redirection.
2. DNS Firewall / Filtering
A DNS firewall, also known as DNS filtering, is a security mechanism that monitors and filters DNS queries to block access to domains associated with harmful or unauthorized content.
DNS is critical in internet traffic because every website visit starts with a DNS query. By filtering these queries, organizations can prevent access to known malicious domains (such as those used for phishing, malware distribution, or botnet control). It also allows organizations to enforce internet usage policies by restricting access to specific content categories like gambling, adult content, or social media.
3. DDoS Protection (DNS)
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) protection for DNS is a set of techniques used to safeguard DNS servers from being overwhelmed by massive volumes of malicious traffic that attempt to make services unavailable.
DNS servers are high-value targets for attackers. A successful DNS-based DDoS attack can result in widespread service outages, as users would be unable to resolve domain names to IP addresses.
This type of disruption can affect websites, applications, and communication systems. DNS DDoS protection ensures that services remain operational even under attack.
DDoS protection mechanisms can include various methods. One approach is anycast routing, where DNS queries are distributed across multiple geographically dispersed servers to absorb traffic spikes.
Other methods include rate limiting, which restricts the number of queries from a single source; traffic filtering, which blocks known bad actors; and challenge-response tests, which verify whether a request is from a legitimate user or a bot. These strategies work together to keep DNS infrastructure responsive during high-load conditions.
4. Integration with Security Stack
Integration with a broader security stack means that DNS security tools are designed to share data and coordinate actions with other security systems, such as firewalls, endpoint detection and response (EDR), security information and event management (SIEM), and identity providers..
Isolated security systems can result in fragmented threat detection and response. When DNS security integrates with other tools, it becomes part of a unified defense system.
This enables faster threat detection, better contextual analysis, and coordinated responses across different layers of the network.
5. Cloud Deployment
Cloud deployment refers to delivering DNS security through cloud infrastructure, eliminating the need for organizations to manage their own DNS servers or on-site security hardware.
Cloud deployment offers several advantages, including reduced infrastructure costs, simplified setup and maintenance, and consistent protection for remote users and distributed offices.
It also allows DNS security to scale more easily with organizational growth and adapt quickly to new threats without manual updates.
FAQ
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