DNS is the first interaction users have with your domain. While technologies like transport layer security (TLS), single sign-on (SSO), or email security often dominate discussions about cybersecurity readiness, DNS is uniquely positioned as the initial touchpoint between a user and your domain. This integral role makes DNS not just a technical necessity but a cornerstone of trust in digital communication.
Yet, despite its critical role, DNS security can easily be overlooked, with teams falling into a set-it-and-forget-it mindset for DNS management. Understanding and enhancing DNS security is paramount for building a robust trust stack within digital ecosystems.
The Front Door to Your Digital Presence
When a user types your business URL into a browser or an app makes a background API call, a DNS query is triggered to answer the question: “Where do I go to find this resource?” The request first checks the local cache (usually in a browser or operating system). If the DNS record isn’t cached locally, the request goes to a recursive resolver, often provided by an ISP, enterprise network, or public DNS service. Suppose the resolver does not already have the answer cached. In that case, it initiates a new query, ultimately reaching the domain’s authoritative DNS provider to obtain the current IP address for the requested domain.
This process happens before TLS certificates are validated or single sign-on systems prompt for authentication. Whether these interactions occur on the public internet, an email server, or an internal app, DNS is always a user’s first interaction with your digital presence. Thus, if attackers are successful in launching a DNS-based attack (via hijacking, cache poisoning, or malicious redirects), they can intercept traffic, serve phishing content, or launch man-in-the-middle attacks before your downstream defenses ever see the request.
Why DNS Is a Critical Part of the Trust Stack
Modern businesses are built on digital-first interactions, and as such, they want to provide their customers with a seamless, performative online experience they can trust. Because DNS is the first point of contact in any digital transaction, if that process is tampered with, users may never reach the correct destination—even if controls like TLS, SSO, OAuth, and DMARC are all in place downstream.
In short, no other security control matters if your DNS is compromised. TLS can’t validate an incorrect destination. SSO won’t protect a user sent to a fake login page. DMARC won’t catch an email routed through a hijacked DNS record. Attackers increasingly exploit this by targeting DNS as the weakest link in the trust stack.
The Risk of DNS-Based Threats
DNS has always been a target for malicious actors. However, over time, many organizations have fallen into the trap of treating DNS as a set-it-and-forget-it infrastructure, configured once during a domain launch or migration and rarely revisited.
Here are some of the most common DNS-based threats that organizations with weak DNS security may be vulnerable to:
1. DNS Hijacking
Think of DNS hijacking (also called domain hijacking or DNS redirection) as sleight of hand. On the surface, everything looks normal; a user types your URL into the browser, expecting to visit your legitimate business website. But behind the scenes, malicious actors have redirected them to a malicious website. The end goal is generally to collect sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords, although these attacks can also be used for malware delivery.
2. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
DDoS attacks that target DNS infrastructure can be highly disruptive. Instead of directly flooding an application or website, these attacks see bad actors flood DNS servers. The intent is to exhaust resources and prevent legitimate users from resolving domain names. When DNS is unavailable, websites, applications, and services become unreachable, even if the underlying systems remain healthy, causing headaches for users trying to access your digital services.
3. DNS Tunneling
With DNS tunneling attacks, malicious actors hide data inside DNS requests. Because DNS traffic is rarely inspected closely, this hidden data can travel alongside harmless traffic and go unnoticed. Malware inside the network may use DNS tunneling to exfiltrate sensitive data or to send and receive command-and-control (C2) instructions, all while blending in with legitimate DNS traffic.
4. Subdomain Takeover
Clutter can build up, even in DNS records. Unfortunately, when DNS records point to decommissioned services or expired resources, they can easily become liabilities. Malicious actors will find and register expired resources that abandoned records point to, hijack the subdomain, and impersonate your organization in an effort to scam users, employees, or even third-party partners.
5. Phishing and Brand Impersonation
DNS weaknesses can also be exploited to enable lookalike domains, subdomain spoofing, and phishing infrastructure—directly undermining customer trust and brand reputation. A common trick involves malicious actors registering domains that closely resemble legitimate brands and swapping letters or adding subtle changes. Think yourbrand-login.com instead of yourbrand.com. Without strong DNS monitoring or domain management, these lookalike domains can go unnoticed and be used in phishing campaigns, credential theft, and malware distribution.
Why DNS Is Sometimes Overlooked
Over time, DNS management has changed, and responsibilities are often divided across multiple teams due to the complexity of modern IT environments. As a result, IT, network, and security teams may all own a small piece of DNS management, creating visibility gaps for malicious actors to exploit. Because these teams all operate separately, it can mean that DNS management efforts are poorly coordinated, as no one team owns DNS security end-to-end.
Other challenges include:
- Limited Visibility: Many teams face the challenge of too much DNS data and nowhere to store it. However, short-term DNS logs don’t provide long-term telemetry to detect persistent, low-and-slow DNS-based attacks.
- Lack of Telemetry: Without enriched DNS data, it’s challenging to detect more sophisticated threats.
- Misplaced Assumptions: Modern security controls are vital, but believing that TLS, SSO, or endpoint detection will catch all possible DNS threats is misplaced. After all, DNS interactions happen before those controls ever kick in.
How to Elevate DNS to First-Class Status
DNS is not just a protocol; it’s a critical part of an organization’s overall security posture. By enhancing DNS security, visibility, and integrity, organizations elevate their DNS to a first-class status and a core part of a defense-in-depth strategy.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of ways to elevate your DNS security:
1. Implement DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
DNSSEC protects domains by using digital signatures to verify that DNS responses come from a legitimate source and have not been altered. DNSSEC helps defend against common DNS attacks such as cache poisoning, man-in-the-middle (MitM), and domain hijacking by ensuring DNS responses are authenticated and haven’t been tampered with. It does this through cryptographic elements such as zone signing, where records are signed with a private key. The DNSKEY/DS records contain a public key used for verification. By validating DNS responses through digital signatures, DNSSEC reduces traditional DNS vulnerabilities like spoofing, bolstering overall security.
2. Enforce DNS Access Controls
Strong role-based access controls (RBAC) and change management are essential to maintaining DNS integrity. RBAC plays a critical role in DNS security by limiting access based on user roles and ensuring that only authorized personnel can modify DNS records. A DNS service provider that supports RBAC can allow organizations to assign granular permissions to users and teams based on domain, record type, and access level. For example, an organization may allow only certain team members to update CNAME records while restricting access to more sensitive records like MX or name server (NS) delegation. By controlling access at this level, organizations can minimize the risk of accidental misconfigurations or unauthorized changes.
3. Monitor ASN and IP Reputation
Tracking ASN and IP reputation can help uncover malicious infrastructure behind DNS queries, such as botnet C2 servers, fast flux domains, or ASN hijacks.
Don’t Let DNS Be Your Weakest Link
DNS should be an integral part of your trust stack. It’s the first handshake of every digital interaction, and one of the first places attackers look for weaknesses. By leveraging speed, reliability, and advanced controls your organization can build a more resilient digital presence.
DNS Made Easy helps reduce the risk of DNS-based attacks and enhances readability and availability with lightning-fast resolution, built-in security controls, and global propagation in sections.
Don’t settle for less when it comes to your critical infrastructure. Explore how DNS Made Easy can elevate your DNS performance.