DNS Filtering & Monitoring

Every time someone on your team visits a website or clicks a link, their device sends a DNS request, essentially asking the internet where that address leads. DNS filtering intercepts that request before any connection is made and checks it against a continuously updated database of known threats. If the destination is malicious, the request is blocked instantly and silently. If it is legitimate, the user reaches it without interruption. This happens at the device level, meaning protection is always active regardless of where your staff are working.

Around 79% of cyberattacks use DNS as part of their chain including phishing, ransomware, and malware delivery. SMEs are increasingly targeted precisely because attackers assume their defences are lighter than those of larger organisations. DNS filtering is one of the most cost-effective controls available, it stops threats before they reach your devices or your staff, requires no change to your existing infrastructure, and runs quietly in the background without affecting day-to-day operations.

Yes, and this is one of its most important advantages. Traditional network-level DNS filtering only protects devices connected to your office network, leaving remote and hybrid workers exposed. The device-based approach we deploy travels with the device itself, so a laptop working from a home broadband connection, a hotel, or a client site has exactly the same level of protection as one sitting in your office. No VPN dependency, no configuration changes per location.

Yes. Phishing sites and ransomware delivery infrastructure both rely on DNS to function. When a staff member clicks a malicious link in an email, DNS filtering checks the destination before any connection is made and blocks it if it is flagged as harmful. The solution also filters full URLs and raw IP addresses, closing a common gap where attackers bypass domain-based filtering by embedding IP addresses directly into phishing links. Ransomware is also prevented from making the callback connections it needs to activate and spread, even after a device has been compromised.

Shadow IT refers to software, cloud services, and applications that employees use without the knowledge or approval of the IT team. Common examples include personal file sharing services, unauthorised communication tools, and consumer AI platforms. These introduce real risk, data may be stored outside your control, compliance obligations may be breached, and security vulnerabilities may go undetected. DNS filtering gives us full visibility into which services are being accessed across your estate, so we can identify unsanctioned tools, assess the risk they carry, and take action where necessary.

Yes. Consumer AI tools — including AI chatbots, image generators, and AI-powered productivity platforms — represent a growing and largely unmanaged data risk for businesses. When employees input client data, commercially sensitive information, or confidential business content into these platforms, that data is processed and potentially stored by third parties outside your control. DNS filtering lets us identify all AI tools being accessed across your devices, block specific platforms that have not been assessed and approved, and whitelist only the tools your business has formally sanctioned. This turns an informal problem into a managed, auditable policy.

Yes. DNS filtering gives you granular control over which categories of website and web application can be accessed on your business devices. You can restrict or block access to social media platforms, gambling sites, adult content, recruitment portals, gaming platforms, and any other category that falls outside your acceptable use policy. Rules can be applied across all devices at once, adjusted by user group, or amended quickly when business needs change. This supports both productivity and compliance objectives, and the activity is logged and reportable.

DNS filtering contributes directly to both. For ISO 27001, it provides documented evidence of technical controls around malware protection, access control, and monitoring, all areas assessors look at closely. For cyber insurance, insurers are increasingly asking applicants to demonstrate active technical controls rather than simply declare that policies exist. DNS filtering gives you an auditable log of blocked threats, filtering decisions, and user activity that you can present as tangible evidence. It also reduces your actual risk profile, which can positively affect premium assessments at renewal.

No. The solution we deploy is device-based and requires no changes to your DNS settings, routers, or network infrastructure. It does not interfere with VPNs, Active Directory, or custom DNS configurations. It installs as a lightweight agent on your devices and operates silently in the background. Deployment is straightforward, typically taking well under an hour per site, and we manage it on your behalf. Your team will not notice it is there unless a threat is blocked.

The platform generates detailed reports covering threats blocked, websites accessed, user activity patterns, and any shadow IT or unauthorised applications identified across your devices. These reports are available to us in real time and we share them with you in a format that is meaningful to your business, not a list of technical alerts, but a clear picture of what is happening across your estate. You will have documented evidence that your defences are active and working, which is increasingly important for board-level governance, insurance renewals, and client due diligence requests.