The domain name system (DNS) is vital for businesses as it facilitates customer access to online services and resources. Strategic DNS management plays a pivotal role in cybersecurity, safeguarding against threat vectors and ensuring secure global connectivity across online channels including apps, email, websites, application programming interfaces (APIs) and more.

For such a vital digital asset, securing and managing DNS effectively is essential. In this blog, I share the key dos and don’ts of DNS management.

The dos

• DO choose a security-first provider that can handle the size and scale of your DNS requirements. Always use an enterprise-class provider that can guarantee 100% uptime and has a proven track record of providing this. The average cost of a DNS attack is around $950,000—and some companies experience up to seven attacks in a year.^[1] If you question whether you can afford enterprise-class DNS security, ask yourself if you can afford not to!
• DO opt for DNS redundancy. Implementing secondary DNS is critical for minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity even during disruptions. Importantly, implementing secondary DNS shouldn’t restrict the DNS features available to you—your secondary DNS should afford you the same level of service as your primary DNS. When something is so vital to the operation of your business, you want a solid plan B in place!
• DO prioritize security. There are a plethora of security protocols that can be put in place to keep your domains and DNS secure. CSC recommends a multi-layered approach, using protocols like DNS security extensions (DNSSEC) and registry locks, to ensure all angles are covered. At CSC, we have a unique auto-lock policy, where we automatically put registry locks on domains identified as business-critical by our algorithm. It’s also important to regularly review access permissions, use multifactor authentication, and enforce stringent security policies to protect against cyber threats.
• DO have an audit trail. Document DNS configurations to avoid vulnerabilities like subdomain hijacking and ensure efficient DNS management and security.

The don’ts

• DON’T think it won’t happen to you. If you have a successful brand, bad actors will want to take advantage of that and take a slice of the pie without putting in any of the hard work. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using tactics like DNS spoofing, cache poisoning, subdomain hijacking, and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Notwithstanding the financial losses and reputation damage these bring, a resultant data breach could see you fall afoul of regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the upcoming Network and Information Security (NIS2) Directive.
• DON’T neglect NIS2 compliance. NIS2 will bring about a big change in the cybersecurity landscape. Keeping up to date with its regulatory requirements is essential to protect your business and customers, but also to avoid being on the receiving end of a hefty fine as the result of a breach. You can read more about NIS2 and my advice on how to navigate it here.
• DON’T forget that spending wisely upfront can save on fines down the line. We get it, DNS security is expensive. But whatever the upfront cost of DNS security is, it will be significantly less than paying seven or even eight figure sums in NIS2 or GDPR fines in the event of a breach. You need to balance the cost of DNS security with the risks surrounding an attack.

It’s essential to remember that DNS isn’t just about websites—it’s critical for business continuity and disaster recovery planning. Effective DNS management safeguards against threats, ensures regulatory compliance, and enables uninterrupted online services. For businesses aiming for resilience and growth, elevating DNS management is not an option—it’s a necessity.