DNS Filtering

DNS Filtering That Blocks Threats Before They Connect

Every internet connection starts with a DNS lookup. DNS filtering intercepts lookups and blocks connections to malicious, phishing, or inappropriate sites before anything loads. Protects every device including IoT and guests.
Serving DC, MD, VA & Nationwide Since 2012
24/7 Coverage

Your systems never sleep

Certified & Vetted

Remote and on-site teams

Network-Level

Threats stopped before reaching any device on your network.

Every Device

Protection for IoT, guest devices, and anything connected.

Invisible

Users never notice until they try to visit something dangerous.

How It Works

How DNS Filtering Works

DNS filtering stops threats that email filters and endpoint protection miss entirely: phishing links embedded in text messages, malvertising injected into legitimate websites, and typosquatting domains designed to trick employees. Protection covers every device on your network including IoT equipment, printers, and guest devices that cannot run endpoint security software.
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Process

The DNS Filtering Setup Process

Deployment requires minimal changes to your environment. Network DNS settings point to filtered servers. Lightweight roaming agents install on managed laptops for off-network protection when employees work remotely. Filtering policies are customizable by department, user group, or device type. Most DNS filtering deployments complete within a single business day.
Industries

Who Uses DNS Filtering

Healthcare practices protect patient data from network-based threats. Financial firms block access to risky categories. Schools meet CIPA filtering requirements. DNS filtering is one layer in our cloud solutions portfolio. Any business with internet access benefits from DNS-layer security.

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Protection

What DNS Filtering Includes

Malicious Site Blocking

DNS queries are evaluated against continuously updated threat intelligence feeds before the connection resolves. Malicious domains, phishing sites, and command-and-control infrastructure are blocked at the network level before any data transfers or malware downloads can begin.

Phishing Prevention

Content category filtering restricts access to website categories your organization defines as off-limits. Policies can differ by user group so leadership has unrestricted access while shared workstations enforce tighter controls appropriate to their role.

Content Filtering

Reporting shows which domains users attempt to visit, which categories generate the most blocks, and which devices trigger the most security events. Monthly reports highlight trends your security team should review and feed into quarterly security posture discussions.

Roaming Protection

Lightweight agents extend DNS filtering protection to remote devices regardless of which network they connect to. Employees working from home, hotels, or coffee shops get the same protection as devices inside your office.

Reporting

Detailed reports showing attempted access to blocked categories and specific threats stopped before connections were established. Our team reviews patterns for indicators of compromised devices or policy violations.

Reporting and Analytics

Detailed reports showing attempted access to blocked categories and specific threats stopped. Our team reviews access patterns for indicators of compromised devices, policy violations, or emerging threats targeting your industry.

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Common Questions

FAQ

No. DNS filtering adds negligible latency to web browsing, often measured in single-digit milliseconds that users cannot perceive. In many cases, our filtering DNS servers actually resolve queries faster than default ISP DNS because they use optimized infrastructure with global points of presence. Your team browses normally while DNS filtering silently blocks malicious and inappropriate destinations before connections are even attempted.
Very difficult on managed devices. Network-level DNS filtering enforcement combined with roaming agents on endpoints prevents common bypass methods like switching to alternate DNS servers or using DNS-over-HTTPS to public resolvers. All bypass attempts are logged and visible to our monitoring team. Unmanaged personal devices on guest networks can bypass filtering, which is why we recommend separate network segments for guest traffic.
When DNS filtering blocks a legitimate website, users see a clear block page explaining the category restriction. Exception requests are submitted through our help desk and legitimate sites are whitelisted typically within hours of the request. Our team reviews blocked domains to confirm they are safe before adding exceptions. This process ensures DNS filtering accuracy improves over time while maintaining protection against genuinely malicious destinations.
No. DNS filtering complements endpoint protection but does not replace it. Each layer catches different types of threats at different points in the attack chain. SADOS recommends DNS filtering alongside EDR endpoint protection for comprehensive security coverage. DNS filtering blocks malicious connections at the network level while EDR monitors behavior on the device itself for threats that arrive through other vectors.
Lightweight roaming agents installed on managed devices direct all DNS queries through our filtered servers regardless of which network the employee connects to. Whether working from home, a hotel, an airport, or a coffee shop, DNS filtering protection follows every managed device. This ensures remote workers receive the same network-level security as employees sitting in your office, with no VPN connection required.
Yes. DNS filtering policies can be customized by department, user group, or device type to match your organizational needs. Marketing teams may need access to social media platforms that finance departments do not require. Guest networks can have stricter filtering than employee networks. We configure policies per your requirements and adjust them as your organization’s needs evolve over time.
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