Managed DNS Filtering

Stop Dangerous Connections Before They Start
Every time someone on your network visits a website, a DNS request is made. Our managed DNS filtering service intercepts those requests and blocks connections to malicious sites, malware sources and harmful content before anything dangerous can reach your devices. It is one of the most effective and unobtrusive layers of protection a business can have.

The Threat You Cannot See Coming

Many cyberattacks rely on getting a device to connect to a malicious server. Whether through a phishing link in an email, a compromised website or malware that is already on a device trying to phone home, the attack depends on that connection being made. DNS filtering prevents the connection from happening in the first place, cutting off a huge proportion of attack vectors before they can cause any harm.

Without DNS filtering, every device on your network has unrestricted access to the internet. That means any link clicked, any website visited and any background process running on a device can make connections to any server on the internet, including servers controlled by attackers. For businesses with multiple users and devices, the number of potential connection points is significant.

DNS filtering also helps with productivity and compliance. By blocking access to categories of content that are not appropriate in a business environment, you reduce distraction, manage bandwidth more effectively and demonstrate to clients and auditors that you have sensible controls in place over how your network is used.

Cleaner, Safer Browsing Across Your Business

Malicious Sites Blocked Automatically

Our DNS filtering service maintains an up-to-date database of known malicious domains, phishing sites and malware distribution points. Connections to these destinations are blocked instantly, across every device on your network.

Protection at the Network Level

Because DNS filtering operates at the network level, it protects every device that connects to your network without requiring anything to be installed on individual machines. New devices are covered the moment they connect.

Customisable Content Controls

Beyond malicious content, DNS filtering allows you to block categories of websites that are not appropriate for your business environment. Policies can be tailored to your needs, giving you the right balance of protection and flexibility.

A Quiet Layer of Protection That Makes a Significant Difference

DNS filtering works quietly in the background, and that is exactly how it should be. Your team browses the internet, clicks links and goes about their work without noticing anything different, while potentially harmful connections are blocked before they ever have a chance to cause damage. At AOIT, we configure, manage and monitor your DNS filtering so you get the benefit without having to think about it.

We also keep your filtering policies current. The list of malicious domains changes constantly, and the right content policies for your business may evolve as your team and your working practices change. We stay on top of that on your behalf.

What Our Partners Say

Kings Church GatesheadUnparalleled Customer Service
As a charity it was of great importance to us that we had customer support in regards to the choice of services. AOIT Networks have gone above and beyond to ensure a seamless hosting service, transfer and guidance along the way. In addition to services we applied for through AOIT, they advised we applied for a Microsoft 365 NonProfit license, then aided the set up and provided training to our administration... Read More
Smashdown ConsultantsThere to help even if you're not sure what to do!
AOIT are always there to help, even when wasn't sure what the solution is!A few weeks ago, I tried to call a contact. The outbound call didn't work, so I dropped them a text, and they were unable to reach me either. This was just two normal mobile phones (Three and GiffGaff).Having worked with Andrew a few times previously, I decided to get in touch with him—even though it was none of his equipment causing issues... Read More

How Many Dangerous Connections Is Your Network Making Without You Knowing?

Without DNS filtering in place, there is no easy way to answer that question. Get in touch and we will explain how DNS filtering works for your specific environment and what it would take to get it in place.
What is DNS filtering?

DNS filtering works by intercepting the DNS requests your devices make when connecting to websites or online services. If the destination is on a blocklist of known malicious or unwanted domains, the connection is refused before it is made. This stops harmful content from reaching your devices without requiring anything to be installed on them individually.

DNS filtering is effective against a wide range of threats, including phishing websites, malware distribution servers, command and control servers used by attackers to communicate with compromised devices, and websites hosting harmful or inappropriate content.

No. DNS filtering is one layer of a broader security approach. It is highly effective at blocking connections to known malicious destinations, but it does not protect against threats that arrive through other means, such as malicious email attachments or infected USB drives. It works best alongside endpoint protection and other security controls.

No. DNS filtering adds a negligible amount of latency to DNS requests, which is invisible in normal use. Your team will not notice any difference in browsing speed or performance.

Yes. DNS filtering can be extended to cover remote workers, ensuring that devices used outside the office are subject to the same protection as those on your main network. We will configure this as part of your deployment if required.

If a legitimate site is incorrectly blocked, we can whitelist it quickly. We monitor filtering activity regularly and welcome any reports from your team about sites they believe have been blocked in error.