Organizations use various methods to ensure their network and their employees are protected from technology threats. In this blog post, we’re going to compare two of those methods: DNS forwarding security and URL filtering. Both methods are features of next-generation firewalls. A customer can choose to utilize one or both to protect their network, depending on what they are trying to accomplish.
DNS forwarding security is the act of checking an IP address 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. If an employee types in the URL of a site which, when resolved via DNS to an IP address, is deemed malicious, or a known bad actor, they will be blocked from accessing that site. Known bad actors could include sites that propagate malware, that originate in parts of the world known for malicious activity or that are run by known cyber-criminals.
URL filtering also prevents employees from accessing bad sites. However, in this case, sites are checked against a centralized database that associates websites with common categories. Then a customer can block users from visiting sites that fall into categories like gambling, adult or video streaming. Customers can fine tune their settings by defining access rights for certain groups or individuals, limiting access by times of day or adding or eliminating specific sites.
In short, DNS forwarding security protects a network from reaching sites of known bad actors. Think of it like a building’s security system, keeping out harmful intrusions. URL filtering acts more as an extension to an organization’s human resources function, preventing employees from chewing up valuable network resources with non-business-related activity or accessing sites that are otherwise inappropriate for work.
Whether it be a harmful virus, compromising spyware or inappropriate content, we give customers the technology and expertise to defend against cyberthreats of all kinds. Through the use of solutions including threat detection, next-generation firewall endpoints and the above mentioned DNS security and URL filtering, Nitel can enable applications, users and content to meet the needs of today’s business, while protecting against a growing threat landscape. At the core of it all, we help make sure every threat is stopped dead in its tracks long before it reaches your customer’s network, leaving them with ultimate peace of mind.