In today’s digital age, the Domain Name System (DNS) is the often overlooked keystone of the internet. It silently translates human-friendly domain names into machine-readable IP addresses, ensuring seamless online communication. Implementing effective DNS security best practices is essential to protecting your network from potential threats and ensuring uninterrupted service.
DNS attacks can lead to significant financial losses. The median cost of DNS security disruption is $70,000, with some breaches costing up to $2.8 million. Staying ahead of these challenges can help you save thousands. This blog will outline the top DNS security best practices, from redundancy to DNS filtering, and offer insights on optimizing your DNS infrastructure for security and performance.
The importance of using DNS best practices.
Your DNS is the backbone of computer networking, acting as the translator between domain names and IP addresses. A misconfigured DNS can lead to authentication failures, replication issues, and significant downtime. By following DNS best practices, you can ensure smooth and secure network operations while reducing the risk of disruptions.
Top 10 DNS security best practices.
1. Have at least two internal DNS servers.
One of the foundational DNS server security best practices is redundancy. Active Directory (AD) relies on DNS, and the failure of your primary DNS server can cause significant issues. To prevent disruptions, it’s essential to have a secondary DNS server. If your primary DNS fails, the secondary server ensures continuous access to essential resources, including email and cloud applications.
2. Block malicious domains with DNS filtering.
Blocking malicious domains is a critical DNS infrastructure best practice. DNS filtering prevents users from accessing dangerous websites that could introduce malware or viruses into your network. By filtering out harmful domains at the DNS level, you minimize the risk of infections before they reach your network.
3. Set up DNS order on domain controllers.
Following DNS domain controller best practices ensures optimal performance. Your primary DNS should point to another domain controller on the same site, while the secondary DNS should point to the domain controller itself via the loopback address. This setup enhances DNS server performance and reduces downtime, ensuring smoother operations.
4. Enable DNS aging and scavenging of DNS records.
DNS aging and scavenging are vital for managing DNS records. Aging applies a timestamp to newly created DNS records, while scavenging removes outdated records. This process prevents issues caused by redundant or stale DNS entries, which can lead to connectivity problems. Keeping DNS records up-to-date is one of the core DNS design best practices.
5. Set up PTR records.
PTR (pointer) records resolve IP addresses back to hostnames, providing a reverse lookup for DNS queries. These records are essential for troubleshooting and can enhance your network’s security. PTR records allow you to verify IP addresses and detect suspicious activity, supporting DNS server security best practices.
6. Separate authoritative and recursive DNS servers.
Separating authoritative and recursive DNS servers is another crucial DNS infrastructure best practice. Authoritative DNS servers provide information from their local database, while recursive servers query external sources to find DNS data. By using separate servers for each function, you enhance both performance and security.
7. Limit recursive DNS query response times.
Unchecked recursive DNS queries can be a security vulnerability. Limiting response times for these queries helps balance performance and protection. When a server exceeds its threshold for responding to the same query, it slows its response rate, preventing overloads and reducing the risk of DNS-based DDoS attacks. This practice aligns with DNS server security best practices for safeguarding your network.
8. Validate your DNS data with DNSSEC.
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is an essential security protocol that digitally signs DNS data to ensure its authenticity. DNSSEC protects your network from attacks like DNS spoofing and cache poisoning. Understanding DNSSEC best practices is critical for any organization looking to secure its DNS infrastructure and validate incoming queries.
9. Configure access control lists (ACLs) accurately.
Accurate configuration of ACLs is a cornerstone of DNS security best practices. ACLs control which devices can communicate with your DNS servers, protecting your network from unauthorized access. Proper ACL configuration also ensures that only legitimate servers can perform zone transfers, preventing cybercriminals from accessing sensitive data about your DNS setup.
10. Implement DNS redundancy for uninterrupted service.
DNS redundancy is essential for ensuring that your DNS services remain operational even if one server fails. Redundant DNS servers handle failover, allowing queries to be rerouted and preventing downtime. Redundancy is also key for handling DNS server zone transfers, ensuring that all DNS records are synchronized across multiple servers for consistency and availability.
How Vercara can help with DNS security.
Vercara offers comprehensive solutions to help businesses implement DNS security best practices and protect their digital assets. Our three core solutions—UltraDNS, UltraDDoS Protect, and UltraWAF—work together to deliver enhanced security, scalability, and performance for your DNS infrastructure.
UltraDNS/UltraDNS²: Provides high availability and secure DNS resolution for your online presence, ensuring that your services remain accessible and secure.
UltraDDoS Protect: Shields your DNS, applications, and infrastructure from DDoS attacks, offering robust protection against traffic floods and ensuring uninterrupted service.
UltraWAF: Offers a web application firewall designed to protect your web applications from malicious attacks while ensuring fast and reliable performance.
UltraDDR: Filters and blocks malicious traffic as DNS queries are being resolved, stopping threat actors from successfully executing phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks.
With 24x7x365 support and our Security Operations Center (SOC), Vercara ensures that you have expert assistance when you need it most. We also provide initial WAF setup and DDoS protection for both your applications and infrastructure.
Strengthening your DNS infrastructure.
By adhering to DNS security best practices, you can ensure your DNS infrastructure remains secure, resilient, and high-performing. From implementing DNS redundancy and filtering to enabling DNSSEC and managing ACLs, each step you take strengthens your network against cyber threats. With Vercara’s comprehensive DNS solutions, you can trust that your digital assets are well-protected.
Ready to secure your DNS and protect your digital future? Contact us today for more information on how Vercara can help secure your online presence with advanced DNS solutions.
