In this episode of Bits & Bytes, we’ll explore Domain Name System Forwarding Security. Specifically, we’re going to take a look at DNS Forwarding Security based on the Cisco umbrella.
Let’s start at the beginning. A Domain Name System, or DNS, is what converts domain names from IP addresses into readable names.
DNS forwarding is when a user makes a request, usually by clicking on a link or entering a URL into a browser. When the action is completed, the domain name is sent, or forwarded, to a DNS server to find corresponding IP address. Once the IP address is located it sends the information back to the DNS and the site loads.
DNS forwarding security places a service in the middle of this process to make sure the link is safe. If the link is malicious, a source of malware or a known bad actor the user would be stopped from going to that site.
To check if the link is safe, it’s queried against a database. At Nitel, we use the Cisco umbrella – a database that is continually updated based on data inputs from around the world to keep track of malicious URLs.
In short, DNS forwarding security is the act of checking a URL against a database to make sure it’s safe. It’s a proactive method for protecting a customer’s employees from accessing known malicious sites that can compromise an organization’s network.
Want to learn more? Check out other episodes of Nitel’s Bits & Bytes.