When we set up network infrastructure for our partners, one of the key decisions we make is which DNS servers to configure. It’s not the flashiest part of IT, but it matters more than most people realize.
DNS (Domain Name System) translates website names into the numbers computers use. Every device on your network uses DNS constantly – every email sent, every webpage loaded, every cloud application accessed. While most businesses stick with whatever their internet provider gives them, we deliberately configure something different.
We default to Quad9. Here’s why we made that choice, and why it matters for your business.
The Main Options
There are several well-known public DNS services:
Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) – Fast and reliable, but Google’s business is data collection. They say they don’t use DNS queries for advertising, but it still feeds their broader understanding of internet usage patterns. For a company that makes money from knowing what people do online, having visibility into DNS queries is valuable data.
Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) – Excellent performance with strong privacy commitments. They’ve made genuine promises about minimal logging. A solid choice.
OpenDNS (208.67.222.222) – Now owned by Cisco. Offers content filtering but has become more limited in the free tier since the acquisition.
Quad9 (9.9.9.9) – A non-profit foundation based in Switzerland with built-in threat blocking and strong privacy policies.
Why Quad9 Made Sense for Us
The non-profit structure matters. Quad9 is operated by a Swiss foundation, not a company trying to monetize your network activity. Their funding comes from cybersecurity partnerships and grants, not from selling data about browsing habits. When something is free, you’re usually the product. With Quad9, you’re not.
Privacy is built in, not bolted on. They don’t log IP addresses. They can’t build profiles of your internet activity because they deliberately don’t collect that information. Being based in Switzerland is a significant advantage here – Swiss privacy laws are among the strongest in the world, and they’re outside the reach of US data collection frameworks like CLOUD Act or FISA requests. For UK and EU businesses thinking about data compliance, having your DNS queries handled under Swiss jurisdiction adds a meaningful layer of protection. It’s privacy by design, not just privacy by policy.
Extra security layer. Quad9 automatically blocks access to known malicious domains. It’s not a replacement for proper security software, but it adds protection at the network level. If someone clicks a dodgy link in an email, there’s a good chance Quad9 will block it before anything bad happens. Think of it as a safety net that works for every device on your network, even ones that might not have up-to-date security software.
It just does DNS. Unlike some providers, Quad9 doesn’t impose content filtering you didn’t ask for, and it doesn’t redirect failed lookups to advertising pages. It does the job of DNS without trying to be clever about it.
What About Cloudflare?
Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 service is genuinely good. Their privacy policy is strong, performance is excellent, and they’ve built a solid reputation in the internet infrastructure space.
The reason we default to Quad9 is about long-term trust and alignment. Cloudflare is a for-profit company with shareholders and quarterly earnings calls. While they’re very privacy-focused now, business priorities can shift when growth slows or market conditions change. We’ve seen it happen with other tech companies that started with strong privacy principles.
Quad9’s non-profit structure means they don’t have those same pressures. Their mission is fixed in their foundation charter, not subject to board decisions about monetization strategies. That gives us more confidence their approach won’t change over time.
Transparency Matters
We could configure Google DNS and never mention it. It would work fine, and most people wouldn’t notice.
But part of being a trusted IT partner is being open about choices we make on your behalf. DNS might seem like a small technical detail, but it touches every internet request your business makes. We think it’s worth choosing a provider whose values align with how we think IT should work – focused on your interests, not on monetizing your data.
That’s why we choose Quad9.
If you want to learn more about Quad9 or even set it up yourself, you can visit the Quad9 website.