DNS Security Best Practices

Securing Your DNS Infrastructure

Security is paramount in today's digital landscape, and DNS is often the first line of defense—or attack. Implementing robust DNS security practices isn't just good practice; it's essential for protecting your business, your customers, and your reputation.

1. Enable DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions)

DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records, ensuring that DNS responses haven't been tampered with in transit. This prevents DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks.

Best Practices:

• Enable DNSSEC for all critical domains
• Regularly rotate DNSSEC keys
• Monitor DNSSEC validation failures
• Test DNSSEC configuration regularly

2. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Your DNS infrastructure is only as secure as the accounts that manage it. Require MFA for all users with access to DNS management interfaces.

Best Practices:

• Enforce MFA for all administrative accounts
• Use hardware tokens for highest-risk accounts
• Implement session timeouts
• Regularly audit access logs

3. Protect Against DDoS Attacks

DNS servers are frequent targets for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Implement comprehensive DDoS protection to maintain availability.

Best Practices:

• Use anycast routing to distribute attack traffic
• Implement rate limiting on queries
• Deploy DNS response rate limiting (RRL)
• Monitor for unusual query patterns
• Maintain excess capacity for traffic spikes

4. Practice Zone Transfer Security

DNS zone transfers should only occur between authorized servers. Unrestricted zone transfers can expose your entire DNS infrastructure to attackers.

Best Practices:

• Restrict zone transfers to specific IP addresses
• Use TSIG (Transaction Signatures) for zone transfers
• Regularly audit authorized transfer hosts
• Monitor all zone transfer attempts

5. Implement DNS Firewall Rules

A DNS firewall filters malicious DNS traffic and blocks access to known malicious domains.

Best Practices:

• Block queries to known malicious domains
• Filter DNS tunneling attempts
• Block uncommon record types from untrusted sources
• Implement geographic filtering where appropriate

6. Monitor and Log All DNS Activity

Comprehensive logging and monitoring helps detect security incidents early and provides forensic data for investigation.

Best Practices:

• Enable detailed query logging
• Set up real-time alerts for suspicious activity
• Retain logs for compliance requirements
• Regularly review logs for anomalies
• Use SIEM integration for centralized monitoring

7. Segregate DNS Infrastructure

Separate your authoritative DNS servers from recursive resolvers, and isolate DNS infrastructure from other services.

Best Practices:

• Use dedicated servers for authoritative DNS
• Never run recursive and authoritative DNS on the same server
• Isolate DNS servers in separate network segments
• Implement strict firewall rules between segments

8. Keep Software Updated

DNS software vulnerabilities are regularly discovered. Stay current with patches and updates.

Best Practices:

• Subscribe to security advisories for your DNS software
• Test patches in a staging environment first
• Maintain a patch management schedule
• Have a rollback plan for problematic updates

9. Implement Access Controls

Follow the principle of least privilege for all DNS management access.

Best Practices:

• Use role-based access control (RBAC)
• Regularly review and revoke unnecessary permissions
• Implement approval workflows for critical changes
• Audit all configuration changes

10. Develop an Incident Response Plan

When a DNS security incident occurs, having a plan ensures rapid, effective response.

Best Practices:

• Document incident response procedures
• Designate an incident response team
• Conduct regular incident response drills
• Maintain emergency contact lists
• Have backup DNS providers ready

Javelina DNS Security Features

Javelina DNS includes many of these security features out of the box:

• Built-in DDoS protection with anycast routing
• DNSSEC support with automated key management
• Comprehensive audit logging and monitoring
• Role-based access control
• Real-time security alerts
• Multi-factor authentication

Conclusion

DNS security isn't a one-time task—it's an ongoing commitment. By implementing these best practices and using a security-focused DNS platform like Javelina DNS, you can significantly reduce your risk exposure and protect your business from DNS-based attacks.

Ready to enhance your DNS security? View our Founders Pricing or contact our security team to discuss your specific requirements.